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planeta · Last edited by planeta on Mon Mar 17, 2008 3:49 pm; edited 1 time in total

This topic provides updates for the Second International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations, Kochi, Kerala, 21-24 March 2008

Details
http://www.responsibletourism2008.org

YOUR TURN - Views on Responsible Tourism Survey
http://tinyurl.com/34v98o

ResponsibleTourism · Traveler Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 6

The Second International Responsible Tourism Conference is less than a week away and everything is heating up for current debates in the Responsible Tourism arena with examples going to be presented on responsible tourism in destinations from around the world.

Watch this space for updates from the conference or visit the conference website for more details: http://www.responsibletourism2008.org

Watch out for the conference wiki which will be launch in the next few days - the perfect way to keep up to date with developments from the responsible tourism conference.

Have your say! Why not complete our 'Views on Responsible Tourism' survey -- http://tinyurl.com/34v98o -- hosted here at Planeta.com and have your ideas fed into the conference.

Thanks
Kathryn Paley
MSc Leeds Metropolitan University/Conference Moderator

planeta · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 6:44 am Post subject: Many thanks

Many thanks for sharing conference news on this forum. We wish the participants the very best! Tourism ought to be a fair go for all. Please let us know if you have suggestions for those who wish to get involved.

Your conversations can help clarify the issues and the action plans needed to co-create the conditions that foster responsible travel at the local, regional and national levels.

TIMELY REQUEST - I look forward to seeing the responses to the Views on Responsible Tourism Survey
http://tinyurl.com/34v98o

Ron Mader
Planeta.com

ResponsibleTourism · Traveler Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 6

With just a few days to go now until the Kerala conference commences please keep your responses to the Views on Responsible Tourism Survey coming in available at: http://tinyurl.com/34v98o
And should you have any questions, comments or queries then post them right here.
Thanks
Kathryn Paley

ResponsibleTourism · Traveler Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 6

Also available for you to keep up to date with developments from the conference is the KeralaConference wiki available at: http://planeta.wikispaces.com/KeralaConference
Thanks
Kathryn Paley

planeta · Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:20 am Post subject: Administrative note

Administrative note - This topic has received more than 1,000 views. Thanks to everyone for paying attention!

planeta · Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 2:03 pm Post subject: Video Greeting

Greetings

I was nervous (!) recording this video blog, but here is - a greeting and challenge for the participants of the 2008 Responsible Tourism Conference
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8azX9DQEdmY

My basic point is that it is a good time to be working toward creating a global groundswell of support for responsible travel. Documentation is critical so I encourage participants to ...

Post photos on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com

Post videos on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com

Post presentations on Slidespace
http://www.slideshare.net

If you prefer to use other services, that's fine! Just let the conference organizers know how to find what you are sharing online. 2008 is the year of energized co-creation and creativity. Viva Generation C -- http://del.icio.us/ronmader/genc -- and Viva Responsible Travel!

Kind regards, Ron

ResponsibleTourism · Traveler Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 6

Thank you to all those that have answered the 'Views on Responsible Tourism Survey' so far and to all others viewing this forum please take 3-5 minutes to answer the questions.

The information from the survey will be fed into the International Conference on Responsible Tourism for discussion so have your ideas and concepts heard.

Updates from the Kerala conference coming soon.

Kathryn Paley

ResponsibleTourism · Traveler Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 6

The Incredible India Second International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations opened in Kerala yesterday with key speakers and presentations from academics from around the world to open up channels of debate and relate details of responsible tourism projects which have been undertaken in destinations around the world.

More than 400 delegates from 25 countries have convened on Kerala to review the progress which has been made in achieving ‘Responsible Tourism’ since the Cape Town Declaration of 2002.

Shri. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Honorable Minister from Home, Vigilance and Tourism, Government of Kerala and Shri. Shilabhadra Banerjee, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India formally opened the Conference proceedings. These opening speeches were followed by an endorsement of the principles or Responsible Tourism from the Indian Association of Tour Operators, the Association of Domestic Tour Operators, the Ecotourism Society of India and the Kerala Travel Mart Society And the challenge of finding methods of implementing Responsible Tourism in destinations across the globe has been set.

For all those following the Conference online please log onto the online forum available at: [url]http://forum.planeta.com/viewtopic.php?t=1153 [/url]to post ideas, suggestions and to share experiences of how to implement Responsible Tourism at destination level.

