News and Events

Virgin Holidays @RTAwards Winners 2011

I love the Wednesday of World Travel Market. It's a day focused on sustainable travel, but it's also the moment when the winners of the Virgin Holidays' Responsible Tourism Awards run by responsibletravel.com are announced. I'm one of several judges who agonise over the shortlisted finalists every year. Then, each year at the award ceremony, we're moved by meeting the people who have worked so tirelessly for change.

Responsible Tourism Awards winners announced soon

The Wednesday of World Travel Market is one of the best days of the whole week for me, because it's the day the winners of the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards are announced.

Livestreaming sustainable masterclass

On Tuesday 10 May we'll be hosting and livestreaming a Travelmole sustainable tourism masterclass. The subject is sustainability and all-inclusives.

Make holidays greener - for travel PRs

I'm very pleased to say we're working with The Travel Foundation to host a breakfast seminar on 22 February for anyone involved in travel public relations to get to grips with green issues.

New indigenous tourism conference

I was very pleased to hear at World Travel Market about a new conference which is being planned next year which I believe is the first in the world to focus on how effective and culturally sensitive tourism can be developed by indigenous peoples and their representative organizations. This will be a great conference for tourism operators, tourist boards, governments, development agencies, NGOs, universities and research bodies.

Abdicate or articulate?

If we feel frustrated by something should we abdicate, or articulate our frustration?

Responsible tourism in Sri Lanka

On 10th December we're hosting an evening discussion on responsible tourism in Sri Lanka arranged by Harold Goodwin Please contact RSVP@bgb.co.uk if you'd like to join us.

As Sri Lanka's sees the end of its 37 year conflict the tourism industry is set to prosper, not only in the areas already developed but also in the newly opened up North and East coasts where there has been no investment for the past two to three decades. The relative lack of development and gentle island pace of Sri Lanka have added to its charm and character and have made Sri Lanka the perfect destination for those looking for a an affordable, varied and stimulating holiday.

This could all be about to change as euphoria sets in and investors from around the world fly into Sri Lanka purchasing vast amounts of land for tourism development and the President of Sri Lanka calls for a target of 2.5 million tourists by 2016 - growth of 456% from an average 450,000 arrivals per year. These are testing times for the tourism sector in Sri Lanka. There are many challenges to be faced. We all need to take responsibility in this critical growth phase to ensure development and growth occurs in a sustainable and responsible manner. We invite you to play a role in this challenging time for Sri Lanka and come and discuss the options for Responsible Tourism in Sri Lanka.

About speaker Libby Southwell

Australian born Libby Southwell is the founding director of adlibconsulting, an organization that offers consulting services to the tourism industry within Sri Lanka & Asia focusing on corporate & brand strategy, strategic marketing services and responsible tourism practices. Libby has been involved in marketing, advertising, business development and strategic planning for more than 15 years. For the past seven years she has been developing businesses in up market tourism in Sri Lanka focusing on preserving the heritage of Sri Lanka as well as positioning Sri Lanka as a key destination for up market travellers globally.

Libby is a passionate traveller and a strong advocate for responsible & sustainable tourism involving all stakeholders in the industry. She is currently studying her Masters in Responsible Tourism with the International Centre of Responsible Tourism at Leeds Met, UK and is an executive board member of the Responsible Tourism Partnership in Sri Lanka.

Post the devastating 2004 Tsunami Libby assisted setting up the charity AdoptSriLanka www.adoptsrilanka.com raising more than US$5 million and focusing on re building livelihoods along the south coast of Sri Lanka. In 2007 she was the founding Festival Director of the one of the world's leading Literary Festivals www.galleliteraryfestival.com . She is the author of the best selling travel autobiography 'Monsoon Rains & Icicle Drops". After seven years of living in Sri Lanka Libby is on a mission to ensure that Sri Lanka becomes one of Asia's leading Responsible Tourism destinations.

Support Tourism Concern 100 Appeal

When high street retailers were slammed for accepting sweat shop labour to keep prices low, there was general revulsion that we could be unwittingly accepting those conditions as we bought a pair of trainers. But ignorance is no defence and there is a new expectation from shoppers. They may not want worthy sustainable messages forced down their throats at every moment but they do want to know the industry they are buying from has done what it can to ensure it's buying a fair product.