International Coalition of Tourism Partners ICTP News Releases

St. Eustatius Tourism joins ICTP's Council

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 09:21:28 GMT

ORANJESTAD, St. Eustatius - Hawaii- Brussels- Seychelles: – The St. Eustatius Tourism Development Foundation (STDF) has recently joined the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP). ICTP is a grassroots travel & tourism coalition of global destinations, committed to Quality service and Green Growth.

The STDF has teamed up with ICTP experts and partners to help educate people on the island about sustainable development and to enhance Statia’s Green Growth and Travelism initiatives.

“Green Growth is a strategy for achieving sustainable development and the STDF has been kick-starting growth for many years, in terms of sustainability and quality. The first sustainable conference brought a lot of awareness within the local community”, said Maya Leon-Pandt. “We have been educating our local community about the importance of sustaining a more nature and environment friendly island”.

ICTP President Professor Lipman said “Statia is a small island with a big green growth vision. This is why at ICTP we are convinced that it could become the living proof of successful green transformation. We will not only support its Sustainable Conference in September and help bring Distributed Renewable Energy solutions to the island, but we will also strive to show how such a microcosm of 4000 inhabitants can become a leader in Green Growth - attracting more visitors sustainably”.

This year’s conference is geared towards water preservation and ICTP will have a strong presence at the event. The Coalition looks forward to a long term fruitful collaboration with Statia.

About the St. Eustatius Tourism Development Foundation

The St. Eustatius Tourism Development Foundation is the agency responsible for promoting and developing tourism on St. Eustatius. The mission is to get the island Government to lend greater priority to tourism by providing adequate funding to effectively and efficiently promote tourism in key markets; ensuring a quality tourism product by introducing and controlling minimum standard requirements; preparing future generations to take on greater responsibilities within this sector by means of teaching tourism as a subject at all levels of the education system.

The STDF office is located at Fort Oranje, Oranjestad, St. Eustatius, Dutch Caribbean. Tel +599 318 2433, Fax +599 318 2433, Email: info@statiatourism.com

For more information please visit www.statiatourism.com
Please follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/page/St-Eustatius-Tourism/184630988242982

About ICTP

More information on ICTP: http://www.tourismpartners.org

Rwanda celebrates Mountain Gorillas through naming ceremony

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 17:32:59 GMT

Kigali - Rwanda will celebrate the birth of baby gorillas through “Kwita Izina”, the annual naming ceremony in Kinigi, Musanze on the 22 June 2013.

This was announced today by Rica Rwigamba, head of Tourism and Conservation at the Rwanda Development Board (RDB).

This year’s theme is “Celebrating Nature, Empowering Communities.” “This is the 9th edition of Kwita Izina. On this occasion, we are going to name 12 baby gorillas and 1 family. This is a celebration of these wonderful animals but also a way to thank all those who take care of them, starting from rangers, vets and the community living near their habitat,” she said.

Through the tourism revenue sharing scheme, RDB funds various community projects throughout the country.

This year, Maize Grinding Plant, a maize production cooperative near Nyungwe National Park will be launched. This women’s cooperative used to cut trees from the park to curve mortars for maize crushing.

Today, with the support of RDB, they have a modern grinding machine that has increased their production. They now supply maize flour throughout their area.

While unveiling this year’s Kwita Izina program, Rica Rwigamba said that this will be more than just one event but a series of events which will include community celebrations, launch of community projects as well as the Kwita Izina Caravan. This tour will go from Kigali to Kinigi passing by the different touristic attractions and community projects on that route.

All these activities are open to the public and more details can be available on the Kwita Izina website wwww.kwitizina.org and on various social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook and Flickr.

"Professor Geoffrey Lipman President of ICTP said "We are honoured to support this unique initiative from our friends in Rwanda. It is one of the most thoughtful engagements of a local community in conservation and tourism on the planet and the essence of a green growth strategy.

The CEO of the Rwanda Development Board make the announcement of the Gorilla naming competition in partnership with ICTP. Rwanda is a Council member of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP)

ICTP supports Myanmar’s bold new Tourism leap – calls for green growth leadership

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 12:45:01 GMT

Hawaii, Brussels, Seychelles, Nay Pyi Taw (Myanmar) : Attending the World Economic Forum’s East Asia Summit here today, Professor Geoffrey Lipman, President of ICTP and a Member of the WEF’s Global Agenda Council complimented the Government of Myanmar on its newly released Tourism Master Plan,

Presenting “Sustainability Principles” on behalf of the Forum’s “High Level Travel & Tourism Meeting” to U Atay Aung, the Union Minister of Hotels
and Tourism Lipman said that “We all believe, enthusiastically in
Myanmar’s vision and strategic planning, to boost Tourism as a vital tool
for development, job creation and nation building – we also believe that
with our continuing collective support, embodied in these “Guiding
Principles for Sustainability” in the sector, you will be able to put green
on the same page as growth.”

Lipman, who will moderate the Forum’s Travel & Tourism session also released a full supportive statement from The International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) as set out below.

Travel & Tourism – Shaping a Green Growth Roadmap for Myanmar

Myanmar is at a vital crossroads in its economic and social re-awakening.
It is one of the real examples in our lifetimes of a country with a chance to move rapidly and constructively from the backwaters into the mainstream
of global affairs. And to deal positively with its own transformational challenges and opportunities, while coping with those of the new orient centric, BRICS buoyant, hyperconnected world into which it is emerging.

It is clearly more than symbolic that the World Economic Forum is holding
its East Asia Summit in Nay Pyi Taw – the modern regenerated capital of
an ancient community, which has always been at the crossroads of Asia’s turbulent growth. It’s a sign of real confidence in the country and its socio-political evolution, from the worlds’ top business, government and civil society leaders who will be present.

Given the Summit’s theme of “Courageous Transformation for Inclusion
and Integration”, there is arguably no more relevant and challenging issue
on its agenda than Travel and Tourism. This cross sectoral,
transformational activity has emerged in the past decade as one of the
new change agents for economic and social inclusion and a pillar of the development framework.

Travel and Tourism has become one of the most dynamic drivers of the global economy, accounting directly and indirectly for 5-10 % of global
GDP, jobs and trade. It tracks closely the ebbs and flows of national and regional economic patterns and is way ahead of the curve in relation to today’s pivotal job creation focus. At the same time it is an activity that
every year moves billions of people around the planet domestically and internationally, with important carbon footprint, capacity impact and
resource consumption dimensions.

Here then is a key challenge for the new Myanmar, which has jumped up every travellers “must visit” wish list and of course is a massive growth opportunity for the travel industry and all of the other sectors that are cross fertilized by it. How to balance the potential positives for trade, job
creation, nation building and community well-being, with the potential negatives of congestion, exploitation and resource depletion?
How to do this in a coherent, measured way that is in the vanguard of
socio-economic transformation while ensuring that environment, human
and climate
impacts are kept within tolerable limits? Above all, how to do this while safeguarding the authenticity and beauty, which is the essence of the
country and its people?

