Green initiatives

There are dozens of worthy initiatives in the industry and thousands of enthusiasts driving these. The key, experts say, is to keep at it and instil a passion and attitude of innovation to stay on top of the issues.

INITIATIVES MAKING A DIFFERENCE

The Responsible Tourism movement was established in 2002, following the Cape Town Declaration – an event that drew attention to the world’s diversity as the very basis for tourism, and pushed for responsible and sustainable initiatives to solve local issues in each destination.

Driver of the movement, Professor Harold Goodwin, set up a masters programme in the UK, first at Leeds University and now Manchester Metropolitan University’s International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) to train professionals in the ideals of responsible tourism. The programme has trained more than 400 professionals. In December 2013 he extended the movement to South East Asia, setting up an ICRT ASEAN hub in Bangkok with Professor Walter Jamieson to serve as the focus for a number of responsibly oriented tourism initiatives in the ASEAN region.

Examples of local agenda and local priorities have been implemented in Brazil and South Africa and more recently in the state of Kerala, India, where it was announced that the local government “will roll out the red carpet only for those investors who are willing to be ‘responsible tourism’-compliant in a 1,000 point system divided over sustainable management (200); socio-cultural responsibility (250); economic responsibility (250); and environmental responsibility (300).”

CARBON MEASUREMENT

Following demand from corporations and individuals to understand their carbon footprint while on the road, a Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative (HCMI) was rolled out in 2011: a methodology that allows, for the first time, to calculate and communicate the carbon footprint of hotel stays and meetings in a consistent and transparent way.

Over 15,000 hotels around the world have adopted HCMI to date. The HCMI was worked out by the International Tourism Partnership, the World Travel & Tourism Council, and 23 global hospitality companies. It is robust enough to meet global carbon reporting standards but also practical enough for any hotel to implement, from huge casino hotels to small bed and breakfasts.

COMMUNITY CARE

Global Business Travellers Association (GBTA) has a sustainability programme called Project ICARUS for business travel and meetings management, focusing on three primary areas: economics, environment and social impact.

According to GBTA, the business travel industry has a duty of care not just to its employees, but those individuals, communities and cultures touched by business travellers and suppliers.

Managed through a series of volunteer committees in each region, Project ICARUS is a widely recognised and respected Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility programme within the industry. The Head of the programme, London-based Bernard Harrop, is taking it to Asia this year.