The Conference will be held in September 2007 in Cochin, Kerala – we hope that you will be able to join us to reflect on experience over the last five years and to debate what Responsible Tourism in Destinations has achieved. The conference will provide an excellent opportunity to learn more about  what has been achieved and to discuss how to move the agenda forward;

• 20^th – 21^st September an Academic Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations

• 22^nd -24^th September the 2^nd International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations.

Please put these dates in your diary and spread the word.

If you would like to present a paper at the academic conference please email Professor Harold Goodwin 

If you would like to be kept informed of the details of the conference please register online here

Details of a wide range of accommodation options from home stays to five star; flight options and registration fees will be available shortly.

Kerala has experienced very rapid growth in visitor numbers, with around 6 million domestic and 0.5 million international visitors in 2006; the WTTC has identified Kerala as the destination with the highest forecast annual growth over the next few years. In this context the Kerala government has recognized the importance of engaging with all the stakeholders to pursue a responsible tourism initiative.

The Second International Conference on Responsible Tourism will be a follow up to the Cape Town Conference held in 2002, will be looking at the development of Responsible Tourism in the last 5 years in Kerala, The Gambia, South Africa and a number of other destinations .

The Kerala Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations in September 2007 is being jointly chaired by Dr Venu V I.A.S Secretary of  Kerala Tourism and Professor Harold Goodwin of the International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) at Leeds Metropolitan University

The objectives of the conference are to

• Review progress towards Responsible Tourism around the world since 2002, including initiatives in destinations and the initiatives of hotels and tour operators.

• Reflect on Kerala’s experience of working towards being a Responsible Tourism destination and to share experience internationally

• discuss how tourism can contribute to local economic development and poverty reduction

• consider how the environmental impact so the industry can best be managed.

• discuss the ways in which tourism can contribute to social development and mutual understanding and  respectful encounters between tourists and local people.

For further information contact :
www.rtd2kerala.org