Fortunately Myanmar is putting in place a plan for the progressive long
term sustainable development of the sector. With the support of the international finance and development community, as well as the active encouragement of the Forum’s Global Agenda Council, the Minister of
Hotels and Tourism, U Htay Aung will unveil a first draft of a master plan
for the sector, during the East Asia Summit. It is a welcome and timely initiative. And also a courageous sign of the vision of the government to
lay out its plans for open discussion of a central development issue for public peer review and input before not after the decisions have been
made.

As President of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners – a grass
roots organization of tourism destinations and stakeholders, committed
to green growth and quality – and as a participant in the Forum’s Travel
and Tourism Summit, I welcome the foresight and leadership of the
Government of Myanmar. We look forward to a plan that starts by putting green on the same page as growth and commits to pursuing both goals in harmony and at the same pace.

Professor Geoffrey Lipman
President International Coalition of Tourism Partners
Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar 6^th June 2013

About the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP):
The International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) is a grassroots
travel and tourism coalition of global destinations committed to quality service and green growth. ICTP engages communities and their stakeholders to share quality and green opportunities including tools and resources, access to funding, education, and marketing support.

ICTP advocates sustainable aviation growth, streamlined travel formalities, fair coherent taxation, and investments for jobs. ICTP supports the UN Millennium Development Goals, the UN World Tourism Organization's Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, and a range of programs that underpin them.

President of ICTP on the new high level Think Tank held during the World Tourism Forum, Lucerne.

Mon, 27 May 2013 15:04:16 GMT

I’ve been reflecting on the recent Think Tank that I had the pleasure of moderating during the recent World Tourism Forum in Lucerne – and how to get more attention focused on the conclusions of what the participants agreed was a very useful and thought provoking event. So here goes….

First there was a limited attendance with a mix of top level participants, and some bright young high tech savvy entrepreneurs and a very focused agenda – essentially on managing dynamic change. Then there were two superb keynote analyses – South African Tourism Minister Marthinus Van Schalkwyk on “Bridging the Policy Silos” and TUI’s Michael Frenzel on “Hyperconnectivity”, Finally there was a vibrant debate over 10 hours with no grandstanding or bureaucratically correct speeches and a simple focused set of action based conclusions. These were to the point and I believe relevant reading for anyone involved with the sector.

Michael Frenzel made the central point that hyper-connectivity means hyper-risk and hyper-opportunity. He identified bold new consumer centric strategies and decisive actions that will be needed to survive and win in a world, where markets are shifting rapidly towards the high population BRICS, where new hubs are linking all points on the planet, where technology is levelling everything and where more savvy, conscientious permanently plugged in customers will be king.

Marthinus Van Schalkwyk said that the enabling policy framework had to undergo equally radical changes if society was to get the benefits that travel and tourism can deliver. We have to move beyond talking to ourselves inside our own goldfish bowl and engage a cross spectrum of government agencies and institutions whose decisions can impede or accelerate the sector’s smart transformation to a sustainable driver of the global economy. He referenced the opportunity provided by the G20 recognition of the value of boosting Travel and Tourism for trade, jobs and development and called for cross sectoral action to capitalize on aviation and tourism’s synergies, on the impetus to facilitate e-visas, and particularly on the better allocation of funding for travel and tourism as a catalyst for sustainable development and poverty alleviation.

From the ensuing discussion three main points emerged:-

1. Smarter more customer focused strategies are needed to master the new hyperconnectivity. We will need to adjust quickly/nimbly to capitalise on our potential as a job creator/ development catalyst. The key point here being for companies and organizations to engage more proactively with their customers and the communities they operate in – directly but equally importantly through the built in interactive capacity of new media. And the word engage was meant to symbolize listen and respond objectively - with a strong emphasis on the swarming tendency and unforgiving nature of the hyperconnected crowd.
2. “Greener” growth is fundamental in a resource constrained world, with more and more demand, from huge numbers of increasingly techno savvy, environmentally aware customers. What this means is that growth in the future will not be as predictable, nor as linear as in the past. While the BRICS will clearly be the new drivers it would be dangerous to over rely on them given unpredictable socio-economic and climate realities and their own adaptational challenges. It’s also time to decisively put green on the same page as growth and give it the same policy focus, statistical assessment and integration into operational planning. And to use the increasingly available technology to bring the concepts of green and growth into a more measurable, comparably measured framework. We need to evaluate objectively and with enough granularity the results that our own and other sectors’ research and experience shows
3. We need new ways to convince Governments of the industry’s special cross cutting impact on jobs and socio/economic development. Finance Ministries, many of whom see travellers as a non-voting, higher income cash cow, need to be convinced, as do immigration and security ministries who generally see us as an added layer of complexity. The support of such Ministries is vital to unlocking the potential of the travel and tourism value chain, as is the support of international agencies, industry decision makers, at the top and bottom of the pyramid and ngo’s, as well as the traveling and host publics. In this new environment special attention should be paid to the financing issues where a sector that is responsible directly and indirectly for 5-10% of gdp (more in tourism centric regions) generally secures less than 1% of development financing. The disruptive thinking of young entrepreneurs has to be factored into the traditional thinking. The Secretary General of UNWTO agreed to host a stakeholders meeting on these issues, with special emphasis on aligned advocacy and securing equitable development funding for tourism at its intersection with the MDG’s/Poverty and the green economy.

In the final analysis, my own abiding thought remains that Travel and Tourism is so interconnected with other sectors like, manufacturing, services, telecommunications and construction that it is affected by “everything”. We are behind the curve in our response, comparatively slow to change from traditional systems and structures, dependent on big infrastructural frameworks/constraints, with massive numbers of new “wired” travellers” We have to become more customer and community focused and we have to change faster. The report would be useful reading for public and private sector policymakers as well as tomorrows leaders.” (see full report here).

Professor Geoffrey Lipman

President International Coalition of Tourism Partners.

ICTP supports the launch of a new wind turbine technology by its partner UGE and urges the Travel & Tourism sector to shift to renewable energies

Wed, 15 May 2013 20:36:29 GMT

Hawaii/ Brussels/ Seychelles- After more than a year of dedicated R&D, UGE is launching VisionAIR, its most advanced wind turbine yet. VisionAIR has been designed to maximize energy output for its users even at moderate wind speeds while maintaining its whisper-quiet operation, high quality, and aesthetic design.

ICTP President, Professor Lipman said: “One of our main goals is to help members embark in the Green Growth transformation, among other things by focussing on renewable forms of energy. And this is why we are very excited about this partnership with UGE.”Lipman added: “We want the Travel & Tourism communities and companies to take a look at this type of initiative in general, and at the innovation of our partner UGE in creating VisionAIR, in particular.”To support its members in their Green Growth and Quality endeavors, ICTP has partnered with like-minded companies that are outstanding in their respective field of activities.

