44 responsible tourism
44 responsible tourism © The Blue Yonder – Nila Foundation No Longer a Niche ITB Berlin: Taking Responsible Tourism Seriously CSR Day at the ITB Berlin Convention focuses on strategies for sustainable tourism and examples of best practices. This year’s ITB Berlin Convention will feature discussions on climate change, gender equality and the successful marketing of sustainable tourism products, with all sessions available to trade visitors free of charge. In sessions on 7 March 2013, topics will include tourist encounters with local residents, conflicts over water, a vital human resource, and protecting children from sexual exploitation. “Over the past four years we have used the CSR Day at the ITB Berlin Convention to place the topic of sustainable tourism centre stage”, said Dr. Martin Buck, Director of the Competence Center, Travel & Logistics, Messe Berlin. “This is our response to the growing importance of corporate social responsibility. The wide range of topics shows that CSR has long ceased to be a niche market, rather it has become an integral part of the global travel industry’s modern corporate philosophy.” The tourism think tank kicks off with Dr. Kelly S. Bricker, University of Utah, Chair of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council GSTC and Chair of The International Ecotourism Society TIES, whose keynote is entitled “Sustainable Tourism and ‘Millennium Development Goals’”. This will be followed by a discussion on gender equality and women at senior management level. Another topic is the effect that strategic decisions made by female management have on tourism products. This year’s Studiosus meeting is about “holiday encounters“. The discussion round will be talking about how to balance the expectations of tourists and local residents in a socially responsible way. Among the panel members are travel blogger Johannes Klaus, Gopinath Parayil, founder of The Blue Yonder India, Peter Strub, Managing Director, Studiosus, as well as Dr. Dietlind, Laßberg, Deputy Chairman, Tourismus und Entwicklung e.V. Dr. Stroma Cole, Senior Lecturer, Geography and Environmental Management, University of the West of England, will be speaking about the potential conflict between tourists and local residents over water, a vital human resource, and its availability. The ITB Destination Days will also be focusing on CSR topics. On 8 March 2013, a keynote panel will be addressing the subject of “Barrier-free tourism for everyone: the quality and success criteria for ensuring the marketability of destinations.“ Other events on the same day include Kaza, which involves five nations in southern Africa and is recognised as a beacon project furthering development cooperation. Tourism is making it possible for one of the world’s largest nature conservation projects to The wide range of topics shows that CSR has long ceased to be a niche market, rather it has become an integral part of the global travel industry’s modern corporate philosophy attain sustainability goals as well as economic and peace objectives. Ministers from Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia und Zimbabwe will be reporting on this groundbreaking project. Meanwhile, the example of the Hizir Treetop Camp in Turkey, founded and managed by Ahmet Yazman of Sarikiz Gida Turizmve Danismanlik Tic. Ltd. Sti., demonstrates that luxury and sustainability can still go hand in hand. Egypt’s tourism minister, the Hon. Hisham Zaazou, will be providing an insight into the country’s Green Star initiative. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has examined ways of measuring and controlling sustainable tourism and compiled a criteria list, implementation concept and monitoring system that will be presented at the ITB Workshop on 8 March 2013. More information on the CSR Day at the ITB Berlin Convention can be found at www.itb-kongress. com/program. ITB BERLIN NEWS • Wednesday 6 th March 2013 www.itb-berlin-news.com
45 HOSPITALITY / RESTAURANTS / BARS Where to goin berlin www.wheretogoinberlin.com CLUBS / EVENTS / SHOPPING / CULTURE The Governing Mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit, is delighted to once again be welcoming the global travel industry to ITB Berlin. He told ITB Berlin News what the event means to him and to the City of Berlin… ‘This City is a Living Work of Art’ Klaus Wowereit Governing Mayor of Berlin Hall 12 Stand 101 First of all, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to all the exhibitors and visitors of ITB Berlin. Berlin is now one of the most creative and culturally vibrant places in Europe. It is a city with a human face. A city that is much appreciated for its outward-looking and liberal atmosphere. And therefore it is a city one can love, and love living in. ITB being the Tourism Show, how do you feel this event fits into Berlin, and how important it is for the city ? It is a perfect match. Berlin is a top tourist destination having tripled the number of visitors in the last two decades since the fall of the wall. And it is an ideal place for fairs, congresses and conferences. Berlin is ranked number three behind London and Paris as a tourist destination and is among the top four venues for fairs, exhibitions and congresses worldwide. The city is seeing a number of new hotel projects coming to fruition. How do you see the future of this wonderful city? With regard to the current boom in tourism, Berlin’s tourism PR experts have analyzed what exactly makes Berlin so appealing internationally. They found out that Berlin was considered an allround work of art. Many said they were fascinated above all by the city’s history, its unique cultural density, its attitude towards life, and its quality of life. That is the reason why more and more hotels are built. What cultural Highlights might visitors to ITB be able to take in while thy are staying here ? The Museum of Islamic Art is presenting an exhibition on the legendary royal city of Samarra, north of Bagdad on the banks of the Tigris, which “Berlin is ranked number three behind London and Paris as a tourist destination and is among the top four venues for fairs, exhibitions and congresses worldwide.” served as the government capital of the powerful Abbasid Caliphate from 836 to 892. Equally interesting is the Nationalgalerie's collection of 19 th century German sculpture, the exhibition 'In the White Light' presents the public with a last chance to view the 36 sculptures together. Last but not least, the Egyptian Museum and Papyrus Collection is presenting an extensive special exhibition on the Amarna period at the Neues Museum on Berlin's Museum Island to mark the anniversary of the discovery of the bust of Nefertiti on 6 December 1912. www.wheretogoinberlin.com ITB BERLIN NEWS • Wednesday 6 th March 2013
