Global Sustainable Tourism Conference 2018: Conference Program

The annual GSTC Conference, the Global Sustainable Tourism Conference 2018 (GSTC2018), will address topics based on the Kasane Call to Action to accelerate sustainable consumption and production (SCP).

A document with the key conclusions from the conference is available here.

THEMES

(A) Achieving Sustainable Destination Management

(B) Certification as a Driver of Sustainable Tourism

(C) Reaching the SDGs through the GSTC Criteria

(D)  Market Access for Responsible Tourism Businesses

PROGRAM

Friday, December 7

TimeActivity
afternoon GSTC Meeting with Certification Bodies (by invitation only)
18:00  Departure from Maun Lodge to Crocodile Camp
18:30Reception (+ Early Delegates registration)

Welcoming Dinner at Crocodile Camp

Welcome speech

Saturday, December 8

TimesActivity
8:00 – 9:00Registration
9:00 – 9:30          Opening Ceremony

  • His Excellency, the Fourth President of the Republic of Botswana, Lieutenant General, Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama
  • Mr. Luigi Cabrini, Chair, GSTC (speech)
9:30 – 10:00Presentation by Mr. Randy Durband, CEO, GSTC:
“GSTC’s Mission and Current Activities” (presentation)
10:00 – 11:00Refreshment Break and Networking

(Press conference for local media)

11:00 – 12:30(1) Destination Management – finding the right balance between overtourism and under-tourism (track A)

Moderator:  Luigi Cabrini, Chair, GSTC (presentation)

Panelists:

  • Patricio Diaz, General Secretary, Responsible Tourism Institute (RTI) (presentation)
  • Jonathan Tourtellot, CEO, Destination Stewardship Center
  • Prof. Urs Wagenseil, Institute of Tourism – Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (presentation)
12:30 – 14:00Lunch and Networking
14:00 – 15:15

Room #1

(2) Wildlife Conservation and Tourism (track A)

Presenter & Moderator: Jim Sano, Vice President for Travel, Tourism and Conservation, WWF

Panelists:

  • Sehenyi “Shex” Tlotlego, Botswana Coordinator for Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy
  • Dr. Michael Flyman, Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Botswana
  • Segametsi Monnamorwa, Wilderness Safaris
  • Vincent Kouwenhoven, Founder & Managing Director, Green Safaris
  • Julian Matthews, Founder & Chairman, TOFTigers
14:00 – 15:15

Room #2

(3) Certification Body Collaboration Through Mutual Recognition or Shared Service (track B)

Moderator: Randy Durband, CEO, GSTC

Panelists:

  • Naut Kusters, Manager, Travelife for TOs
  • Carolyn Wincer, Commercial Director, Travelife for Hotels
  • Grace Nderitu, CEO, Ecotourism Kenya
  • Richard Malesu, Environment & Eco-Certification Manager, Botswana Tourism Organisation
15:15 – 16:00Refreshment Break and Networking
16:00 – 17:15

Room #1

(4) Recommendations for Market Access for SMEs (track D)

Moderator:  Ronald Sanabria, Sustainable Tourism Specialist (presentation)

Panelists:

  • Grace Nderitu, CEO, Ecotourism Kenya
  • Heinrich Hafeni, Namibia Emerging Tourism Enterprises Association (Namibia)
  • Ruth Stewart, Travel for Impact (Botswana)
16:00 – 17:15

Room #2

(5) Protection of Heritage And Its Relationship to Destination Stewardship (track A)

Moderator: Heidi van der Watt, Better Tourism Africa; GSTC Board of Directors

Opening remarks: Jonathan Tourtellot, CEO, Destination Stewardship Center; Founder and former Director, National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations

Panelists:

  • Glenn Mandziuk, CEO, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) BC Canada
  • Phillip Segadika, Head of the Archaeology and Monuments Division, Botswana National Museum
  • Derek Tse, General Manager, Hong Kong Ecotourism & Travels Professional Training Centre
  • Kathleen Pessolano, Program Director – The Americas, GSTC
17:15 – 17:30Closing remarks for day 1
18:00 departure Departure from Maun Lodge to Cresta Maun

