04/09/2002

For Immediate Release 4 September 2002

Thoughts on the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)

The decade between the Rio and Johannesburg Earth Summits has seen a major shift in global concern from the environment to poverty alleviation. While many believe there was little in this week's concluding agreements to bring hope to those most in need, there did seem to be consensus in Johannesburg that the private sector is playing an increasingly active role in trying to address the problems.

Travel & Tourism companies are taking increasing responsibility by practising responsible capitalism and corporate citizenship.

"Most WTTC Members are committed, both personally and in their businesses, to corporate social responsibility," said Graham Wason, WTTC Strategy Adviser, who represented the Council at the WSSD in Johannesburg.

"They report their successes, and work still to be done, in their annual reports," Wason said. "They set up foundations to support community projects. And they often work directly on practical initiatives that improve conditions for local people. WTTC plans to publish a report on this work later this year."

WTTC maintains that, although Travel & Tourism cannot solve the major problems of the world, the industry can be part of the solution to alleviating poverty in many places, just as it can contribute funds to help protect the environment rather than destroy it.

However, as detailed in the Tourism Report for WSSD, produced by industry and facilitated by the United Nations Environment Programme, the industry can only implement sustainable development initiatives successfully through a multi-stakeholder process, whereby all stakeholders take responsibility for the future of Travel & Tourism.

Regrettably, Johannesburg did not provide any opportunity for a public-private sector dialogue to stimulate this process. The side event on the Alleviation of Poverty Through Tourism organized by two inter-governmental bodies, the United Nations Commission on Trade & Development and the World Tourism Organization, was a welcome session.

"Yet, as a purely inter-governmental meeting," said Wason, "it failed in what should have been its main mission - to bring all stakeholders together.

"Only if we share the responsibility for Travel & Tourism's future - through a strong cooperative partnership between governments, local communities and the private sector - do we have any hope of making an impact.

"Let us work together," said Wason, "on programmes to increase consumer awareness, or to provide the resources and incentives for local entrepreneurs, guided by private sector leaders. The private sector is committed to doing its part, and is willing to take the lead."

The World Travel & Tourism Council is the forum for global business leaders in Travel & Tourism comprising the presidents, chairs and CEOs of 100 of the world's foremost companies. It is the only body representing the private sector in all parts of the Travel & Tourism industry worldwide.

For further information on WTTC's activities in the area of sustainable tourism development, or for a copy of the Tourism Report Industry as a Partner for Sustainable Development, please contact:

Feolla Chastanet
Director, Communications
World Travel & Tourism Council
Tel: (44) (0) 870 727 9882
Fax: (44) (0) 870 728 9882