Are tourists destroying the planet - or saving it?

Are tourists destroying the planet - or saving it?

The Victoria Development Society has teamed up with GOOD Travel to discuss the impact of tourism on World Tourism Day. On 27 September, they will be screening Gringo Trails, a documentary that explores important issues around one of the most powerful globalising forces of our time: tourism.

The movie will take you from the Bolivian jungle to the party beaches of Thailand to see the impact of tourism on cultures, economies and the environment. By attending this event, you’ll be encouraged to reflect on your past travels as well as how you might travel differently on your next trip.

This is a particularly important year to be celebrating World Tourism Day as 2017 is the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. The United Nations World Tourism Organisation is working globally to raise awareness for sustainable tourism and mobilise stakeholders to transform tourism into a catalyst for positive change.

GOOD Travel is a Wellington-based social enterprise recognised by the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development for their work advancing sustainable tourism. “We have seen the potential for tourism to reduce poverty, empower communities and inspire the protection of environments - but unfortunately the opposite often occurs too”, says their co-founder Eliza Raymond.

GOOD Travel is excited to be hosting this event in partnership with Victoria Development Society to increase awareness about the importance of travelling sustainably and ethically. Their goal is to both inspire and enable travellers to have a positive social, economic and environmental impact next time they travel.

Victoria Development Society’s President Gianina Schwanecke is also looking forward to this event. “As development studies students, this is a great opportunity to discuss the potential for tourism as a tool for development as well as the problems that can occur if tourism development is not well-managed and led by local people. This is a public event so we invite everyone to join the movie screening and discussions.”

The event will be held on 27 September at 5pm in the Kelburn Campus. Contact eliza@good-travel.org or visit https://www.facebook.com/events/2020881527945894/ if you would like to attend. Koha entry.

ENDS

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