A ‘Responsible Tourism Press Initiative’ (RTPI) launched this month as ‘the first dedicated media service to promote and publicise sustainable tourism organisations across all travel sectors’.
The aim of the initiative is to represent the aims and activities of travel organisations concerned with social, cultural, ecological and environmental responsibility.
RTPI also aims to be a one-stop-shop for the media, providing information across those travel sectors that share the same sustainability objectives, yet often work autonomously.
“Many journalists simply do not understand the term ‘environmental sustainability’ – at best they know it has something to do with hotel towels and recyclable toilet paper, at worst it is jargon for a lot of hot air,” said RTPI founder Stephanie Ponsford.
Ms Ponsford said the time has come for a whole new-generation of operators to start telling people in clear language what they are doing to improve the environmental performance of their own industry, and raise the awareness of others.
“The reality is that humanity uses 30% more resources than the earth can replenish, eroding the very supplies on which tourism depends” said Ms Ponsford.
“There is nothing complicated about this message. But RTPI wants the press to also know that solutions are being found not just via the rhetoric of global conventions, but in conservation and community projects, energy-saving and water-recycling programmes, ecological exercises and other such grass-roots initiatives in not only beautiful, fragile places, but inner cities and native villages as well.”
RTPI said it is hoping that it will stimulate the media to encourage their readers and viewers to do their bit. By enabling responsible tourism enterprises to share and/or dovetail ideas, activities, promotional programmes and opportunities for press coverage, RTPI is hoping to help the industry speak as one voice.
For more information, contact TalkTravel managing director, Stephanie Ponsford: TalkTravel Communications, 110 Randolph Avenue, London W9 1PQ (tel: +44 (0)20 7266 9098; email: [email protected]).