And UGE is with no doubt a leader when it comes to deploying hybrid wind, solar and storage solutions. In essence, UGE’s expertise and restless innovation efforts in terms of distributed renewable energies (DRE) enable its clients to not only meet their power needs but also support their sustainability goals, ultimately helping global destinations to grow a smart, efficient and sustainable tourism industry.The uniquely tailored UGE offer for ICTP members is an initial site assessment and a solutions proposal free of charge.

For details please contact Marie-Julie Chaput at mjc@tourismpartners.org.

For the full UGE announcement, please click here:

About Urban Green Energy

With projects in 80 countries, including installations for several Fortune 100 companies, UGE is changing the face of distributed renewable energy at a global scale. UGE puts users in control of their energy source by deploying hybrid wind, solar and storage solutions, from commercial facilities in North America and Europe to resorts and telecom towers in developing countries. UGE’s technology advantage includes proprietary wind technology, site planning and deployment, power electronics, and remote monitoring and control systems, which are combined into best in class solutions at the nexus of energy cost, security and sustainability.

About the International Coalition of Tourism Partners:

:The International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) is a grassroots travel and tourism coalition of global destinations committed to quality service and green growth. ICTP engages communities and their stakeholders to share quality and green opportunities including tools and resources, access to funding, education, and marketing support. ICTP advocates sustainable aviation growth, streamlined travel formalities, fair coherent taxation, and investments for jobs. ICTP supports the UN Millennium Development Goals, the UN World Tourism Organization's Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, and a range of programs that underpin them.

ICTP applauds Peru Smart Visa initiative.

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:27:02 GMT

Lima, Hawaii, Brussels, Seychelles- The Internation of Coalition of Tourism Partners today expressed it's strong support for the Ministerial initiative of Peru, Ecuador and Colombia to create a common smart visa regime.

Speaking during the World Economic Forum Latin America's Tourism Summit, ICTP President Prof Geoffrey Lipman said " This is a much needed practical action to implement the industry call for smarter ways to move travellers across international borders without compromising security.

I have watched Minister Silva of Peru conceive and implement this initiative over the past 6 months and can only express admiration for his commitment to action rather than talk. ICTP will support this program as it expands across the region and opefully elsewhere on the continent"

ABOUT ICTP:
The International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) is a grassroots travel and tourism coalition of global destinations committed to quality service and green growth. ICTP engages communities and their stakeholders to share quality and green opportunities including tools and resources, access to funding, education, and marketing support. ICTP advocates sustainable aviation growth, streamlined travel formalities, fair coherent taxation, and investments for jobs. ICTP supports the UN Millennium Development Goals, the UN World Tourism Organization's Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, and a range of programs that underpin them.

Current ICTP members are: www.tourismpartners.org/partners

For more information, go to: www.tourismpartners.org

ICTP partners with UGE to promote innovation for a cleaner and greener future

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:47:20 GMT

Hawaii/ Brussels/ Seychelles: The International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) and Urban Green Energy (UGE) have agreed today to collaborate to promote innovation in general, and distributed renewable energy (DRE) in particular, as key elements of the Green Growth transformation.

Founded in 2008, UGE provides the only comprehensive distributed renewable energy solutions with the necessary versatility, durability and energy security to be implemented across the range of harsh environments its clients face. With projects in over 70 countries, including installations for several Fortune 100 companies, UGE is changing the face of DRE at a global scale.

Since its inception, UGE has endeavoured to provide economical solutions that not only meet the power needs of its clients but also support their sustainability goals. Through its various solutions, especially commercial energy solutions and street lighting, the company helps global destinations grow a smart, efficient and sustainable tourism industry. This is where it evidently comes together with the core mission of ICTP to encourage Green Growth and Quality across the Travel and Tourism value chain.

Nick Blitterswyk, the CEO of UGE, said “we feel so lucky to have partnered with ICTP, whose mission to promote sustainable tourism is very important to us. So much of tourism involves experiencing the beauty of the world, and yet it is often being powered by the very fossil fuels that are leading to climate change. Distributed renewable energy is now at the point where it can provide cost competitive power for hotels and resorts, while also enhancing reliability and helping with sustainability efforts. We look forward to working with ICTP and hotel and resort owners from around the world in making tourism more sustainable.”

Professor Geoffrey Lipman, President of ICTP added “UGE manages to combine professionalism, creativity and excellence to deliver outstanding green energy solutions. With its team of dynamic and experienced people, as well as its worldwide presence, we are convinced that they will bring value to our members. For instance, all our Council Members will have the opportunity to receive a free site assessment and preliminary site design from UGE’s in-house engineering team”. Professor Lipman went on by saying: “This major new initiative is a perfect illustration of the purposeful partnerships that ICTP intends to keep establishing with like-minded companies that offer quality products and services that contribute to Green Growth.”

This announcement was simultaneously made during the World Economic Forum in Lima, by Professor Lipman is and at WTM Latin America, Sao Paulo where ICTP is engaging with current and new members.

To receive more information on the UGE services, on our continually expanding Council Membership Program or to make an appointment at WTM Latin America (stand P07, April 23-25^th) please contact Marie-Julie Chaput, Membership Liaison at mjc@tourismpartners.org

The International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) is a grassroots travel and tourism coalition of global destinations committed to quality service and green growth.

ABOUT UGE:

With projects in over 70 countries, including installations for several Fortune 100 companies, UGE is changing the face of distributed renewable energy at a global scale. UGE puts users in control of their energy source by deploying hybrid wind, solar and storage solutions for use in the enterprise market, from commercial facilities to telecom towers in developing countries. Our technology advantage includes our proprietary wind technology, site planning and deployment, power electronics, and remote monitoring and control systems, which are combined into best in class solutions at the nexus of energy cost, security and sustainability.

More information on UGE: www.urbangreenenergy.com

ICTP president chaired the Tourism Think Tank preceding the World Tourism Forum Lucerne

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 17:54:37 GMT

Geoffrey Lipman, the President of the ICTP (International Coalition of Tourism Partners) and Chairman of the greenearth.travel was Chairman and Moderator of the two day sessions of the 2013 Tourism Think Tank that preceded the World Tourism Forum Lucerne.

Twenty known and respected tourism professionals were invited by the World Tourism Forum Lucerne to meet to discuss two points seen as important tourism challenges to tackle prior to the 2013 World Tourism Forum. Hyperconnectivity and Bridging the Silos.

Represented Governments at the Think Tank were the Minister for Tourism of South Africa, Mr Marthinus Van Schalkwyk and the Minister for Tourism and Culture from the Seychelles, Mr Alain St.Ange. Taleb Rifai, the Secretary General of the UNWTO represented the World Tourism Organisation and other tourism professional from across the world at the Tourism Think Tank 2013 were Martin Barth, the General Manager of the World Tourism Forum, Thea Chiesa, the Director Head of Aviation, Travel and Tourism Industries from the World Economic Forum of Switzerland, Anita Mendiratta, the Lead Consultant CNN T.A.S.K. Group, Martin Craigs, the CEO of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Michael Frenzel from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of TUI, Ian Goldin, the Director Oxford Martin School of the University of Oxford, Gloria Guevara Manzo, the Industry Expert and former Minister of Tourism from Mexico, Frank Kilbourn, the Chairman of the Board of the South African Tourism Board (SAT), Tom King, the Senior Vice President of British Airways, Nicholas Mayer, the Industry Leader Lodging & Tourism Clients from PricewaterhouseCoopers, Vijay Poonoosamy, the Vice President International & Public Affairs at Etihad Airways, Christopher Rodrigues, the Chairman of VisitBritain, Jurg Schmid, the director of Switzerland Tourism, Shaun Vorster, the Special Advisor to the Minister of Tourism of South Africa, Tom Windmuller, the Senior Vice President of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Reto Wittwer, the President & CEO of the Kempinski Hotels, Jessica Bruns, the Young mover & Shaper from TUI Germany, Ryan George, the Young mover & Shaper from Simpleview USA, Oleg Kafarov, the Young mover & Shaper from Jumeirah Group in the United Arab Emirates and Pascal Mathis, the Young mover & Shaker from GetYourGuide Switzerland.

An informal session opened the Tourism Think Thank 2013 where delegates discussed challenges they saw from their own perspectives and made propositions for discussion at the formal session of the Think Tank.

This session that went on until very late in the night is said to have been the opportunity for many a point seen by all as real challenges were tabled and debated freely.

The second day’s meeting is said to have been a more formal setting where Michale Frenzel of WTTC and TUI made a presentation on Hyperconnectivity and Minister Marthinus Van Schalkwyk presented a paper on Bridging the Silos.

This session went for virtually a whole day with frank, intense and very open discussions. At the end of the day’s work the decision is for tourism at large to see a united grouping of all tourism bodies to meet under the UNWTO to look at all the points discussed and seen as industry challenges.

UNWTO was asked to host a stakeholders meeting to consider how to better align fragmented initiatives to get governments to better recognize the value of Tourism to jobs and development funding specifically, and national policy generally.

The 2013 Tourism Think Tank was seen as being a real success and World Tourism Forum Switzerland was congratulated for the initiative and for being the hosts.

The International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) expresses condolences to the USA after the Boston marathon tragedy

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 03:30:26 GMT

LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND - The International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) has expressed its condolences to the USA following the Boston marathon tragedy. The President of the ICTP, Geoffrey Lipman and the Hon. Minster of Tourism and Culture for the Republic of the Seychelles, who is also a Founding Executive Board member of ICTP Alain St.Ange, said as they spoke to the press in Lucerne where they are attending the Think Tank at the World Tourism Forum at Lucerne, that the ICTP joins with the People of Boston and with the Government and People of the United States of America in this moment of grief.

“On behalf of our Chairman, Juergen Thomas Steinmetz and on our own behalf we wish to express our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the people of Boston, to all the marathon runners and to the spectators, to the President and Government of the USA, to the people of the United States of America and to the victims and families of this terrible act of destruction during the Boston Marathon. We pray that America has the continued strength and courage to cope with this difficult and trying moment” Geoffrey Lipman and Alain St.Ange said in Lucerne, Switzerland.

The Boston Marathon is a known annually run Marathon, and one that brings visitors to Boston and to the USA. The Marathon which this year had more than 24,000 runners is held each year on “Patriot’s Day” – a state of Massachusetts holiday commemorating the start of the American Revolutionary War (War of Independence) against the British Empire, that began with a battle at Lexington and Concord (near Boston) in 1775 with the “shot heard round the world.”

The ICTP President and Minister St.Ange from the Seychelles told the press that on behalf of the ICTP, they wanted to place on record their support for the great city of Boston and to the USA as a whole.

ICTP President honoured at 50th IH&RA Congress: pledges to collaborate on Green Growth.

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 22:24:06 GMT

Hawaii / Brussels / Istanbul - At the 50^th Annual Congress of the International Hotel and Restaurant Association held in Istanbul, Turkey outgoing President Ghassan Aidi inducted Professor Geoffrey Lipman as a Chevalier d’Honneur of the Association.

Citing Lipman’s commitment over 40 years as Executive Director at IATA, President of WTTC and Assistant Secretary General of UNWTO, Aidi said that “He has always been a leading advocate of Travel and Tourism as a force for positive change – economic, social and above all environmental.” He recalled his driving the landmark Davos Conference on Climate Change which sought to establish a positive sectoral response and thoughtful pursuit of sustainable development” He noted that only 30 such awards had been made in the 160 year history of the Association.

In his response, expressing appreciation for the award, Lipman said “ He was delighted that this came at a time when IH&RA had weathered the storms of recent years and was re-energising itself as a global hospitality leader. He paid special tribute to Dr Aidi’s vision and advocacy for private industry and committed that ICTP would collaborate closely with IH&RA in the common quest for Green Growth in the sector.”

During the meeting Lipman re-iterated the inevitable intensifying impacts of climate change – evidenced by extreme weather – and underscored the vulnerability of the sector with inadequate response – particularly the poorest tourism dependent communities. But he also emphasised the potential travel and tourism has as a transformation agent if it implements green growth strategies now. He said “We must drive the green agenda in complete lockstep with the growth agenda.- they are mutually reinforcing”

Futureshift joins International Coalition of Tourism Partners

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 22:23:19 GMT

HAWAII, USA; BRUSSELS, Belgium; VICTORIA, Seychelles; – The International Coalition of Tourism Partners announced today that Futureshift, a New York-based marketing consulting firm, has joined the coalition as a new member.

Futureshift specializes in market intelligence, strategic planning, and building digital communities. Its focus is on product and destination branding with emphasis on sustainability and green initiatives. Futureshift’s experience includes development and management of the strategic marketing plan for the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, the Chilean Image Campaign, and many food, wine, and tourism campaigns for countries around the world. Many of its clients include wine, food, and tourism together, and its current client roster includes the wine region of Rioja, Spain, Wines of Greece, and the Maine Lobster industry.

"We see ICTP as an organization that can both bring focus to sustainability issues for destinations and be an advocate of best practices for the travel and tourism industries. We look forward to being a part of the organization's growth and a participant in its programs. As an indication of our interest, we would like to offer ICTP member firms a 20% discount off of all our consulting and database services for all projects initiated before June 31, 2013."

Futureshift has developed its own proprietary software, DirectLink™, which enables it to ask open-ended questions of large databases, provide real-time analysis tools, instant segmentation and direct email access to people who fall in specific segments. This enables its clients to target market their customers based on their expressed needs and perceptions. It's a tool that doesn't exist elsewhere due to the complexities of contextual search and analysis. Clients who use DirectLink™ become smarter, faster, and build better relationships with their customers.

