Sustainable Travel

Lisbon, Portugal (eTN) – The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Think-Tank where officials, experts and entrepreneurs from Europe, the Americas and the Middle East gathered here to discuss the opportunities and challenges for tourism as a leading socio economic driver. The event was held on the occasion of the United Nations´ World Tourism Day and hosted by Portuguese Tourism Secretary Bernardo Trindade,..

It was concluded at the The Think Tank that tourism represents 40 percent of all exports of services; revenues have grown far stronger than international trade, that tourism has spin-off effects ranging from construction over to agriculture or telecommunications, creating quality employment for developing countries; and that tourism has to be included in the policy and development agenda of governments, donors and financing institutions.

According to the UNWTO, investing in tourism infrastructure, information communications technology (ICT) and education can create long term employment which benefits local communities.

Governments and development agencies need to become aware of this added value chain provided by tourism. Only then tourism will be included as a strategic element in policies targeting job creation, sustainability and poverty alleviation, UNWTO said in a release.

On a socio-cultural level, tourism can promote a culture of peace and understanding thanks to direct contacts between visitors and host communities "How can we feel enmity towards someone we know personally; someone whom we have received or who has received us," asks UNWTO Secretary General Francesco Frangialli.

The participants endorsed the view that the linkage of tourism and ICT as catalytic sectors could provide significant leverage in managing growth and bridging the digital divide.

UNWTO said it has recently initiated a long term partnership with Microsoft Corporation to expand ICT in the tourism sector, providing ICT systems and tools for emerging tourism economies to improve their export competitiveness, product quality and support skills. Its primary focus will be on Africa.

Meanwhile, the consolidation of tourism over the past decades "constitutes one of the most positive socio-economic developments of our time," Frangialli said. The UNWTO claims international tourist arrivals grew from 25 million in 1950 to 808 million in 2005. This expansion rate by 6.5 percent "continues unabated and there is no evidence of saturation of demand despite wars, terror, tsunamis and other crises," the UNWTO secretary general added.

The revenues generated by these arrivals have risen at an average rate of 11.2 percent per year (adjusted for inflation) over the same span of time, outgrowing the world economy as a whole, UNWTO said.

UNWTO contends the perception of tourism has to evolve towards the corporate identity of a robust and sustainable sector. Tourism is in fact one of the fastest growing sectors in the world and can provide longstanding and high quality employment, it said.

“Too little research is yet done on the linkages which demonstrate the economic multiplier effect of tourism. Decision makers at all levels have to understand the economic and socio-cultural benefits of tourism. This will help establishing public-private partnerships to finance and promote sustainable tourism initiatives in developing countries.”

The Think Tank was moderated by UNWTO Assistant Secretary-General Geoffrey Lipman.

Source: eTurboNews

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The Chairman of Virgin Atlantic, Sir Richard Branson, today called on the global aviation industry to develop a shared solution to the growing issue of climate change. The move follows Virgin Group's plans to invest $3billion in renewable energy initiatives over the next ten years.

Speaking in New York, Sir Richard revealed that he has written to other airlines, including British Airways, American Airlines and Easyjet; engine and aircraft manufacturers such as Rolls Royce and Boeing; and airport operators including BAA in the UK, urging them to support a new cross-industry forum which will help to deliver practical ways of tackling climate change.

In his letter to aviation industry leaders, Sir Richard writes, "We need to accelerate the pace at which we reduce aviation's impact on the environment. We cannot ignore that aviation does create environmental problems (around 2% of global CO2 emissions), although equally it produces significant economic and social benefits. (8% of the world's GDP)"

As a first step towards sustainable aviation, Virgin Atlantic today set out its global vision for radically more efficient aircraft movements around the world's busiest airports. These changes would mean that aircraft would burn considerably less fuel and emit much lower levels of CO2, dramatically improving air quality on the ground and in the air.

At the heart of its vision is the creation of "starting grids" for all aircraft departures. A starting grid is a holding area, close to the runway, consisting of several parking bays for aircraft. It means that aircraft can be towed closer to a runway before take-off, substantially reducing the time that engines need to be running.