Dinner at Cresta Maun

Sunday, December 9

TimesActivity
8:30 – 9:30Registration
9:30 – 10:45

Room #1

(6) Covering the 4 themes of the conference

Presenter & Moderator: Prof. Graham Miller, Executive Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Surrey; WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Lead Judge (presentation)

Panelists:

  • Jillian Blackbeard, Executive Manager Marketing, Botswana Tourism Organisation
  • Ronald Sanabria, Sustainable Tourism Specialist (Kasane Call for Action) (presentation)
  • Adama Bah, Chairman, Institute of Travel and Tourism of Gambia (ITTOG) (presentation)
10:15 – 11:15Refreshment Break and Networking
11:15 – 12:30

Room #1

(7) Sustainable Procurement Based on Certification (tracks B,C,D)

Presenter & Moderator:  Randy Durband, CEO, GSTC

Panelists:

  • Jim Sano, Vice President for Travel, Tourism and Conservation, WWF (presentation)
  • Emad Hassan, Advisor to the Minister for Green and Sustainable Tourism, Ministry of Tourism, Egypt (presentation)
  • Martin Balas, TourCert (presentation)
11:15 – 12:30

Room #2

(8) Smart Destination Management through information technology (track A)

Presenters:

  • Per Gunnar Hettervik, Senior Consultant, NCE Tourism Fjord Norway (presentation)
  • Glenn Mandziuk, CEO, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) BC Canada (presentation)
12:30 – 14:00Lunch and Networking
14:00 – 15:15

Room #1

(9) Destination Stewardship Strategies – Action Planning from Conference Discussions (track A)

Moderator: Jonathan Tourtellot, CEO, Destination Stewardship Center (presentation)

Panelists:

  • Mokganedi Ntana, Tourism Development Manager – Kasane Office, Botswana Tourism Organisation (presentation)
  • Jorge Alves, Azores Destination Management Organization (DMO) (presentation)
  • Dr. Kim Langmaid Founder & Vice President of Sustainability Programs, Walking Mountains Science Center (Vail, Colorado) (presentation)
  • Per Gunnar Hettervik, Senior Consultant, NCE Tourism Fjord Norway (presentation)
14:00 – 15:15

Room #2

(10) Achievements towards the 17 SDGs in the Tourism Sector (track C)

Moderator: Heidi van der Watt, Better Tourism Africa; GSTC Board of Directors

Panelists:

  • Sebastian Bovensiepen, CEO, The meeco Group
  • Dr. Ioannis Pappas, Found & CEO, Green Evolution; GSTC Regional Director – Mediterranean
  • Heidi Dahl, Head of Office – Southern Africa, Innovation Norway
  • Valere Tjolle, Publisher & Editor, TravelMole Vision on Sustainable Tourism
15:15 – 15:45Refreshment Break and Networking
15:45 – 17:00Sustainable Tourism Certification Alliance Africa meeting – by invitation only
15:45 – 17:00

Room #1

(11) Working Session on GSTC Destination Criteria Revisions (tracks A,B)

Facilitators:

  • Dr. Kelly Bricker, Vice-Chair GSTC Board of Directors, Co-Chair of GSTC International Standards Working Group
  • Dr. Richard Denman, GSTC Associate Technical Director, Co-Chair of GSTC International Standards Working Group

Participate in the GSTC Destination Criteria revision

17:15 – 17:45

Room #1

(12) Conference Summary

(Big ideas from each session by each moderator)

Moderator: Randy Durband, CEO, GSTC

  • Prof. Graham Miller, Executive Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Surrey
  • Ronald Sanabria, Sustainable Tourism Specialist
  • Heidi van der Watt, Better Tourism Africa; GSTC Board of Directors
  • Luigi Cabrini, Chair, GSTC
  • Jonathan Tourtellot, CEO, Destination Stewardship Center
  • Dr. Kelly Bricker, Vice-Chair GSTC Board of Directors, Co-Chair of GSTC International Standards Working Group
17:45 – 18:00Closing Ceremony
18:00 departure Departure from Maun Lodge to Cresta Riley’s

Dinner at Cresta Riley’s

Monday, December 10

TimeActivity
full dayPost-conference Complimentary Tour to Moremi Game Reserve

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