Green Living Tips 02.08.10
“Greenomics” and Sustainable Tourism"
Recently Erich Schwartz, Founder and President of Greenomics on the rise of Sustainable Tourism. Gave his “Sustainable Practices in Business Tourism” workshop on September 21st in Vancouver, BC, and attracted hotel owners and operators, restaurant owners and operators, senior, industry association executives and destination marketing organizations. 
Vancouver is one of the world’s most sought after tourist destinations and will host millions of citizens and athletes from around the globe during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in February. The Commission for Environmental Cooperation estimated that, in 1999, tourism accounted for 11.7 percent of the global GDP, or US $3.5 trillion. Of this, seven percent was generated though nature-based tourism activities. While sustainable tourism is on the rise from 1999, it still has a long way to go.
Why sustainable tourism? Sustainable tourism speaks to the very need to do business differently. It understands the footprint the industry leaves on the environment. It also speaks to how we can work together in the industry and with our suppliers to jointly find more creative ways to make a positive impact. In terms of significance, its is vitally important for our industry to have a societal values shift in the direction of conservation and preservation of our quality of life and for future generations. The consequence if we do move forward as an industry…is that companies will remain healthy and economically stable business entities. Business that are making changes benefit from a cost perspective and the creation of a strong, loyal workplace culture. In doing so, they will weather any storm and ultimately thrive.
Source: www.treehugger.com.
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