The first knowledge session at the Goa International Travel Mart (GITM) 2011, which was organised by ITB Berlin, addressed Responsible Tourism, which is predicted to triple in demand among international travellers over the next three years. A panel of experts discussed, as per their experiences, what can be done, should be done and has been done for Responsible Tourism. The panel consisted of Rika Jean-Francois, Sales Director - South Asia and Pacific and Commissioner for Corporate Social Responsibility, ITB Berlin; Aarti Mohan, Editor, The Alternative; Mini Chandran, General Manager, SwaSwara and Epifanio Barreto, Head - Centre for Responsible Tourism, Goa.
Jean-Francois gave a presentation on how the travel trade needs to rethink its strategies to become more responsible, more so because the evolving consumer demands it. She said, “In three years’ time, Responsible Tourism is going to triple in demand among international travellers, and intelligent and sustainable investments at micro and macro levels; and private, individual and governmental co-operation are the need of the hour to meet this demand.” |