Press Releases

Aruba: Airbnb and Aruba Tourism Authority sign MoU to 'democratize tourism industry'

On Sunday in Aruba, Airbnb and the Aruba Tourism Authority signed a significant agreement to continue to cooperate to drive sustainable tourism in...

Read more: Airbnb and Aruba Tourism Authority sign MoU to continue partnership to drive sustainable tourism - WIC News

Las Kellys recognised for their work defending hospitality worker rights

Hotel Worker Rights Group wins "TO DO Award" for Human Rights in Tourism

Seefeld, 06/02/2019 – The Institute for Tourism and Development (Studienkreis für Tourismus und Entwicklung) will give the “TO DO Award Human Rights in Tourism“ 2019 to the Spanish association “Las Kellys“. In 2019, the internationally recognised prize will be awarded for the third time already. It was announced in cooperation with the Roundtable Human Rights in Tourism and Studiosus Reisen. The award ceremony will take place at ITB in Berlin.

The name of the Spanish association “Las Kellys“ reflects what they do, as in Irish it means “warriors“. The association fights for the rights of chambermaids in the hospitality sector. Tourism in Spain is booming. In 2017 the country welcomed more than 80 million guests. However, this favourable economic situation does not benefit everybody – far from it.

Saudi Arabia: Five Caves to be developed for Ecotourism

Saudi Arabia has reportedly identified five caves where it plans to launch ecotourism destinations this year. Saudi Geological Survey (SGS), the ...

Read more: Saudi Arabia identifies five caves for ecotourism drive

World Wetlands Day 2019: Statement by Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

Video Statement by Martha Rojas Urrego, Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

United Kingdom: Essex's Othona, an eco community open to visitors

Essex was once a hotbed for alternative communities. Working holidays now offer peace and purpose in one of the few surviving examples. At first glance the village of Purleigh, on the Dengie peninsula in Essex, does not look like an obvious place for radicals. A crow is gently muttering to itself i...

Read more: Eastern Eden: a utopian community in Essex - The Guardian

Wonderful Copenhagen

Denmark: Copenhagen's Convention Bureau recognised as a Green Tourism Organisation

Wonderful Copenhagen, the Danish capital’s CVB has set a new environmental standard as a Green Tourism Organisation (GTO). The certification was set up to support destinations and organisations that do something extraordinary for sustainability.

Copenhagen is ranked second on ICCA’s Global Destination Sustainability Index and, as CMW reported recently, Wonderful Copenhagen launched its first strategy for sustainable tourism, Tourism for Good. It is one of the first strategy’s to address sustainable tourism from a both environmental, social and economic perspective. A key element of Wonderful Copenhagen’s strategy was to be a first mover.

Tourism's Burden is not always visible

Tourism's "Invisible Burden": Expert partnership undertakes major report on the impacts of Tourism Growth.

Bristol, 15 January 2019: The Travel Foundation has partnered with Cornell University and EplerWood International to analyse how the more damaging impacts of tourism's rapid growth can be better understood and managed globally.

After decades of steady growth, international tourist numbers surpassed 1 billion for the first time in 2012. The report shows that destinations across the world are not prepared for the unprecedented demands this has placed on them, leading to alarming reports of overtourism. With growth set to continue exponentially, reaching 1.8 billion tourists by 2030, a global crisis is looming.

While overtourism is an important symptom, the use of vital natural, social and public assets without recompense is highlighted as the core of the problem.  The report suggests that, wherever it exists, tourism places an "invisible burden" on destinations and their residents. The invisible burden leaves inadequate revenue to provide a sustainable foundation to manage the rapid growth of tourism worldwide.

Integrated Rural Tourism Development Event: Discovering rural wonders at their best and delivering them to the world.
Integrated Rural Tourism Development Event: Discovering rural wonders at their best and delivering them to the world.

Armenia: UNDP Implements Training for Effective Management of Sustainable Tourism Development

Yerevan, Armenia (13 December 2018) - Armenia shapes its future to be a unique sustainable destination, building capacities in effective tourism planning and managing. A diverse group of tourism and development professionals from across Armenia has joined a blended training program on PM4SD (Project Management for Sustainable Development), and successfully completed the first segment, a 3-week-long tailored online training course. The participants will then undertake an onsite face-to-face training session taking place in Yerevan (December 20-21, 2018), to complete their training and to prepare for the PM4SD-Foundation certification, accredited by APMG International.

Sustainable Tourism Professionals Gathered at the Annual GSTC Conference GSTC2018 in Botswana

The Global Sustainable Tourism Conference 2018 in Maun, Botswana, brought together 150 delegates from 26 countries, as well as hundreds of viewers joining the live broadcast of the conference.

An opening speech was given by His Excellency The Fourth President of the Republic of Botswana; Lieutenant General Dr. Seretse Khama Ian Khama. Other speakers came from near and far - from Botswana, different parts of Africa, and from further continents such as Asia, America, and Europe. Session topics included: "Destination Management – finding the right balance between overtourism and under-tourism"; "Wildlife Conservation and Tourism"; "Certification Body Collaboration Through Mutual Recognition or Shared Service"; "Recommendations for Market Access for SMEs"; "Achievements towards the 17 SDGs in the Tourism Sector"; and more.

New ETC Report calls for Visa Liberalisation for Chinese Travellers

New European Travel Commission Report calls for full Visa Liberalisation for Chinese Travellers

Brussels, 3 December 2018 - Europe’s visa regimes are among the most restrictive in the world according to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) which estimated that 74% of the global population would have required a visa to travel to Europe in 2015. This number largely accounts for visitors from long-haul source markets which are amongst the most valuable as they tend to stay longer and spend more per day than the average visitor. The European Travel Commission (ETC) has published a report quantifying the potential impacts of visa facilitation for Chinese travellers on European tourism.