24 March 2009

UK Minister to Launch UK Sustainable Tourism Framework at Travel Show

Barbara Follett MP

This years "Best of Britain and Ireland" will focus on sustainable tourism. The event will be launched by Christopher Rodrigues, chairman of VisitBritain, followed by Barbara Follett, Minister for Culture, Creative Industries & Tourism.

The Tourism Minister will introduce the long awaited Framework for Sustainable Tourism in England.

The Best of Britain and Ireland Sustainable Suite Programme is as follows:

Moderator for panels on Day 1 - Julia Hailes MBE

12.15 - 12.45 Making sense of sustainable tourism in England
Panellists:
• Julia Hailes MBE
• Barbara Follett MP
• Christopher Rodrigues CBE, VisitBritain
• Penelope, Viscountess Cobham, VisitEngland

13.00 - 13.45 Responding to Climate Change: perspectives from the South East, South West and Wales
Panellists:
• Emma Whittlesea, South West Tourism
• Paul Jeffries, Tourism South East
• Nigel Adams, Visit Wales

14.00 - 14.45 Voluntourism: how conservation holidays are changing the UK landscape
Panellists:
• Gill O’Brien, BTCV
• Tom Berry, EarthWatch
• Sally Broom, Your Safe Planet
• Stephen Chapman, Make Travel Fair

15.00 - 15.45 The Hoteliers’ Million-Pound Question: how to save a fortune by saving the environment
Panellists:
• Alexandra Hammond, Rezidor Hotel Group
• Rebecca Hawkins, Considerate Hoteliers Association
• Suzie Newham, Bedruthan Steps Hotel
• Vanessa Scott, Strattons Hotel

16.00 - 16.45 What happens next? Equipping future tourism professionals to keep things green

17.00 - 17.45 Coming clean: tour operators get serious about sustainability in the UK and Ireland
Panellists:
• Robin Worsnop, Rabbies Trail Burners
• Andrea Nicholas, GTBS
• Charlie Cornelius, Wild Green Travel
• Mary Mulvey, Greenbox

Day two - Friday 27 March

11.00 - 11.45 Green Destinations: GreenBox - Ireland’s Ecotourism Destination from idea to reality
Speakers:
• Mary Mulvey, Greenbox
• Noleen Tyrell, Ard Nahoo
• Mary Stack, Filte Ireland

12.00 - 12.45 Ecoescape forum
Marginalised or mainsteam? How the media responds to green tourism
Panellists:
• Debbie Hindle, BGB
• Catherine Mack, Freelance Journalist
• Valere Tjolle, TravelMole VISION on Sustainable Tourism
• Richard Hammond, Founder of greentraveller.co.uk
• Laura Burgess, Ecoescape

13.00 - 13.45 Green Destinations: addressing the different needs of rural and urban tourism destinations
. Panellists:
• Jon Proctor, GTBS
• Anthony Climpson OBE, New Forest District Council
• Sandra Barnes Keywood, Old Chapel Forge B&B
• Vincenzo di Maria, Insider London
• Faith Johnson, Peak District Environmental Quality Mark

14.00 - 14.45 Green Tourism Best Performers 2008
Presentation to the 12 best performing GTBS members in their grading (Bronze, Silver or Gold) for 2008.

Speaker:
Jon Proctor, Technical Director, GTBS