Norway Welcomed Summit on Sustainable Travel

As the tourist sector continues to address its part in accelerating global warming, the travel industry highlights the crucial role it can play in mitigating this threat.

Together with Innovation Norway and the US Travel Association, Tourism Cares held the Meaningful Travel Summit to figure out how to make travel a better experience for everyone involved.

More than fifty delegates from across the globe gathered in Tromso and Svalbard to explore practical ways to make the tourist industry more environmentally friendly and socially conscious.

University of Surrey professor Graham Miller, who specialises in corporate sustainability, coordinated the event's educational activities, while focusing on the way the most successful corporations are currently revamping their operations in order to attract new visitors.

“Climate change is dramatically changing the landscape of Norway and the impact on daily ways of life, Indigenous traditions and livelihoods, wildlife and, of course, the tourism product, is clearly evident. Travel and tourism can be a force for good in solving these massive global challenges,” added the CEO of Tourism Cares, Greg Takehara.

Seminars and discussions were held in Tromso to encourage critical thinking about ethical and environmentally friendly tourism. Sustainable supply chain development and sustainable tourism marketing were among the topics covered. Other panels discussed possibilities, such as company partnerships and the positive effects of tourism on local economies, as well as threats, such as aircraft pollution and the limitations of carbon offsets. At the end of the event, a group of Indigenous Sami community members discussed the pros and cons of tourism for their people.

Dog sledding and other in-destination outings were planned so that participants may see closely the impacts of climate change on Norway's ecosystems and local economies.

The summit then travelled to Svalbard, one of the most vulnerable places on Earth. At the event, Visit Svalbard discussed the difficulties of promoting tourism in the region, such as the need to strike a balance between tourism and environmental protection, and the impact that extreme weather has on tourists by making it impossible to reliably schedule outdoor activities. Tours of an ice cave and a snowmobile ride gave participants a taste of the region's wonderful tourist offering while also highlighting the dangers posed by warming temperatures.

“We want to contribute to driving positive change, and we believe that by coming together, by learning from each other and sharing thoughts and concerns, we can make real impact that matters.

“Our goal is to inspire action and infuse more sustainability into the business models of the tourism industry actors to help create businesses that are more purpose-driven and that have sustainability at the core of their operation, and not as a separate division or project”, concluded Hege Barnes, head of Innovation Norway North America.

source: travelpulse.com