Sustainable Tourism is the Key

Sustainable and responsible tourism is something I feel very strongly about. It is something that I am trying to implement in my job now and I see it being a reality sooner than later.

In all my travels I strive to make as little a footprint as possible, and to give back in one way or another.

In Zambia I spent a day in a rural village with the local children, playing and providing them with school supplies and clothes.

In South Africa I spent the day touring Cape Town and the surrounding area with a former resident of District 6 and a survivor of Apartheid.

In Thailand and Cambodia I visited orphanages and brought with me reading and colouring supplies and had memorable days with amazing warm and loving children

In Vietnam I met with Agent Orange victims of the America War and spent time with local families learning about their way of life,

And in Laos I attended morning alms-giving and provided food to the Buddhist Monks and helped new Laos friends with their English school work and communication skills.

I took all local transportation (outside of flights required to get from North America to Africa and Asia), I ate local foods and bought locally made and traditional gifts and clothes.

All of this brought me closer to the people and places of where I was. All of it made the experiences more important to me. It opened my eyes to things I thought I knew about, but realized I had no understanding of. I made me want to go home and do more.

I aim to just do that in 2011.

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted by consensus at its 65th session three separate resolutions emphasizing the role of tourism in sustainable development. The three resolutions, on the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, on the promotion of ecotourism, and on the importance of sustainable tourism for Small Island Developing States stress the significance of the sector to the development agenda in terms of sustainability, employment, and poverty elimination. The resolutions further welcomed the efforts and work of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in promoting sustainable tourism for poverty eradication.

Read more here: UN General: Sustainable Tourism is Key for Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication: