Call for Action to Create More Resilient Tourism Economies
Fair Trade Tourism (FTT) is calling on all stakeholders in the tourism economy to make 2023 a year of action – one in which each of us takes steps, big and small, to create more resilient destinations. No matter the role played by a business in the tourism economy, efforts to ensure inclusivity across the sector, conservation of biodiversity, and climate action is everyone’s business and best achieved by learning from each other and working together.
Although Fair Trade Tourism (FTT) has been supporting businesses in this transition to fairer, more responsible tourism operations for nearly 20 years, the organisation is rolling up its own “sleeves” even more, announcing a recently launched online sustainability management system and support framework.
By making use of digital technology, FTT has been able to bring together two decades of learnings from the organisation and its members under a single umbrella. The platform provides step-by-step guidance for all tourism businesses, no matter what their starting point might be. From explanations and examples of industry applications, through to templates, tracking tools and webinar recordings, businesses will have access to a user-friendly, digital solution to accelerate their responsible tourism actions. There is even an opportunity for industry peers to provide endorsements of goods and services they have sourced to help them in their own journey.
Lisa Scriven, FTT’s Program Manager, looks forward to the platform’s potential to unlock opportunities to engage more businesses in this network of like-minded businesses: “There is such rich experience of inspiring action amongst the ‘family’ of Fair-Trade Tourism members. The challenge has always been how to share that effectively so that the sector can see what is possible, understand how (and why) to pivot their own operations, and become a source of inspiration to those around them.
This catalytic influence is what is required to effect the change we need to regenerate the systems on which we all depend. Of course, collaboration is the most efficient and effective way to achieve this, so FTT is set up to play its part.” Businesses can explore the online platform and register as a member to access the full system through the “Member Corner” on https://www.fairtradetourism.org/. Or contact FTT for a demonstration of how it works, to obtain more information about how you can get involved, or to reach out with suggestions of other ways to collaborate.