After being towed by a small tug from its stand, an aircraft would only start its engines once on the "starting grid", around 10 minutes before actual take-off. This would substantially reduce the amount of time aircraft need to taxi with their engines running and the time spent queuing before take off. A "starting grid" also reduces congestion around stands, meaning aircraft that have recently landed wouldn't have to wait, with their engines running, to get onto the stand. Aircraft arriving could also turn off their engines after five minutes and be towed to their stand, saving considerable extra CO2.

The "starting grid" system would make airport movements much more efficient and would reduce fuel consumption and on-the-ground carbon emissions by over 50% ahead of take-off at London's Heathrow airport for Virgin Atlantic aircraft, and by nearly 90% for Virgin Atlantic flights at JFK Airport in New York. It would also mean that an aircraft flying from JFK to Heathrow could carry around two tonnes less weight in the air, which would mean that the amount of fuel burnt would be considerably less, reducing CO2 emissions even further.

Towing aircraft closer to the runway has substantial implications for local communities too. They would benefit from much lower noise levels because of aircraft taxi-ing without their engines running, and from dramatically cleaner air on the ground.

Virgin Atlantic pilots are also trained in a method of descent called "Continuous Descent Approach." This involves aircraft beginning their descent from high altitude much earlier, leading to a slower and smoother approach before landing. This earlier descent means that aircraft descend at a more efficient speed, therefore reducing fuel burn. Virgin Atlantic believes that all air traffic control authorities should adopt this approach, saving considerable
CO2 emissions.

As part of its sustainable aviation strategy, Virgin Atlantic is also reducing the weight of each of its aircraft. It is painting the exterior of its planes with lighter paint, creating lighter fittings onboard, changing oxygen bottles from metal to carbon-fibre, and it is now using cargo bins made from lighter, but stronger carbon-fibre materials, rather than metal. The airline is even seeking to remove empty champagne and beer bottles, the contents of which have been drunk before leaving the stand, so they can be recycled before the plane leaves for its destination. These measures save fuel and reduce CO2 emissions further.

Sir Richard also said the "mess of European air traffic control is punishing the environment, with 35 different air traffic control organizations, compared with just one in America." He called for plans for a single European sky, which would optimise air routings by aircraft and improve environmental performance further. IATA, the International Air Transport Association, predicts that 12% of global CO2 emissions by aircraft would be saved if air traffic control systems were more efficient.

Sir Richard added: "What we're suggesting would save over 150 million tonnes of carbon emissions a year. With global warming, the world is heading for a catastrophe. The aviation industry must play its part in averting that. Airlines, airports, air traffic controllers and governments should seize these initiatives and ensure they're all implemented within two years. If they do so, up to 25% of the world's aviation emissions can be cut. The savings in fuel costs can then be ploughed back into further initiatives to reduce fuel burn and carbon emissions, and into savings for passengers."

The initiatives, which have been developed over the last year, follow a recent climate seminar in California chaired by the state Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, in which senior business leaders, including Sir Richard Branson, promised to help cut global emissions.

Commenting on the Virgin Atlantic initiatives, Governor Schwarzenegger, said: "I applaud the creative example Virgin Atlantic has set in moving towards towing planes from push-back to the end of the runway. This is a perfect example of the kind of practical solution we need to be pursuing globally."

Steve Ridgway, Chief Executive of Virgin Atlantic, added: "Although Virgin Atlantic supports an emissions trading scheme, climate change will only be tackled markedly by a reduction in carbon emissions themselves. As an airline, we have a duty to continue to reduce our environmental footprint and that is what we are encouraging our pilots, our engineering staff and all of our people to do. We will be announcing further measures in the next few months to demonstrate how Virgin Atlantic is taking the industry lead on the issue of sustainability."

For further information please log onto www.virginatlantic.com.

Source: Virgin Atlantic - September 27, 2006

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British think-tank The Center for Future Studies (CFS) has suggested future ecotourists should enter a lottery to win the right to visit some of the world's ecotourism destinations, in addition to declaring some of the more popular destinations off-limits.

