Recent debates during the on-line discussions on Responsible Tourism held during the week when the Belize Conference was to have taken places, sadly postponed because of the flu pandemic, have revealed some confusion about what constitutes travel philanthropy and how that relates to Responsible Tourism.

In the USA the Responsible Tourism Movement is being reduced to philanthropy � but on the contrary charitable giving is a tiny part of what is required for Responsible Tourism. The RT focus is much more on how the business does its business and the way the holidaymaker travels and spends their money. In the UK there has been considerable progress in moving away from the narrow focus on philanthropy, a trend evident more broadly in CSR in the UK.

Travel Philanthropy defines charitable and philanthropic behaviour, the donating of money, in-kind resources or time, occasioned by or facilitated by travel. Travel Philanthropy includes donations by travellers and travel companies inbound and outbound where the charitable contribution is occasioned by, but secondary to the primary purposes which are travel or holidaymaking and the commercial operation of travel businesses. In reporting these contributions it is important to distinguish between contributions from travellers or holidaymakers and those made by inbound or outbound operators, whether donated for use in the originating place  or in the destination.

Travel Philanthropy also includes charity fund-raising through, for example challenges and treks, where the travel is primarily motivated by, or justified by, the intention to raise funds for a charitable cause in the originating market or destination. Companies which organise charity challenges should beware of claiming that they have raised the money � they have not, thy have facilitated but not raised the money, they have not made the donation.

Volunteering abroad or away from home, Voluntourism, is also a form of Travel Philanthropy. These forms of charitable activity facilitated through the travel industry, or where the desire for travel is a significant part of the motivation for the charitable activity, raise particular issues. Again it is important to distinguish between the commercial or facilitating activity, and the funding of that, whether by commercial companies, charities and not-for-profits and the charitable contribution, in the destination or in the originating market. Companies, not for profits and charities need to take particular care to report the net contribution � the difference between what is �donated� to the beneficiaries and any costs incurred by recipients. Voluntourism also raises the thorny issue of the real value, the quality and value to the recipient of the donation of time or skills and the costs which the community incurs by hosting volunteers.

For more information on Travel Philanthropy's view on this see
http://travaid.org/2009/05/31/is-responsible-travel-philanthropy-possible/

The British Airways strategy of focussing on business and first class travellers, who per seat mile cause most carbon pollution, has back fired. British Airways has this week cut the price of business class flights – by up to 40% – following a fall of 13%  in first and business class traffic in March and an 18% fall in April.

Overall passenger numbers are also dropping IATA reports that premium passenger numbers were down 19.2% globally in the year to March 2009, while the drop in economy was 8.2%. 

Last year Explore won the Best Tour Operator category in the Responsible Tourism awards, now they have come 18th in the Sunday Times Best Green Companies Awards and was the top placed tour operator � Marriott came in at 17th

About Explore, the Sunday Times awards judges said:
“The adventure holidays offered by independent tour company Explore might be out of this world, but the firm makes sure its focus on responsible tourism doesn't cost customers the earth. The company strives to ensure that its impact on the environment is minimal, its workers around the world are treated fairly and local cultures and customs are respected.”

It is good to see tour operators and hotels being rated against other companies � being judged beyind the sector.
http://www.explore.co.uk/news/best-green-companies.htm
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/related_reports/best_green_companies/tables/

Miriam Gayoso, one of our alumni, emailed me today with the news that the website for the Northern Circuit in Peru has launched. Peter Nizette and I were funded by the British Ambassador to Peru, John Illman, in the late 1990�s and did the initial scoping for this circuit which has opened for tourism the excellent pre-Colombian archaeological sites of the north along the coast including Tucume and Sipan, Kuelap and Laguna de los Condores.

Three of the ICRT alumni have worked on the circuit, realising an ambition long held in the north to establish a circuit which will rival the Machu Picchu circuit in the south � Machu Picchu is recent history; the Incas (1450-1532) are famous largely because they were defeated by the conquistadores.  The northern Circuit is rich in archaeological sites: Tucume occupied by Lambayeque/Sican (800-1350 AD), Chim� (1350�1450 AD), Chan Chan the largest pre-Colombian city in South America, constructed by the Chimu in around AD 850 and occupied by them until 1470 when they were conquered by the Inca; the highlight of the circuit is Kuelap, situated on a ridge overlooking the Utcubamba Valley is a stone fortified hilltop town associated with the Chachapoyas culture � the Warriors of the Clouds, their mummies can be seen at the Leymebamba Museum.

Much of the work which Peter and I did was on product development, the economic linkages and the economic development which tourism could bring to the north. Miriam Gayoso, Alfredo Narvaez and Jorge Chavez all studied with the ICRT and played a prominent role in completing the development of the circuit which is a great introduction to the Andes � the circuit goes from sea level to over 3,500m – twice.  

It is in my view a much better experience than Machu Picchu � if you are travelling to Peru do NOT miss it.

For details of the Northern Circuit check out www.ctnperu.net

May 5, 2009

ICRT-Belize
24 Tangerine Street
Belmopan, Cayo District
Belize

Dear Tourism Partners & Friends,

We wrote to you on May 1st expressing concern that the Third International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations (RTD-III) might have to be postponed.

Today it is clear that with many countries having banned all but essential travel to Mexico and the government of Belize having banned public meetings we have no choice but to postpone the conference to a date later in
the year. No confirmed cases have been detected in Belize to date however regional authorities, the local government and the Belize Ministry of Health are currently engaged in precautionary measures to abate the spread of virus.

However, as a consequence of the ban on public gatherings and the travel advisories against travel to Mexico we have no choice but to postpone. We shall consult with you about alternative dates and we�ll be back in touch as soon as we have caught our breath.

I hope that you will understand what a difficult decision this has been but in the current situation we are unable to go ahead and have no alternative but to postpone.

We look forward to your continued support and understanding in these difficult times.

Sincerest Regards,

Kenrick Theus, Director
International Centre for Responsible Tourism-Belize