Happy World Tourism Day!

Today on World Tourism Day, we thought we'd share 2 examples of impactful programmes that our team values for their ingenuity, impact and social approach. Check out the descriptions below and click on the hyperlinks to learn more about these collaborative programmes, which aim to scale sustainable tourism across the globe.

2023 Innovative Community Tourism Experiences Contest

Nurturing Local Innovation

"The objective of the contest organised by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the @Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) is to develop new marketable sustainable tourism experiences that highlight Panama's natural and cultural heritage, as well as the authenticity of our local communities, ultimately improving the quality of life for their residents.

According to the Adventure Travel and Trade Association (ATTA), adventure tourism is defined as any tourist activity that includes two of the following components: physical activity, cultural exchange, and interaction with nature. Based on this definition, ATTA estimates a global market valued at $683 billion. Through this contest, Panama aims to participate in this global market by introducing unique and new experiences that position Panama as a competitive tourist destination both nationally and internationally. This initiative contributes to the sustainable development of local communities while strengthening the conservation and regeneration of their natural and cultural treasures.

The pandemic has altered the way people want to experience the world, and as a result, more tourists are seeking conscious travel options. With this in mind, UNWTO and ATP are working to foster partnerships between tour operators and local communities to offer innovative and sustainable experiences." Our founder Laura McDermott joined the UNWTO team this year to deliver the final phase of the competition in Panama City back in June 2023. Read more here.

Travel 4 Impact

Supporting SMEs across Europe

"As we are facing new social and environmental challenges, the travel industry is at a pivotal turning point. We must take advantage of the opportunity to work together to support SMEs to jointly drive positive impact in our communities and help the travel and tourism industry in a responsible, inclusive and sustainable way. Millions of people, companies and communities across the globe rely on travel to survive and thrive. The only way forward is to work together and to build a more sustainable and resilient industry. We know that travel is a force for good. It broadens horizons, encourages cultural understanding supports communities, unites people and creates jobs.?

At Amadeus, we recognize that as our industry becomes more sustainable, we need to support this effort by working together collaboratively with travel and tourism players.?By working together with IE University, we have developed a social innovation network, Travel4Impact, designed to support SMEs to prosper and amplify their positive impact.?We are looking for SMEs such as travel agencies, tour operators, accommodation services, destination experiences who want to make a change.

This project is funded by Amadeus and IE University, and it is 100% subsidized for SMEs. With this network, we aim at supporting its members in the development of their digital strategies, the social impact of their value proposition and the sustainability of their business." Colectivo member Carmen álvarez-Margaride Marcos has been a key lead on this project since its inception, as part of the IE Center for Social Innovation. Read more here.