The study, financed by a British insurance company, has infuriated the tourism industry, especially the Australian government and scientists who are at the heart of the report.

"There is a conflict between environmental concerns and commercial interests," said CFS director Frank Shaw. "In pursuit of economic goals, other problems are being overlooked."

Pointing out Australia is not looking after the Great Barrier Reef in the long term he claims rising sea water, or global warming, are already damaging the Reef.

About 1.8 million people visit the Reef every year, generating some A$5 billion in income and employing 800 companies in the tourism business.

But, expert Terry Hughes from the James Cook University in Townsville, the biggest coral reef institute in the world said, the Reef is a big place with little effect from tourism industry activities.

Local experts added, the ecosystem which comprises the world's largest living organism is in good shape.

"Tourism operators constantly monitor changes on the Reef in collaboration with groups such as the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority," said Danile Gschwind, chief executive of Queensland Tourism Industry Council.

Fran Bailey, Australian tourism minister said, Australian tourism operators are the biggest defenders of the Reef's pristine environment. "They rely on the health of the Reef and is intimately involved in protecting its environment."

Added Professor Hughes, rising sea levels are unlikely to impact the Reef. "I don't believe there is a conflict between environmental concerns and commercial interests.

It's already underwater, and a few more centimeters over the next few decades is not going to have an impact on the Reef."

Other destinations which should be protected, according to the CFS report, include the entire Greek capital of Athens, Italy's Amalfi and Croatia’s Dalmatian coast in Europe, and the Florida Everglades in the US is also on the list.

In Asia, Nepal's Kathmandu and Taj coral reed in the Maldives should limit their tourism activities.

Commented a German tourist, interviewed while on a trip to the Reef, one of the best ways to appreciate and work towards protecting an eco-destination is to visit it. "If visitors can't visit it, what will prompt them to fight for its protection?" she asked.

Source: Yusof Sulaiman l eTN Asia/Pacific

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“Global Travel and Tourism is set to cater for over 1,000 billion tourists and to provide jobs for over 9% of the global population by 2010” says Tourism Concern, Britain’s biggest and most vocal tourism campaigning organisation. Launching an ambitious membership drive today, Tricia Barnett, Tourism Concern’s director said, “What enormous cost will we pay for this dramatic growth? More long-distance holidays extend our environmental footprint and contribute to global warming. Poverty-stricken countries precious water is often squandered on rich wasteful tourists. Mass tourism’s low prices mean local workers frequently work for a pittance in sweatshop conditions. Big organisations and authoritarian governments deny local populations’ and worker’s rights to make a fast buck and then move on to where the pasture is greener.

Behind the Smile

The heartbreaking aspect of tourism desecration - the smiles of tourism workers who cannot afford to complain, were hauntingly shown at a recent Tourism Concern- sponsored photograph exhibition - “Behind the smile - the Tsunami of tourism”. “Our holidays may desecrate beautiful local areas and reduce our host workers to the status of servility,” said Ms Barnett. “And this is not only the case in resorts – UK travel workers are frequently underpaid, under trained and overworked – many travel and tourism organisations rely on low pay to deliver profits.”

Eliminate Tourism Poverty

“We all know it doesn’t have to be like this,” said Ms Barnett. “Everybody could benefit from the global tourism boom. It just needs more thought, more care, more education and more understanding of tourism impacts to reap tourism’s vast potential for good and eliminate tourism poverty”.

Membership Drive

“Concerned travelers, holidaymakers and business travellers – all could all benefit from joining Tourism Concern to become more aware of the reality behind their travel and holidays. Membership costs from just £2 a month and could be a very valuable and worthwhile investment for anybody choosing a holiday”

Fair Trade Tourism

“In recent months, we’ve launched the “Ethical Travel Guide” and seen major developments in “Fair Trade Tourism”. We think now is the time for like-minded people to join our cause and assist our campaigns against tourism outrages and for our movement towards ethical and fair-trade tourism”. Tourism Concern campaigns include their “Sun, Sand, Sea and Sweatshops” campaign exposing the appalling conditions of tourism workers around the world. Recently, Tourism Concern has renewed its call for a boycott of tourism to Burma and has engaged in a headline-hitting fight against Hilton Hotels’ “Greenwashing”. The organisation recently published the “Ethical Travel Guide” and is behind the campaign to certify “Fair Trade Tourism”.

