ICRT RESPONSIBLE TOURISM CONFERENCE:
Tourism, Local Economic Development & Poverty Reduction

We are grateful to the following organisations for their sponsorship:


Date: Friday, 8th January 2009
Venue: K&L Gates, London

The tourism industry can play an important role in the local economic development of a destination. For many destinations, poverty is a key issue which feeds into many other aspects of the communities which are visited. The conference, organised by the International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) explored how can tourism can contribute to poverty reduction and local economic development. The presentations from the conference (pdf format unless specificed otherwise) are available below.

Conference Presentations

Introduction: Harold Goodwin, Professor of Responsible Tourism at ICRT, Leeds Metropolitan University (Audio (5Mb))

Engaging with Bumsters in The Gambia: Lucy McCombes, Research Fellow, ICRT (Audio (7Mb))

Impact of EU Package Travel Directive on Engagement with Local Economic Development & the Community: Keith Richards, Barrister & former Head of Business Development & Consumer Affairs, ABTA (Audio (19Mb))

Juffureh - Enhancing the Contribution of an Existing Excursion to Support and Local Economic Development & Reduction of Poverty in the Community: Adama Bah, Travel Foundation & ICRT West Africa (Audio (10Mb))

Developing a Destination Excursion Programme to Contribute to Local Economic Development & Poverty Reduction: Jo Baddeley, Sustainable Tourism Manager, Thomas Cook Group Plc (Audio (13Mb))

Measuring the Local Economic Development Impact of an All-Inclusive Resort in Turkey: Jonathan Mitchell, Programme Leader, Protected Livelihoods & Tourism Programme, Overseas Development Insititute (Audio (14Mb))

Community Development through Walking Tourism in the Foothills of the Himalaya, Northern India: Richard Hearn, Village Ways (Audio (18Mb))

Organising Excursions in Fair Trade Co-operation - The 3 Stakeholders Approach: Saskia Griep, Manager - Tourism Operating, Sawadee Reizen (Audio (9Mb))

Inclusive Tourism - How Does it Work? How can the Contribution of Tourism to Poverty Reduction be Increased?: Fabrice Leclercq, Senior Trade Promotion Adviser, Export-Led Poverty Reduction Programme, International Trade Centre (Audio (10Mb))

Distribution Channels & the Role of Marketing: Justin Francis, CEO, ResponsibleTravel.com (Audio (15Mb))

Closing Remarks: John De Vial, ABTA Trustee (Audio (8Mb))

The following papers were not presented at the conference but are given below for reference:

• The Millennium Village Tour in Rwanda: Michael Grosspietsch, Executive Director, Eos Visions (Powerpoint)
• Engaging the Private Sector in the Promotion of Gender Equality & Women's Empowerment through Tourism: Lucy Ferguson, ESRC Post Doctoral Fellow, Sheffield University