“That Futureshift comes on board as a new member and immediately offers all ICTP members a discount off their services is a great value. Futureshift is a leader in product and destination branding, and the fact that they work with an emphasis on sustainability and green initiatives, fits right in with the efforts of ICTP,” said Juergen T. Steinmetz, Chairman of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners.

The firm's founder, Jon Stamell, has 25+ years of experience in market research, strategic planning and marketing, including international consulting, expansion and acquisitions, brand management, image enhancement, ecommerce and multi-media. He formerly was CEO of the largest marketing communications firm in Northern New England and Chairman of Communitas Online, a market research company. He has spoken on destination branding at conferences around the world and has been profiled by CNN-TV and CNBC-TV. Jon is author of "Celebrate Your Mistakes (Irwin Publ., 1998) and FutureShift 2010, a study of U.S. consumer behavior for the Chilean Foreign Ministry. He received his B.A. from the University of Michigan, did graduate work at Harvard University, and received an M.B.A. from the University of Maine. On the side, Mr. Stamell is a published cartoonist and his cartoons, taking a satirical look at business and technology, can be found on the Internet and in various publications.

More information can be found at futureshiftnow.com and their blog, corporatemyopia.com

Are we moving toward sustainable “travelism”? It’s time to focus on visitor impacts as well as the economy

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 20:03:20 GMT

Professor Geoffrey Lipman discusses how we are becoming more environmentally responsible tourists and why we must make a step change in our reality, to “put green on the same page as growth” See the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2013 and the related chapter on Green Growth, Travelism & Glocalization

Someone famously said that “an elephant is a very hard thing to define, but if you see one running down the street, you know what it is very quickly”. It’s rather the same about sustainable travel and tourism – we’ve stopped describing it and started to recognize it. Now we have to move further and faster if we want to harness its immense positive reality.

Twenty years ago at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit – when the modern approach to sustainable development was set out in Agenda 21 – the focus was on preserving the planet’s resources. For our sector, it was very much about ecotourism that often translated into: “take pictures, leave footprints”. Back then, our industry was not seen as a major polluter so it was under limited pressure to embrace the new sustainability mind-set. The big thing then was notices in hotel bathrooms telling guests to save the planet by not changing their towels every day.

Ten years later at the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development the mood had shifted from planet to people and poverty. Against the background of the Millennium Development Goals, we moved on to a broader idea of responsible tourism with an emphasis on ensuring that local populations don’t suffer from tourism’s influx and with a growing focus on creating economic benefits and jobs.

Now after Rio+20 we have seen another “sustainability” shift to green growth – a geopolitical paradigm to respond to the big social, economic, environment and climate challenges of today and the population-driven resource challenges on the horizon. This is not so much a defined set of initiatives, guidelines or even policies, but a multi-decade journey with periodic targets and checkpoints to create sustainable consumption, production and investment patterns for every activity on the planet.

Our industry has also begun to come of age as a mainstream socio-economic sector, with recognition of its job-creating importance. At the same time, the climate and economic-driven rethink of the last decade has broadened our environmental engagement, highlighting carbon impacts – particularly from transport and old inefficient buildings. It has begun to place increasing attention on local jobs as well as lifestyle impacts. It’s also focusing on renewable energy, biodiversity conservation, resource efficiency and social inclusion. And there is talk of visitor impacts alongside the visitor economy.

Eventually, somewhere on this multi-decade transformation journey, sustainable “travelism” – transport, hospitality, travel services, hard and soft infrastructure and local impacts – will meld with the evolving mainstream societal sustainability. Because the sheer numbers of travellers, boosted by massive emerging markets like China, India, Brazil and South Africa have such a physical and psychological impact on the communities they visit. Green Growth will mean that we must pay as much attention to the green as we do to the growth. We must measure it just as seriously and we must act on it with just as much priority.

Hopefully if we move far enough fast enough, there won’t be any need for notices in hotel bathrooms about changing towels. Our industry will have sustainability – environmental, social, economic and climate - at the core of its operational strategy. The next generation will have learned that in school. Our leaders will put green on the same page as growth - because it’s instinctive as well as right: And the communities at the base of the pyramid will have a powerful role in shaping their own destiny. It’s at local level that the real visitor impact is felt – good and bad. For that to happen we have to both recognize the elephant for what it is and change our actions towards it now.

Geoffrey Lipman is President of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners – a grass roots organization for destinations and their stakeholders promoting green growth and quality and a Member of the WEF Global Agenda Council on new Models of Tourism. He I also lead author of “Green Growth & Travelism; Letters from Leaders.

By: Geoffrey Lipman adapted from World Economic Forum Blog – March 2013

TravelWizard.com joins International Coalition of Tourism Partners

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 11:48:12 GMT

HAWAII, USA; BRUSSELS, Belgium; VICTORIA, Seychelles; BALI, Indonesia – The International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) announced today that TravelWizard.com has joined as a member.

TravelWizard.com is based in San Rafael, California, USA and was founded by Robert McMillen. In addition to in-depth online travel guides, TravelWizard.com is highly regarded for their stellar technology that runs a massive library of high-definition videos.

In 2012, independent sources verified their videos received more than 307,000,000 views. Said McMillen, “In many cases the supplier videos contained on our site receive hundreds of times more views than they are seeing on their own sites.”

TravelWizard.com is a five-year Magellan Award winner for Best Online Travel Guide. They have been recognized by companies such as Discovery Travel Channel, NBC Sports, Conde Nast Traveler, Forbes Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal. Travelwizard.com was picked by the NBC Today Show to orchestrate the perfect honeymoon destination for their "Throw a Wedding" show.

ICTP Chairman Juergen T. Steinmetz said: “We are pleased to have TravelWizard.com join our coalition. Their expertise in the area of online travel guides is outstanding, and they will bring a valuable knowledge base to our membership.”

ABOUT ICTP: The International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) is a grassroots travel and tourism coalition of global destinations committed to quality service and green growth. ICTP engages communities and their stakeholders to share quality and green opportunities including tools and resources, access to funding, education, and marketing support. ICTP advocates sustainable aviation growth, streamlined travel formalities, fair coherent taxation, and investments for jobs. ICTP supports the UN Millennium Development Goals, the UN World Tourism Organization's Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, and a range of programs that underpin them. ICTP has over 100 destination members (tourism boards) and more than 500 private stakeholders.

