ATM puts the spotlight on responsible tourism
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Responsible tourism will headline several seminar theatre sessions at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2016.
This will be achieved as government legislation, increased focus on traveller footprint and impact of natural disasters on country economies are in the spotlight with regards to importance of effective sustainable travel strategies.
In 2015, ATM witnessed over 50 exhibitors with a responsible tourism focus, and the number is set to grow this year. Exhibitors including Ministry of Tourism of Indonesia, Namibia Tourism Board, Gray Line and FHRI Hotels & Resorts join other hotel groups, tour operators and airlines.
According to industry researchers, responsible travel trends for 2016 include seeking out locally sourced food, traveller interest in preservation of local culture and authentic experiences, ‘voluntourism’, pro-environmental hotel development and significant focus on energy saving by operators as well as guests.
“More and more companies are re-evaluating their business model to incorporate responsible tourism products and programmes, and are using this as a tool to attract ethically and environmentally minded guests and clients as well as to support local government efforts or in response to legislated change,” said Nadege Noblet-Segers, exhibition manager, Arabian Travel Market.
According to a 2014 Blue & Green Tomorrow’s consumer survey, 43% of respondents said they would be considering ethical or environmental footprint of their primary holiday, with almost 10% partially considering this when planning travel.
The UAE already has more than 5,000-square kilometres of protected natural areas with associated tourism opportunities. These include Dubai’s Ras Al Khor nature reserve, Fujairah’s Bird Island and Abu Dhabi’s extensive Desert Islands programme.
“Experiential tourism is another area where the Middle East needs to get into the traveller mindset and create added value by developing exciting, forward-thinking responsible tourism programmes, and our master class session will build on the discussions from the WTM London 2015 roundtable event,” added Noblet-Segers.
Sharjah’s new ecotourism project in Kalba, which is scheduled to open in 2017, is a good example of experiential tourism, and will include a turtle rehabilitation centre, visitor centre and bird of prey centre.
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