A new not-for-profit responsible tourism company has signed up easyJet holidays as a founding partner.
The venture, called the International Centre for Responsible Tourism global (ICRT global) has been set up by responsible tourism expert Professor Harold Goodwin and former Four Agency Worldwide travel PR boss Debbie Hindle.
ICRT global aims to help travel and tourism businesses become more responsible by providing online courses, bespoke training for organisations, and manuals and guidance to support universities to create responsible tourism courses. It will also run events and lead the Responsible Tourism Awards, feeding experience from award winners into its training programmes.
EasyJet holidays is sponsoring the creation of the courses.
Professor Harold Goodwin, who is also Managing Director of the Responsible Tourism Partnership, said: “Responsible tourism is what we do to make tourism more sustainable, in a way which benefits communities and destinations.
“It requires people working in tourism and hospitality to say what they are doing to make tourism better and to be transparent about what they achieve. But, to do that, they need to understand the issues and the possible levers for change.
“So, our mission is to spread the word about what can be achieved and we appreciate the backing of our founding partners easyJet holidays to support the creation of our new courses.”
Regional ICRTs already operate in Africa, India, Latin America and Southeast Asia. ICRT global will act as a hub for the independent regional ICRTs.
ICRT global co-founder and Chair Debbie Hindle said two online training courses will launch in the first half of 2025, with a third course, on creating shared value, to follow.
She said: “Our courses are designed to help people from any part of the tourism sector who want to understand the issues and opportunities for tourism to make a positive impact. Our courses will be at postgraduate level but are accessible to anyone to attend.”
EasyJet holidays Chief Operating Officer Matt Callaghan said: “At easyJet holidays, we have an ambition to make more sustainable holidays mainstream, but we know this journey is complex and to succeed we need to learn from one another within the industry.
“That’s why we’re delighted to be a founding partner of ICRT global, supporting their goal to provide effective education on responsible tourism, available to all. I’m looking forward to seeing the success of ICRT global’s training and guidance work and it having a positive impact on destinations and their local communities.”
IRCT global has a panel of special advisors including Institute of Travel and Tourism of Gambia Adama Bah and former President of the International Federation of Tour Operators and Classic Collection Holidays Director Martin Brackenbury
ICRT global will officially launch at a half-day conference in London on 4 November, where it will also unveil the winners of the annual Global Responsible Tourism Awards.
Pictured, from left: Professor Harold Goodwin, Adama Bah, Debbie Hindle and Martin Brackenbury