ICTP Executive Board
Juergen Thomas Steinmetz, eTurboNews, Haleiwa, HI, USA Chairman
Professor Geoffrey Lipman, greenearth.travel, Brussels, Belgium, President
Feisol Hashim, Alam Resorts, Bali, Indonesia, Vice Chairman
Hon. Alain St. Ange, Minister of Culture & Tourism, Victoria, Seychelles, Vice President

ICTP Council Members:
Mohamad Abosalem, Waleed Tours, Cairo, Egypt
Elsia Grandcourt, Seychelles Tourism Board, Victoria, Seychelles
Byron Henderson, Travel Registry Management Company, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
Charles Lindo, St. Eustatius Tourism Development Foundation
Otunba Segun Runsewe, director general, Nigerian Tourism Development Corportation
Aviva Pearson, Simpleview, Tucson, Arizona, USA
Rica Rwigamba, Rwanda Development Board, Kigali, Rwanda
Laura Vercueil, Johannesburg Tourism Company, Johannesburg, South Africa
Pascal Viroleau, Ile de La Reunion Tourisme, La Reunion (French Indian Ocean Territory)
Anna Yushkova, Pacific Island Club, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands

ICTP Advisory Board
Louis D'Amore, International Institute For Peace Through Tourism
Dr. Elinor Garely, University of New York
Sandy Dhuyvetter, TravelTalkMedia
Maga Ramasamy, Air Mauritius
P. V. Pramod, Director of Global Branding & Business Development
Carol Hay, Caribbean Tourism Organization

International Coalition of Tourism Partners welcomes Carol Hay of Caribbean Tourism Organization in its Advisory Board

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:29:00 GMT

Hawaii, USA; Brussels, BELGIUM; Victoria, SEYCHELLES, Bali, INDONESIA: ICTP Chairman Juergen Steinmetz and President Geoffrey Lipman met with the Director of Marketing UK & Europe of the Caribbean Tourism Organization Carol Hay to discuss how to join forces to position the Caribbean as a Quality destination “Leading Sustainable Tourism.”

They discussed opportunities around a strategic 2050 Roadmap, digital marketing and responsible investments for Green Growth projects in the region.

Towards the end of the meeting, Mr. Steinmetz offered Mrs Hay to join the ICTP Advisory Board.

This invitation is seen as a way to strengthen the ICTP collaboration with the Caribbean and to publicly support the Green Growth and Quality strategies of the region as a whole, but also of all its individual members.

ABOUT ICTP:

Council membership privilege is currently extended to Elsia Grandcourt, Seychelles Tourism Board; Byron Henderson, Travel Registry Management Company, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA; Charles Lindo, St. Eustatius Tourism Development Foundation; Monika Maitland-Walker, Tourwise Ltd., Jamaica; Otunba Segun Runsewe, Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation; Aviva Pearson, Simpleview, Tucson, Arizona, USA; Rica Rwigamba, Rwanda Development Board, Kigali, Rwanda; Laura Vercueil, Johannesburg Tourism Company, Johannesburg, South Africa; Pascal Viroleau, Ile de La Reunion Tourisme, La Reunion (French Indian Ocean Territory); Anna Yushkova, Pacific Island Club, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands.

ICTP Advisory Board members: Louis D'Amore, International Institute For Peace Through Tourism; Dr. Elinor Garely, University of New York; Sandy Dhuyvetter, TravelTalkMedia; Maga Ramasamy, Air Mauritius; P. V. Pramod, India; Carol Hay, Caribbean Tourism Organization.

Executive Board members: Juergen T. Steinmetz, eTurboNews, Hawaii; Prof. Geoffrey Lipman, Brussels; Hon. Alain St.Ange, Minister of Tourism & Culture, Seychelles; Feisol Hashim, Alam Resorts, Bali, Indonesia.

For more information, go to: www.tourismpartners.org

ICTP announces Msuna Safaris and Travel as newest member

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 11:53:49 GMT

HAWAII, USA; BRUSSELS, Belgium; VICTORIA, Seychelles; BALI, Indonesia –

The International Coalition of Tourism Partners announced that Msuna Safaris and Travel of Zimbabwe has become its newest member. Brian Kaluna of Msuna Safaris and Travel said: “We are truly honored to be part of the ICTP family.

Through ICTP, we will be able to further push our initiatives for sustainable development of the tourism industry in the Southern African region, mainly in Zimbabwe. “Our lodges are built to the highest standard, and designed to blend in with the natural environment so as to preserve the original look of the area. We use local resources including materials for the building of our facilities, and our staff members come from the local area ensuring that we play our part in boosting the local economy.”

Msuna Safaris and Travel operates Hippo Creek Lodge in Masvingo, the oldest colonial town in Zimbabwe and home to the Great Zimbabwe ruins, and they also operate Sunbird Lodge in Nyanga, and Villa de Macova made up of thatched huts in a small coastal resort town of Inhassoro in Mozambique.

ICTP Chairman Juergen T. Steinmetz said: “Msuna Safaris and Travel shares ICTP’s passion of green growth. They work to minimize their carbon footprint not only in the destinations they serve but also aim to extend this to other regions. Msuna Safaris and Travel is well aware that by conducting their business according to these green standards is to everyone’s benefit, and they are making sure the next generation will be able to enjoy these resources.”

“We have found a perfect partner in ICTP, and through this we can achieve our goal,” Mr. Kalunga added.

For more information about Msuna Safaris and Travel, please contact: Brian Kalunga, +1 443 714 5827, bnkalunga@gmail.com

ABOUT ICTP:

The International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) is a grassroots travel and tourism coalition of global destinations committed to quality service and green growth. ICTP engages communities and their stakeholders to share quality and green opportunities including tools and resources, access to funding, education, and marketing support. ICTP advocates sustainable aviation growth, streamlined travel formalities, fair coherent taxation, and investments for jobs. ICTP supports the UN Millennium Development Goals, the UN World Tourism Organization's Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, and a range of programs that underpin them. ICTP has over 100 destination members (tourism boards) and more than 500 private stakeholders. Council membership privilege is currently extended to Elsia Grandcourt, Seychelles Tourism Board; Byron Henderson, Travel Registry Management Company, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA; Charles Lindo, St. Eustatius Tourism Development Foundation; Monika Maitland-Walker, Tourwise Ltd., Jamaica; Otunba Segun Runsewe, Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation; Aviva Pearson, Simpleview, Tucson, Arizona, USA; Rica Rwigamba, Rwanda Development Board, Kigali, Rwanda; Laura Vercueil, Johannesburg Tourism Company, Johannesburg, South Africa; Pascal Viroleau, Ile de La Reunion Tourisme, La Reunion (French Indian Ocean Territory); Anna Yushkova, Pacific Island Club, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. ICTP Advisory Board members: Louis D'Amore, International Institute For Peace Through Tourism; Dr. Elinor Garely, University of New York; Sandy Dhuyvetter, TravelTalkMedia; Maga Ramasamy, Air Mauritius; P. V. Pramod, India; Carol Hay, Caribbean Tourism Organization. Executive Board members: Juergen T. Steinmetz, eTurboNews, Hawaii; Prof. Geoffrey Lipman, Brussels; Hon. Alain St.Ange, Minister of Tourism & Culture, Seychelles; Feisol Hashim, Alam Resorts, Bali, Indonesia.

