BC Partnership for Sustainable Tourism Now Staffed!

Back in October of last year the British Columbia Government announced the formation and finding of the BC Partnership for Sustainable Tourism designed to:

1. Establish best practices for sustainability specific to tourism businesses;
2. Develop and implement a certification program for “green” tourism operators;
3. Set up a system for tracking and reporting sustainable tourism indicators;
4. Offer practical carbon calculators for small and medium-sized tourism enterprises;
5. Embark on communications and outreach for businesses and travellers; and
6. Hold workshops across the province to educate businesses on carbon emission strategies and best practices.

The partnership received initial funding of $560,000 from: the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, the Climate Actions Secretariat, COTA, Aboriginal Tourism Association of BC, Tourism Vancouver, BC Hotel Association and the BC Sustainable Tourism Collective.

Those persons that worked so hard to put such a fine collaboration together and their respective organisations should be applauded as true agents of change. The founders of the Icarus Foundation wish them well and hope we can work together to make tourism in BC truly sustainable, prosperously low carbon and a model for other Canadian provinces.

Our support and encouragement are also extended to Judy Adams, the new Managing Director and Valerie Sheppherd, Senior Manager, Sustainability Program Manager.

Judy Adams, formerly CEO or Essential Strategy and prior to that a senior employee within Fairmont Hotels with direct responsibilities for fostering sustainbility practices is ideally suited for this leadership position as is Valerie Sheppard who made such a significant contribution to the Ministry's thinking and action on sustainability. Good times ahead - despite the recession! We wish you every success.

Comments

[London]

"It's not that I was writing these pieces with my left hand," Theroux says, "but I was doing other things at the same time. These pieces illuminate those books, and those books derive somewhat from the experiences recorded here. There's a certain synchronicity in writing travel pieces and also living my life as a novelist and a travel writer."

[Irina]

“This partnership shows the power of collaboration between government and industry in taking action on climate change, while ensuring the future sustainability of the industry,” said Bennett, speaking at the international Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference today. “By taking a long-term view, we are helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions and building a competitive advantage for ‘Super, Natural’ B.C. as travellers increasingly factor into their vacation and travel plans the destination’s commitment to the natural environment.”