Tourism event to parallel World Parks Congress
The Responsible Tourism Partnership with the Business and Biodiversity programme of the IUCN is planning to hold a parallel event in Durban 7-9 September 2003 to encourage responsible tourism in parks.
RTN said the idea of using tourism to contribute to the costs of conserving the world’s biodiversity is not new. At the last World Parks Congress in 1992 a progressive agenda for engaging with the tourism industry and in developing economic benefits for local communities who live in and around protected areas was adopted. The side event is intended to continue the dialogue between the tourism industry and protected area managers about how to harness tourism for the conservation of the world’s biodiversity.
RTN said it hopes to engage others in developing the programme.
The three day “trade event” is designed to attract businesses and professional groups which engage with parks and other protected areas in the broad field of tourism whether as operators, developers or through providing professional services. The event would also be designed to attract writers, journalists, and documentary makers who work in the world’s protected areas.
The target groups for participation in the event are:
Tour operators
National Parks and other protected areas agencies
Government policy makers in tourism, economic development environment and culture
National, regional and local tourist boards
Tourism Developers
Investors
Consultancy firms
Interpreters
NGOs with a significant interest in tourism CI, TNC, WWF
Bilateral and Multi-lateral development agencies and banks.
RTN said it envisages three themed days with debates and activities including a wildlife portfolio auction and a concessions auction.
Is tourism good for national parks?
What should tourism contribute to the financing of protected areas?
What’s in it for local communities?
To become involved, to make suggestions for activities and for further information, contact
Frank Vorhies IUCN’s Business Unit [email protected]
or
Harold Goodwin & Peter Nizette Responsible Tourism Partnership [email protected]
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