An issue brought to light in the first day of the Conference has implications in developing and developed destinations around the world. Kerala has many more domestic than international visitors as can be seen in the 2006 tourism statistics for Kerala which show that out of the 6,000,000 visitors to Kerala in 2006, less than 10% were international visitors. Thus it is clear that the impacts of tourism in general need to be addressed, evaluated and managed. We can no longer afford to solely focus on international tourism.

For all those following the Conference online please log onto the online forum available at: [url]http://forum.planeta.com/viewtopic.php?t=1153 [/url]to share ideas and knowledge of how to manage Responsible DOMESTIC and INTERNATIONAL Tourism.

Keralan local media, as part of the already emerging legacy of the Conference, have committed to carrying forward the concept of Responsible Tourism into practice through highlighting the opening speech by Kerala Tourism Minister Shri. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and a pledge of commitment to Responsible Tourism development and management.

For those following the Conference online please log onto the online forum available at: [url]http://forum.planeta.com/viewtopic.php?t=1153 [/url]to suggest techniques to involve the world media in committing to the concept of Responsible Tourism.

Shri. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan asserted Kerala’s priorities as three fold; Responsibility to the Local Community, Responsibility to Nature and Responsibility to tourists. In the following quote from Shri. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan it can be seen that Responsible Tourism is on the main agenda for tourism in Kerala: “To fulfil the responsibility to the local community we should focus both on local economy and local culture. Responsible Tourism is to avoid monopoly in reaping the benefits of tourism by a group of capitalists and to assure nature conservation while ensuring private participation in tourism development.”

For those following the Conference online please log onto the online forum available at: [url]http://forum.planeta.com/viewtopic.php?t=1153[/url] to provide views and opinions on the parallels between ECOTOURISM and RESPONSIBLE TOURISM.

The first day of the Conference was a long eventful day for the 350 delegates present with the formal proceedings and presentations starting early and not finishing until 6.30 pm. Some of the academic conference papers are already available online via links from the Conference Wiki available at: [url]http://planeta.wikispaces.com/KeralaConference [/url]

As the other papers become available they will also be loaded onto the Wiki. I invite you to take a look at the wiki, the forum, the Views on Responsible Tourism Survey’ and to get involved in a global discussion of the implications and expectations of Responsible Tourism in destinations across the globe.

With the first day of the Conference such a success with passionate speakers and a lively exchange of views the next few days are likely to present interesting debates and inventive suggestions on developing and managing Responsible Tourism in destinations. Delegates from Africa and Asia headlined the first day of the conference with interesting exchanges of ideas and stories of success for involving local communities in Responsible Tourism.

Keep up to date with all Conference proceedings via this forum and also the Kerala Conference wiki both kindly hosted by planeta.com. Please contribute to the online debates and discussions via this forum and the online ‘Views on Responsible Tourism Survey’ available at: [url]http://tinyurl.com/34v98o [/url]

Watch this space for more updates as the Kerala International Responsible Tourism Conference unfolds. Any questions of comments please email Kathryn Paley at rtd2kerala@gmail.com
Kathryn Paley

ResponsibleTourism · Traveler Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 6

DAY TWO: Incredible India Responsible Tourism in Destinations Conference

After a successful first day of the conference the second day got underway with a review on the progress made since the Cape Town Conference in 2002. It can be seen that the concept of Responsible Tourism has been gaining currency since 2002 and the present conference will ensure that the Responsible Tourism concept is firmly established in the years to come.

Presentations were given today by individuals engaged in the tourism industries in India, South Africa, The Gambia, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Thailand. Thus providing a front line perspective on the way Responsible Tourism has been managed and developed in destinations to date.

Harsh Varma of UNWTO provided an insightful and engaging description of the UNWTO's engagement with Responsible Tourism, Community-Based Tourism and the STEP initiative. Thus providing inspiration for others and evidence of successful Responsible Tourism in action.

Fabrice Leclerq of the International Trade Centre presented a detailed view of the International Trade Centre’s work using tourism to tackle poverty through ITC's export led poverty reduction programme. A programme which is sure to gain notice in the next few years.