Source: eTurboNews

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Southlake, Texas (Business Wire) - With growing optimism among people that they can have a positive impact through travel, Travelocity employees have created a multifaceted initiative called Travel For Good(sm). Last week, the company launched its Go Zero program to help customers reverse climate change and enhance forests and wetlands through forestation programs. Now, under the Travel For Good initiative, Travelocity is kicking off a program called Change Ambassadors to help bring the idea of "voluntourism" to a broader, mainstream audience. As part of the program, Travelocity is promoting National Public Lands Day on September 30, and is urging consumers to join its employees in volunteer events across the country.

Because one of the greatest barriers to getting involved is knowing where to begin, Travelocity's Change Ambassadors program is making it easy for volunteers to find opportunities to give a few hours of service at public lands near home or to spend part of their next vacation volunteering. Travelocity has teamed up with some of the top volunteer organizations in the country, including Cross-Cultural Solutions, Earthwatch, and Globe Aware, all of which can all be accessed through the Travelocity website at www.travelocity.com/travelforgood.

In a 2006 Travel Forecast poll conducted by Travelocity, 15 percent of respondents said they planned on taking a volunteer, education or religious trip this year. Whether building homes, working in schools and orphanages, teaching language skills, installing computers or helping endangered species, people are simply looking for ways to give back and get more involved in important causes.

"More and more people are realizing that some of the most rewarding trips involve volunteering here in the U.S. or abroad, either to give back to the places they visit or help to people in need," said Jeff Glueck, Chief Marketing Officer of Travelocity. "In fact, this program came from passionate employees who believe we can help our customers take their travel experience to a new level by getting involved in something that will have a lasting impact on them."

Change Ambassadors Grants

A key component of the Change Ambassadors program are grants that will be awarded to people who have demonstrated long-term contributions through volunteering, but do not have the financial means to take a volunteer vacation. A similar grant will be made available to employees. More details on applying for the grant will be available to www.travelocity.com/travelforgood in the coming weeks.

National Public Lands Day

A voluntourism trip may be as exotic as someone applying their skills in places as far flung as China, Thailand or Africa or it could involve traveling stateside to an area in need of rebuilding, such as the Gulf Coast in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. It could even be as simple as a family spending a day of their vacation clearing paths in a national park.

To support and encourage volunteer efforts close to home, Travelocity is promoting participation in National Public Lands Day (NPLD), the nation's largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands that Americans enjoy. On Saturday, September 30, Travelocity employees will be volunteering at parks in the following locations: Dallas; Las Vegas; New York; Plains, PA; San Francisco and West Palm Beach, FL. Travelocity will send invitations to customers encouraging them to join in select locations, or any of the National Public Lands day efforts. More details can be found at www.travelocity.com/travelforgood, or the NPLD site, which lists volunteer opportunities nationwide www.publiclandsday.org. Additionally, The Roaming Gnome is already traveling across the country with the National Public Lands Day team in a Toyota Highlander Hybrid to help spread the word and increase participation in this year's National Public Lands Day efforts.

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Beginning Sept. 8, Hertz will roll out a fleet of 35,000 vehicles as part of its new Green Collection of fuel-efficient, environmentally-friendly rental cars.

The fleet -- which includes everything from Toyoto Camrys to Hyundai Sonatas -- will be available at Hertz locations at 50 major airport locations across the U.S. More locations will be added during the year, Hertz said.

All of the vehicles are Environmental Protection Agency highway rated at 28 miles-per-gallon or better. At least 18,000 of the vehicles are SmartWay certified, meaning the vehicles are designed to limit their impact on both greenhouse gases and air pollution.

The Green Collection joins Hertz's growing list of specialized vehicles including the Prestige Collection of luxury cars and the Fun Collection of sports vehicles.

Hertz is "the only major car rental company offering reservable vehicles that are right for the times for specific consumer segments," Hertz CEO Mark Frissora in a statement.

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From Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

INCLINE VILLAGE, NV (August 2006) – READ (Rural Education and Development) Nepal, a project of Lake Tahoe, Nevada-based READ Global, has received the 2006 Access to Learning Award from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The award was presented on August 21 during a special ceremony at the International Federation of Library Associations’ General Conference in Seoul, Korea.

READ Nepal earned the honor—which includes a $1 million award—for its pioneering approach to providing no-cost computer and Internet access to Nepalis, and for its commitment to promoting information and literacy. A non-governmental organization based in Kathmandu, READ Nepal was founded by Incline Village resident Dr. Antonia Neubauer in 1991. She is currently Board Chairperson of READ Global, the international parent organization of READ Nepal.

“It is a tremendous honor to have the efforts of our hard-working team acknowledged by the Foundation,” said Dr. Neubauer. “To receive an award that will help sustain READ Nepal as it helps rural communities learn to be self-sustaining is the best kind of synergy.”

In Nepal, among the least developed and poorest countries in the world, nine out of 10 people live in rural areas and one in three lives below the poverty line. Only 50 percent of adult Nepalis can read or write. To address the country’s educational, economic, and social inequities, READ works with local communities to establish rural community libraries throughout the country that serve as centers for information and learning.

“The success and local support of our program shows the crucial need for greater access to information and technology in the developing world,” said Sharad Babu Shrestha, Executive Director of READ Nepal. “Even in the poorest communities we serve, families that can only contribute a handful of rice to sell in support of the library construction are strongly committed to developing new resources that will help their families and communities prosper and grow.”

READ Nepal provides seed funding to design, build, furnish, and stock libraries, train librarians, and launch an income-generating enterprise in each community to help pay for the library over the long-term. Host communities are involved in all stages of planning and implementation and are responsible for contributing at least 20 percent of the start-up costs.

“READ is a model program for countries throughout the developing world because it provides strategies for communities to develop and maintain access to information over the long-term,” said Martha Choe, director of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Global Libraries Program. “READ’s approach reinforces our belief that public libraries serve a vital function in communities and that by providing access to information and learning, libraries can enable people to improve their lives and those of generations to come.”

The community-run, income-generating projects are paramount to READ’s success. These community businesses have included a furniture factory, a printing press, a stationery store, a grain mill, a fishpond, as well as ambulance, rickshaw, storefront rental, telephone, and x-ray services. Often the projects have raised considerably more than library operations require and have funded additional community development projects, such as childcare centers, health clinics, and literacy centers.

Now in its seventh year, the Access to Learning Award is administered by the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications. The funds will help support READ’s library development projects and will specifically expand its capacity to provide information technology to communities throughout the country.

The award will also help to increase the number of computers available in libraries, support the development of a community Internet network that can reach remote areas not yet served by the existing communications infrastructure, and bring new interactive educational and medical resources to the libraries.

For More Information

For more information about READ Global and READ Nepal, visit www.readglobal.org. For more information about the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, visit www.gatesfoundation.org.

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About READ Global

Founded in 1991, READ Global is responsible for developing a network of self-supporting library community centers in rural Nepal, which has served as the organization’s beta site. READ Global’s sustainable rural development model strengthens economic, educational and social infrastructure by helping communities to help themselves. Candidates for the next phase of READ’s global expansion plan include India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Bhutan, Nicaragua and Ecuador. www.readglobal.org.

About The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to reduce inequities and improve lives around the world. In developing countries, it focuses on improving health, reducing extreme poverty, and increasing access to technology in public libraries. In the United States, the foundation seeks to ensure that all people have access to a great education and to technology in public libraries. In its local region, it focuses on improving the lives of low-income families. Based in Seattle, the foundation is led by CEO Patty Stonesifer and Co-chairs William H. Gates Sr., Bill Gates, and Melinda French Gates. www.gatesfoundation.org.

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