‘Where responsibility meets opportunity’ is where tourism faces its threats
Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Chair Peter Semone delivered an impassioned keynote address, October 4, on the eve of PATA Travel Mart 2023 in New Delhi, India.
This “Good Tourism” Insight version was published with Mr Semone’s blessing.
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“GT” is attending PATA Travel Mart at the kind invitation of PATA and thanks to the generosity of the event hosts, the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
Two existential threats
As we gather here in New Delhi for the PATA Travel Mart 2023, the world is entering a critical time. We are living in a time where opportunities are boundless.
However, the risk of devastating crises that can destabilise global well-being is at an all-time high. I don’t have to remind you of the pain that we experienced with COVID across the globe.
The reality is that humankind is facing two existential threats that have the potential to devastate the travel & tourism industry. These two crises, if they escalate any further, will make COVID pale in comparison.
I refer to:
- Climate change
- Geopolitical and social unrest
Think about it. Without nature there is no tourism. And without peace there is no tourism. And a world without tourism is a place with a lot fewer jobs and less robust economies, particularly in developing countries.
Without tourism, the prospects of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals would be even more challenging than it already is. In 7.5 years (half the time of implementation), we have only achieved 18%.
You might say: “No big deal.” “Not my problem.” “There are other people that deal with implementing the SDGs.” “Not in my wheelhouse.” “Not my responsibility.”
Well according to the United Nations, failure to achieve the SDGs may fuel greater political instability, upend economies, and lead to irreversible damage to the natural environment. If that happens, tourism will be decimated.
The imperative of our time
Sustainability is not merely a buzzword; it is the imperative of our time. It is the bridge that connects our ethical obligations to the vast opportunities that lie ahead.
By embracing sustainability, we can drive economic growth, foster innovation, and create prosperity for all.
It is no longer a question of whether sustainability is good for business, it is a question of how we can integrate sustainability into the very core of our business models and practices. It is each of our responsibility, our moral obligation, to recognise the consequences of our choices and to act accordingly.
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Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism HE Edmund Bartlett suggests that it is time that we take personal responsibility for ensuring a sustainable future for us, our children, our grandchildren, and generations to come. Minister Bartlett and leaders of the many other so-called Small Island Developing States are acutely aware of the damage climate change is already bringing to island communities.
Personal responsibility is when you take … continue reading at The “Good Tourism” Blog
