Die Reisemesse The Travel Fair 6. - 8. Februar ... - Kanu Basis Mirow

Es ist daher meine Hoffnung, dass
Veranstaltungen wie der Reisepavillon
2004 eine nachhaltige Reisephilosophie
auch außerhalb der
Fangemeinde von Ökotouristen und
alternativen Reiseveranstaltern
bekannter macht.
Ich wünsche dem Reisepavillon
2004 viel Erfolg!
Tourism is one of the largest and
fastest-growing businesses; the
World Tourism Organisation calculated
that over 650 million people
went on holiday in 2000 alone.
Income from tourism has become
indispensable for underdeveloped
regions and countries - but its
consequences can undermine economic
development: higher demand
for energy and water, contamination
of ground water, and of the
coast by untreated sewage, and
waste disposal are only some of
the problems. Commercial distortion
of holiday countries' social
and cultural structures is just as
alarming as attacks on their often
fragile ecosystems.
Reisepavillon 2004's motto is 'Holidays
in, by and on the water'.
Coastal regions, islands and coral
reefs are among the most sensitive
ecosystems. Rising sea levels threaten
to engulf island states. In the
last 20 years human activity has
destroyed coral reefs. These 'prime-
6 / 7
val forests' of the sea, among the
richest ecosystems on our planet,
are threatened by sedimentation,
building in coastal regions, pollution
and harmful fishing.
There are promising ways to make
tourism more environmentally and
socially sound. Tourism income can
be channelled directly to nature
conservation, above all if the local
population shares the gains. Only
when fauna and countryside retention
benefits people will we see
successful species protection.
Another important approach is
ecotourism, promoted so successfully
by Reisepavillon. During the
2002 International Year of Ecotourism
travel operators and governments
passed guidelines on retaining
nature and culture, and raising
the quality of life and prosperity
of local people and partners.
Ecotourism's market share is still
only five percent; I hope events
like Reisepavillon 2004 will promote
sustainable travel beyond the
circle of ecotourists and alternative
holiday companies.
I wish Reisepavillon 2004 much
success!