Ghandi evoked during global tourism conference
Published on 22 April, 2013
Mahatma Ghandi's famous phrase - 'the future depends on what we do in the present' - was a key message on responsible approaches to tourism development given by a CQUniversity academic at the global conference of the United Federation of Travel Agents in Malaysia this week.
Steve Noakes, Head of CQUniversity's tourism and hospitality program, was an invited keynote speaker at the conference, which drew delegates from all continents.
Steve Noakes addresses the international conference
Green demand for responsible approaches towards tourism continues to grow, with a recent Trip Advisor (2012) survey of US travellers indicating that almost three quarters will make environmentally friendly travel choices and over half often make eco-friendly travel decisions, such as their choice of hotel, transportation, or food source.
"It's becoming increasingly evident to travel agents whose business is to sell tourism and travel products that green initiatives are important to both the consumers and the suppliers of services," Mr Noakes says. "They are certainly an increasing priority for hospitality businesses that are trying to reduce their environmental footprint."
Mr Noakes reminded the delegates of another of Gandhi's well known statements, relating it to unsustainable forms of mass tourism: ‘Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed'.
CQUniversity offers tourism courses within its degrees: Bachelor of Tourism, Bachelor of Business (Tourism) and Bachelor of Hospitality Management.
