Sustainable Travel

Mexico Travel Marketplace, the travel industry tradeshow series that has frequented U.S. and Canada cities since 1995, has adopted the theme of Sustainable Tourism: Our Shared Legacy for its 2007 events. By introducing this theme, show producers hope to raise awareness with both industry suppliers and travel agents about sustainable tourism practices.

The Sustainable Tourism theme will be infused into the show’s destination and supplier presentations. “We will also encourage our exhibitors and sponsors to convey sustainable tourism practices and success stories with agent participants,” says Greg Custer, Vice President of Destination Ventures, Ltd.

Travel professionals in 16 cities will spend an informative evening learning about how their travel decisions can make a difference in protecting and conserving Mexico’s historic and natural treasures. In this unique educational setting, experienced presenters will cover sustainable tourism practices, how to partner with responsible operators, and challenge existing perceptions about true eco-tourism.

“Travel agents will come away with much more than a bag full of brochures,” says Custer. “And they’ll also be helping the long-term well-being of local communities across Mexico.” A portion of agent registration fees are to be donated to the World Heritage Alliance for preservation projects around Mexico’s 26 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Examples of practices that tourism companies can undertake to enhance sustainable tourism are:

• Minimize negative environmental impacts, and where possible, make positive contributions to the conservation of biodiversity, wilderness, or natural and human heritage.

• Promote travel that respects culture and traditions and recognizes the rights of all peoples to be involved in decisions that affect their lives and to determine their future.

• Have a written policy covering their environmental impact, employment and cultural policy.

• Identify the key environmental issues facing them and how to deal with them.

• Employ local guides and trip leaders.

• Provide training opportunities for local employees, including training in responsible tourism practices.

• Limit the size of its groups to minimize impact and maximize interaction with the host community.

• Have a “green” purchasing policy. In other words, a large proportion of their produce, building materials and services are sourced from the immediate local area. Alternatively, they have a fair trade policy.

• Employ business practices where monies spent by travelers remain in, or revert to, the local community.

• Work with local charities or conservation projects, or initiate projects of their own that “give back” to the community.

• Engage guests to reduce and use wisely both energy and products while enjoying their visit.

“Travel professionals have a responsibility not only to their clients, but to people in the places that their clients visit,” says Custer. “We hope that by raising awareness of these choices and their outcomes, we can positively influence the conscience of the industry as a whole.”

The Mexico Tourism Board-sponsored events will come to four Canadian and twelve U.S. markets in February through May of 2007. Here they will bring together Mexico's most important tourism suppliers with a small, qualified audience of travel professionals. A full calendar and details, as well as online registration, is available at www.mexicotravelmarket.com.