For more information, go to: www.tourismpartners.org .

International Coalition of Tourism Partners collaboration with World Tourism Forum Lucerne

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:26:06 GMT

Hawaii/ Brussels/ Seychelles- The ICTP and World Tourism Forum Lucerne re-affirm their collaboration at ITB Travel Trade Show in last week Berlin, germany with focus on Green Growth

ICTP President Geoffrey Lipman met with the General Manager of the Forum Martin Barth to discuss ways in which they could extend their shared interest in the Green Growth transformation of the sector.

They discussed the new World Tourism Forum ‘Think Tank’ that Lipman will chair and met with Marthinus Van Schalkwyk Tourism Minister of South Africa and Dr Michael Frenzel, Chairman TUI Travel PLC.

Dr Frenzel will deliver a keynote paper on Hyper-connectivity and Minister Van Schalkwyk on Bridging the Silos, to help explore new directions for the industry.

20 thought leaders from the Travel & Tourism sector will meet on 16th and 17th April, along with leading young social entrepreneurs to consider strategic change driver.

ABOUT ICTP:

The International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) is a grassroots travel and tourism coalition of global destinations committed to quality service and green growth. ICTP engages communities and their stakeholders to share quality and green opportunities including tools and resources, access to funding, education, and marketing support. ICTP advocates sustainable aviation growth, streamlined travel formalities, fair coherent taxation, and investments for jobs. ICTP supports the UN Millennium Development Goals, the UN World Tourism Organization's Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, and a range of programs that underpin them. ICTP has over 100 destination members, including: Anguilla; Aruba; Australia; Bangladesh; Belgium, Belize; Brazil; Canada; Caribbean; China; Croatia; Cyprus; Ecuador; Egypt; Falkland Islands; (The) Gambia; Georgia; Germany; Ghana; Greece; Grenada; India; Indonesia; Iran; Italy; Jordan; Kenya; Korea (South); La Reunion (French Indian Ocean); Malawi; Malaysia; Mauritius; Mexico; Morocco; (The) Netherlands; Nicaragua; Nigeria; Northern Mariana Islands (USA Pacific Island Territory); Romania; Sultanate of Oman; Pakistan; Palestine; Philippines; Portugal; Rwanda; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; South Africa; Sri Lanka; St. Eustatius (Dutch Caribbean); St. Kitts; St. Lucia; Sudan; Swaziland; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Trinidad & Tobago; UAE; Uganda; USA; Yemen; Zambia; and Zimbabwe.

For more information, go to: www.tourismpartners.org

ICTP announces C-Quest Diving Safaris as newest South Africa member

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 08:12:18 GMT

HAWAII, USA; BRUSSELS, Belgium; VICTORIA, Seychelles; BALI, Indonesia – The International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) announced that C-Quest Diving Safaris has recently joined as a member. C-Quest Diving Safaris is a scuba diving tour operator in South Africa that works predominantly with groups.

Its slogan is “scuba travel like never before!” and they also use a build-up slogan: “we educate, we experience, we explore!” Renee Coetzee of C-Quest Diving Safaris said: "We joined ICTP to feel part of something that makes a difference, like us, one step or person at a time, to nurse this world and its people back to a healthy existence that may be loved and enjoyed.”

At C-Quest Diving Safaris, they educate and brief groups before the tour around the country they will be visiting in order to educate them about the cultural habits and marine life they will encounter, as well as the cultural excursions they will be taking during the trip. In this manner, visitors may embrace the cultures of the countries visited and respect their habits.

During the trips, visitors also watch educational DVDs such as “Oceans,” “The Blue Planet,” and “Life,” and tour guides assist in training with marine life conservation. ICTP Chairman Juergen T. Steinmetz said: “We are pleased to welcome C-Quest Diving Safaris to our growing membership. The way they educate their tour participants about the culture and marine life they are about to experience definitely supports the philosophy of quality travel.”

For more information about C-Quest Diving Safaris, visit: www.cquestdiving.co.za .

ABOUT ICTP:

The International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) is a grassroots travel and tourism coalition of global destinations committed to quality service and green growth. ICTP engages communities and their stakeholders to share quality and green opportunities including tools and resources, access to funding, education, and marketing support. ICTP advocates sustainable aviation growth, streamlined travel formalities, fair coherent taxation, and investments for jobs. ICTP supports the UN Millennium Development Goals, the UN World Tourism Organization's Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, and a range of programs that underpin them. ICTP has over 100 destination members, including: Anguilla; Aruba; Australia; Bangladesh; Belgium, Belize; Brazil; Canada; Caribbean; China; Croatia; Cyprus; Ecuador; Egypt; Falkland Islands; (The) Gambia; Georgia; Germany; Ghana; Greece; Grenada; India; Indonesia; Iran; Italy; Jordan; Kenya; Korea (South); La Reunion (French Indian Ocean); Malawi; Malaysia; Mauritius; Mexico; Morocco; (The) Netherlands; Nicaragua; Nigeria; Northern Mariana Islands (USA Pacific Island Territory); Romania; Sultanate of Oman; Pakistan; Palestine; Philippines; Portugal; Rwanda; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; South Africa; Sri Lanka; St. Eustatius (Dutch Caribbean); St. Kitts; St. Lucia; Sudan; Swaziland; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Trinidad & Tobago; UAE; Uganda; USA; Yemen; Zambia; and Zimbabwe.

For more information, go to: www.tourismpartners.org

ICTP and Simpleview adds a new dimension to ITB Berlin

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 15:30:32 GMT

In a partnership unrivaled by any other exhibitor at ITB Berlin, the world’s leading travel trade show taking place from the 6-10th of March, three organizations have come together to create a place where destinations can discuss Digital Tourism and Green Growth.

Simpleview, the Digital Tourism Think Tank (DTTT) and the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) are holding a series of workshops and events at Hall 18, Stand 118 to promote knowledge sharing and best practice in the tourism industry around the themes of Digital Marketing and Green Growth.

Simpleview (www.simpleviewinc.com) is the industry leader in Destination Management Systems (DMS) serving more than 250 Destination Management Organizations and Tourist Boards around the globe. Simpleview is a Council member of ICTP.

The creators of the world’s most powerful DMS, Simpleview’s award winning destination management software integrates the Simpleview Content Management System (CMS) allowing for complete website management and the Simpleview Customer Relationship Management System (CRM), creating efficiencies and allowing for the most effective management of tourism within a destination.

In addition, Simpleview’s Internet Marketing Services department services destinations for SEO, PPC, Social Media Management and Media Buying engagements.

Workshops will be held on CRM, CMS, and Search Engine Marketing techniques.

The DTTT is a new initiative promoting excellence and knowledge sharing in the tourism industry. It includes a new platform thinkdigital.travel the annual Digital Tourism Innovation Campus and a year-round program of workshops.

