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Global Leaders in sustainable tourism hold first conference
Arnhem parliament the setting for an important event – a bridge definitely not too far!
Fifty sustainable tourism leaders from all over the world created something special this September. Already leaders in their countries, they signed up as founding members of an initiative to understand and promote sustainable tourism globally.
Their first ever meeting was held in the parliament building of Arnhem – a city that was almost eradicated and has emerged like a phoenix from the ashes of the second world war. Its story was told in ‘A bridge too far’ – when the British and American armies suffered their biggest defeat and the city of Arnhem was razed to the ground.
70 years later Arnhem has rebuilt its city and its community within the European Union and is going from strength to strength economically, socially, culturally and environmentally.
Global leaders met in Arnhem’s beautiful parliament building constructed with pride by the local community. They were welcomed by Mrs. Bea Schouten, Vice Governor, Province of Gelderland.
Major presentations during a day of co-operative work included sharing of experiences from destinations including Portugal, Japan, Slovenia, Australia, Africa, Holland,Thailand, Guyana and, of course Gelderland.
After which the new global leaders signed the declaration to continue international cooperation in sustainable tourism.
Leaders further extended their bonds on a day of sustainable experiences in the surrounding Gelderland – first a bike ride in the astonishing sand based privately-run Hoge Veluwe National Park. With its unique combination of landscape and art with the Kröller-Müller national art museum and sculpture garden which houses the second-largest collection of paintings by Van Gogh.
The sustainable art and environment experience was followed by a visit to a typical Dutch village and major sessions on ‘Future Food’ and ‘Shoarma Sustainability’ at Holland’s top Wageningen University.
All meals, of course, were local, fresh, seasonal and sustainable.
Hopefully a start for a new and powerful and sustainable global tourism organisation.
Valere Tjolle
Valere is editor and publisher of Sustainable Tourism 0.2 which deals with travel and tourism and climate change, overtourism and green destinations amongst other sustainable tourism issues.
Valere
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