PAWTUCKET – The new mantra in the world of tourism is sustainability. Sustainable tourism is not a trend, but an economic imperative – and it’s a profitable business strategy. And it has become the new quality measure in travel.
Those were the messages that Costas Christ, global traveler, correspondent and tourism expert, brought to a forum about building sustainable tourism in Rhode Island. Thursday’s event, hosted by the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council and its laboratory for sustainable tourism, drew more than 100 participants – including city planners, Rhode Island tourism officials, marketing firms that target baby boomers and sustainabilty advocates.
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Christ made the business case for sustainable tourism. Ten percent of the global economy is tourism, he said, and there were 900 million “tourist arrivals” globally last year. That figure is expected to be 1.4 billion in 2020.
Christ shared how many of the major players in the tourism industry are responding:
• By 2015, a top executive at Boeing predicted that “algae-based biofuel” will be used to fuel jets; 90 percent of the company’s research and development is focused on more sustainable fuel.
• Hay Adams in Washington, D.C., a luxury hotel where the Obamas stayed before moving to the White House, is the first to receive a luxury eco-certification.
• Zagat’s, the restaurant guide, has issued a green survey; Travelocity has launched a sustainable travel Web site; AAA is revamping its rating system to include sustainability as a factor; and Marriott is redefining its image as a leader in sustainability.
The director of tourism in Rhode Island, Mark Brodeur, announced his plans to develop a five-year plan for Rhode Island tourism, which he expects to release in May. Sustainable tourism will be a component of the plan, he indicated.
Robert Billington, president of the Blackstone Valley, was buoyed by the overflow crowd. He hoped that the morning and afternoon workshops would lead to new opportunities to promote sustainable tourism in Rhode Island.
