WTM Official Press Releases

WTM

05 Aug 2010

Industry gets behind WTM World Responsible Tourism Day

Record Number of Companies Join Fight

More companies than ever before have applied to participate in WTM World Responsible Tourism Day – the only global campaign, in association with the UNWTO, to inspire and educate the industry to actively help save the planet.

More than one hundred large and small travel and tourism companies have already applied to use the official 2010 WTM WRTD logo ahead of the actual day on Wednesday 10 November.

The applications are currently being studied to ensure that they meet WTM World Responsible Tourism Day’s strict criteria.

Regardless of whether they are able to attend the occasion at World Travel Market in London, many plan to mark the day in their own special way with press conferences, exhibitions, trade fairs, presentations, fun runs, family competitions and picnics.

“The industry faces extremely difficult and challenging times, not only economically, but also on core issues such as sustainability, climate change, conservation and poverty reduction”, said Fiona Jeffery, Chairman of
World Travel Market and a responsible tourism pioneer of over the past 16
years.

“This is one of the reasons why responsible tourism is becoming fundamental to
operators and destinations and why WTM World Responsible Tourism Day has
captured so much industry attention worldwide.

“Consumers are demonstrating their concern and I am delighted that the industry
is beginning to respond positively.”

The applications are currently being studied to ensure that they meet WTM World Responsible Tourism Day’s strict criteria.

Once approved, successful applicants can use the official WTM WRTD logo for this year on its sales, marketing, letterhead, direct mail and PR materials as well as enjoy considerable business, publicity and profiling benefits.

Participants will be invited to the highly popular WTM WRTD networking reception on the day at ExCeL London, attended by 300 people. They also receive listings in the WTM catalogue, route planner and WTM WRTD website.

A programme of presentations, debates and seminars, featuring international responsible tourism experts is planned on WTM Responsible Tourism Day.

This includes a prestigious opening ceremony, hosted by Stephen Sackur, presenter of BBC World’s flagship current affairs programme HARDtalk and presentation of the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards, organised by responsibletourism.com.

There are 13 categories and a panel of 13 judges who will decide who are the most committed responsible tourism destinations and dedicated industry professionals.

Among successful WTM World Responsible Tourism Day applicants are:

Africa – Africa Inside Out; Cape to Cape Adventure Ltd; The Dreamcatcher Foundation; Karibu Rwanda Ltd; Nyore Tourist Village; West Africa Discovery.

Americas – Exploring Horizons Ltd; ICRT Belize; Red de Turismo Responsible; Tropic Journeys in Nature; TrotaMexico; Mayaland Resorts; Consulting 27; ICRT Belize; and Pure Brazil by Venturas.

Asia – Agri Tourism India; Community Action Treks; ConCERT; Footprint Vietnam Travel; Grass Routes; Malaysian Discovery; Rimo Expeditions; Selena Travel.

Australia and New Zealand – Crystal Creek Meadows; Ecotourism Australia.

Europe/UK – Eco Turkey; La Fundación Ecoagroturismo; GreenStep; Ruka and Phya Ski Resorts, Finland; Travel2help.org, Finland; Viator Travel, Dubrovnik Tourist Board; Villa Pape, Croatia;

Included in the UK are: Travelbound, part of TUI Travel; Traveltalk; Adventure Alternative; CHILLOUT 365 Ltd; Future Sense; SkiBound; Way Out Experiences Ltd; Celticos Ltd.

For more information or to apply for a WTM World Responsible Tourism logo, log on to www.wtmwrtd.com. Alternatively contact the WTM WRTD co-ordinator Araminta Sugden on the WRTD hotline telephone +44 (0) 1892 535943.

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About World Travel Market
World Travel Market, the premier global event for the travel industry, is the must-attend four-day business-to-business exhibition for the worldwide travel and tourism industry.
Almost 46,000 senior travel industry professionals, government ministers and international press, embark on ExCeL - London every November to network, negotiate and discover the latest industry opinion and trends at WTM.
WTM, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2009, is the event where the travel industry conducts and concludes its deals.
World Travel Market 2009 will be the catalyst for £1,139 million of travel industry deals over the following 12 months, independent research from Fusion Communications reveals. On average exhibitors will agree deals of £22,361 as a direct result of WTM 2009.
World Travel Market is owned by the world’s leading events organiser Reed Exhibitions (RE), which organises a portfolio of other travel industry events including Arabian Travel Market and International Luxury Travel Market.
RE holds more than 500 events in 38 countries throughout Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific covering 47 industry sectors including aerospace & aviation, healthcare, manufacturing and sport & recreation.
In 2008 RE, part of the Reed Elsevier group, brought together more than six million industry professionals from around the world generating billions of dollars in business.

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