The Hindu Business Line : Responsible tourism: Meet says more needs to be done

Kochi, March 24 The four-day Second International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations concluded here on Monday with the call to challenge and expose stakeholders in the sector who pay lip-service to responsible-tourism practices.

This was among the points raised in the Kerala Declaration on Responsible Tourism which was released here.

The delegates from 29 countries were of the view that five-and-a-half years since the first conference in Cape Town, the travel and tourism industry has not made satisfactory progress in abiding by responsible-tourism practices, so as to achieve sustainable development.

The delegates called upon those involved in the Responsible Tourism movement to share their experiences of what works and what doesn’t, to redouble their efforts to use tourism to make better places for people to live in.

They affirmed to commit themselves to work with others and take responsibility for achieving the economic, social and environmental components of responsible and sustainable tourism.

Stress has been laid on the robust and transparent financial management of destinations, to empower the local community and ensure that the earnings are distributed equitably within the community.

The conference emphasised the need to reduce carbon pollution from the tourism industry. The Governments, tourism businesses, airlines, other forms of transport and consumers must prioritise carbon reduction, reduce the usage of fossil fuels, increase energy efficiency and use renewable energy.

In determining who are the responsible tourists and what are the responsible forms of tourism, the Kerala declaration stressed the need to rely more on the measurement of impacts rather than the self-declared motivations of the travellers or the companies concerned.

Recognising the role of government in leading an open and inclusive multi-stakeholder process to ensure economic and social development whilst conserving the environment.

More Stories on : Tourism | Kerala

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page