So after a busy and enlightening second day of the conference the third day of the conference will be a welcomed relief as the delegates venture around Kerala and the surrounding areas to view Ecotourism projects and Responsible Tourism projects in action. Over 400 delegates participated in today’s proceedings and we can now look forward to a reflection on the debates so far and today’s Responsible Tourism in action visits during the fourth day of the conference.

If you have not already participated in the online forum available at: http://forum.planeta.com/viewtopic.php?t=1153 or filled in the short survey ‘Views on Responsible Tourism’ available at: http://tinyurl.com/34v98o then this is your time to do so.

The findings from the debates and survey will be fed back to Kerala at the end of today (Easter Sunday) and so if you would like to participate in the Conference on Responsible Tourism then please do so in the next few hours.

Any questions or comments I can be contacted at rtd2kerala@gmail.com Kathryn Paley

goodwinhj · Traveler Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 14 Location: UK

Belize to Host 3rd International Conference in May 2009
The Minister of Tourism and Aviation from Belize has invited delegates at the Kerala Conference to attend the next conference in Belize 21 to 24 May 2009 The announcement shown at the closing of the conference in Kerala can be found at www.idealabstudios.com/TMHerediaD1.html

The invitation was warmly received and delegates are looking forward to meeting again next year in Belize

goodwinhj · Traveler Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 14 Location: UK

The Kerala Declaration on Responsible Tourism in Destinations was passed today, the declaration focuses on practical actions which can be used to achieve Responsible Tourism in Destinations, the Kerala Declaration can be found on line at www.responsibletourism2008.org/keraladeclaration.php

The Kerala Conference was attended by 503 delegates from 29 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and North America to engage in four days of discussions about the movement's progress in achieving the aspirations of Responsible Tourism - delegates shared their experience, renewed friendships and made new ones - leaving the conference reinvigorated and determined to increase the pace of change.

The Minister sent a closing message to the conference: "we have to share the benefits from the tourism industry with the local people and join hands with local self-government bodies to create durable institutions the will take the Responsible Tourism agenda forward".

In Kerala the local press led with Declaration's exhortation for people to delve deeper into the claims made by Responsible Tourism companies and travellers - check that the claims are more than mere rhetoric. You can blow the whistle or debate the issues at www.irresponsibletourism.info.

The declaration is long and comprehensive (but not the last word on the subject!) reflecting the breadth of experience and the passion of the conference. The Declaration was amended word by word on the floor of the conference for most of the fourth day.

The on line participation has also been excellent with over 1000 people logging on. Thanks are due to Kathryn Paley for running the on-line event - take a look at the Declaration and comment on the forum or the wiki.

The Conference presentations will be updated tomorrow on www.artyforum.info

goodwinhj · Traveler Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 14 Location: UK

The Evening with networking event at the Vintry provided an opportunity to discuss the Kerala Declaration. Krippendorf’s major contribution was to recognise that it was by appealing to people’s sense of responsibility that positive change would be achieved rather than by emancipation. Rebellious tourists and rebellious locals do make a difference and in an age when government is reluctant to regulate encouraging tourists, originating market tour operators and local communities and the inbound industry to act (to rebel) becomes the main strategy for achieving change.

Kerala brought together 503 delegates from 29 countries to share experience of implementing the principle of the Cape Town Declaration and to review progress. There was a lot of energy in the conference and in the events and activities which Kerala Tourism had organised to create opportunities for learning, engagement and debate.

The Kerala Declaration was debated line by line on the floor of the conference – there were 300 still actively participating as the declaration was signed 6 hours later. There was lots of energy, engagement and enthusiasm focussed on sharing experience about making change with sections in issues and strategies like empowerment, social and economic development, the role of the media, governance, campaigning ….. lots of good ideas and some principles.

We avoided the trap of redefining the generic characteristics of responsible tourism in destinations, reasserting the Cape Town Declaration recognising that the specifics will reflect differences of culture, history and geography – the world is a diverse and interesting place. The strategies and detail in Kerala, The Gambia and South Africa are different – they reflect the diversity of the places, but they share the principles of the Cape Town Declaration. www.icrtourism.org/Capetown.shtml

We saw the progress being made in Kerala, particularly in local economic development, and the activity in local and state government, in local communities and in the industry well – in Belize in May 2009 we hope to hear a progress report. Responsible Tourism is about stakeholders working together “to make better places to live and better places to visit.”

http://www.icrtourism.org/Kerala.shtml