Leading ethical travel company responsibletravel.com this week launches a new website which lays out a vision for the future of the tourism industry and invites people to contribute to the debate FutureOfTourism.com is launched to coincide with the publication of a special dedicated ‘future of travel’ December issue of Geographical, the official magazine of the Royal Geographical Society and media partner for the project.
Justin Francis, managing director, responsibletravel.com said:
“The environmental cost of travel has been well debated and tourism has taken a battering. Consequently the industry and those who work within it feel deflated. Many travellers are left wondering whether they can and should continue to travel. I hope to start a positive and forward thinking debate around the future of tourism, in the media and among travellers too. I look forward to reading what people have to say on this crucial topic.â€
Graeme Gourlay, publisher, Geographical said:
“This special issue is a collaboration of various thinkers and writers and provides a vision of what a sustainable future might look like for travel and tourism. We look at hotel architecture with visualisations from leading eco-architect Jeremy Blake; the innovations in aviation by renowned travel journalist Mark Rowe; developments in travel technology by Mark Eveleigh as well as comment from a number of key players in the industry.â€
Francis has written the lead article for the magazine (which can be read in full at www.futureoftourism.com predicting the following trends and coining new terminology:
An increase in ‘geo-local travel’ – travelling closer to home within our own continents
o A move towards ‘hyper local sourcing’ i.e. hotels sourcing food, supplies, staff etc. from a 10km radius. He predicts we’ll see a new hotel chain emerge – The 10km Hotel.
o ‘Deep travel’ – we’ll ask ‘why’ we need a holiday rather than just ‘where’, and begin to travel with more of a purpose.
o The appreciation of local distinctiveness – that which makes a place unique and special
See www.futureoftourism.com to share your own thoughts and opinions.
Valere Tjolle