Sponsored by Yahoo!, The European Travel Commission and European Best Cities, the DTTT will be hosting a year-round programme of workshops to help destinations master the complexities of an ever changing digital landscape. In addition, the DTTT will be providing a digital tourism performance ranking for the global tourism industry, highlighting best practice, excellence and innovation. Workshops will be held on topics including Digital Planning and Strategy, Engaging the Blogger Community and Campaign Optimization.

ICTP (www.tourismpartners.org) is a grassroots travel & tourism coalition of global destinations committed to Quality Services and Green Growth, representing destinations and private industry stakeholders wanting to increase competitiveness through cooperation, networking and a commitment to green growth.

ICTP helps member destinations and their stakeholders share quality, establishing new business, networking and green opportunities including tools and resources, access to funding, education and marketing support.

Workshops will be held on topics such as Crowd Funding Workshops and Green Growth.For more information on the schedule or workshops and programmes, please go to www.tourismpartners.org/events

International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) President & Chairman at the Carnival in Seychelles to pledge support to the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 10:42:45 GMT

Geoffrey Lipman writes:- I attended my first Seychelles Carnival this month …hopefully it won’t be the last (a reflection not on my advancing years but on what a great event it turned out to be).

It made me think about the opportunities for our sector when you really engage at the local level, when you think people all the time, when you reach out for likeminded collaborators and when you leverage the immense power of the media – social and traditional. There are few people who understand this better than my friend Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles ebullient Tourism Minister and his equally skilled Director Elisa Grandcourt. For three days of sheer enjoyment for residents and visitors, I watched them handle with calm and charm, the uncertain weather, massive influx of tourists, unpredicted drama’s and the constant high levels of excitement that great events engender.

By great Carnival standards – like Brazil, Trinidad or Notting Hill (all represented amongst the 20+ Floats and world class entertainers) this was small scale - but Seychelles, and even the larger Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands Group are small countries and as the economist Schumaker famously said “small is beautiful” in his essays “Economics as if People Mattered” I have the feeling that Alain St.Ange and his team absorb this stuff for bed time reading.
The challenge of course will be how to keep that beautiful feeling as the Carnival grows in the years ahead, how to keep partners engaged, how to keep visitors enthralled and above all how to keep locals happy. Even more so if the rumours of oil in the territorial waters harden. My old friend, the founding President of Seychelles, Sir James Mancham says that the key is in the Creole people who have absorbed so many ethnicities into their dna, that they are capable of adapting to change with a smile and equanimity.

It might also be something in the nature of the land and its broader population. Seychelles is also special in its geography and biodiversity. A granite extension amongst an ocean of volcanic intrusions, it’s said to be at the pivot point of the great Gondwanaland split when India and Asia drifted north and Africa went south. Unique animals – like the giant tortoise, vegetation like the legendary coco de mer nut and I’m told the best bone fishing you can find on the planet.

What becomes even more interesting is when you extend the tourism potential out to the entire Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands Group – the sophisticated beauty of Mauritius, the romantic Gallic flair of La Reunion, the raw untapped beauty of Madagascar and the under developed Indian Ocean charm of Comoros and Mayotte. All joined umbilically to the emerging tourism colossus of Africa with its I billion strong market, vast natural resources acting as a magnet to Chinese trade and tourism exports with growing links through the massive Gulf travelism air-hub.

This is an unlimited, untapped, potential in an emerging, global, green economy where nature, heritage and experiences will be at the core of tourism demand and seamless airline service is at the heart of product delivery.

It’ why I was so excited to represent ICTP – the International Coalition of Tourism Partners - at the Carnival along with our Chairman Thomas Steinmetz and to pledge our support to the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands in their quest for Green Growth and Quality. We will look at how to build a Green Growth 2050 roadmap; how to get better air services and how to increase investment using Crowdpacting internet systems. Which of course means going back to see the results of our collaboration next year – at Carnival time of course ….…it’s a tough job but someone has to do it.

Tobago’s Cruise and Rail Travel joins ICTP

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 07:45:22 GMT

HAWAII, USA; BRUSSELS, Belgium; VICTORIA, Seychelles; BALI, Indonesia – The International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) announced that Cruise and Rail travel International Ltd. in Tobago became its newest member.Ms. Thalissa McClure, Managing Director of Cruise and Rail Travel International, said: “We are pleased to have been accepted into such a distinguished organization as the International Council of Tourism Partners.

As a business that is focused on helping the next generation understand the connectedness of the world, our partnership with ICTP will help us to promote green growth and sustainable development locally, with a louder voice.”Cruise and Rail Travel International Ltd., located on the eco-tourism island of Tobago, is a tour operator and cruise-oriented travel agency that provides leisure and educational travel through cruises, rail tours, and all-inclusive packages.

In connection with its student tours and educational travel, the company offers teachers the opportunity to take their students on educational tours to Latin America, Europe, and the Caribbean to develop or refine foreign language skills, and examine history, geography, natural science, and social sciences from a personal perspective.

ICTP Chairman Juergen T. Steinmetz said: “Tobago is a premiere eco-tourism destination and has won several prestigious eco awards including the World Travel Awards Best Eco Destination in the World and the Caribbean Travel Awards Committee No. 1 Eco Destination in the Caribbean. We are happy to welcome Cruise and Rail Travel International to our membership.”

For more information, visit www.cruiseandrail.net .

ABOUT ICTP

The International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) is a grassroots travel and tourism coalition of global destinations committed to quality service and green growth. ICTP engages communities and their stakeholders to share quality and green opportunities including tools and resources, access to funding, education, and marketing support. ICTP advocates sustainable aviation growth, streamlined travel formalities, fair coherent taxation, and investments for jobs. ICTP supports the UN Millennium Development Goals, the UN World Tourism Organization's Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, and a range of programs that underpin them. ICTP has over 100 destination members, including: Anguilla; Aruba; Australia; Bangladesh; Belgium, Belize; Brazil; Canada; Caribbean; China; Croatia; Cyprus; Ecuador; Egypt; Falkland Islands; (The) Gambia; Georgia; Germany; Ghana; Greece; Grenada; India; Indonesia; Iran; Italy; Jordan; Kenya; Korea (South); La Reunion (French Indian Ocean); Malawi; Malaysia; Mauritius; Mexico; Morocco; (The) Netherlands; Nicaragua; Nigeria; Northern Mariana Islands (USA Pacific Island Territory); Romania; Sultanate of Oman; Pakistan; Palestine; Philippines; Portugal; Rwanda; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; South Africa; Sri Lanka; St. Eustatius (Dutch Caribbean); St. Kitts; St. Lucia; Sudan; Swaziland; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Trinidad & Tobago; UAE; Uganda; USA; Yemen; Zambia; and Zimbabwe

For more information, go to: www.tourismpartners.org