At the Sustainable Social Tourism Summit (León, 30 August – 2 September), UNWTO welcomed new high-level signatories to the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism. The Secretariats of State for Tourism of Ciudad de Mexico, Queretaro, Guerrero, Quintana Roo, Nuevo Leon, all signed up to the landmark declaration, designed to guide tourism to Net-Zero emissions by 2050 at the latest. They join the Secretariat of State of Tourism of Guanajuato which signed up at the COP27 United Nations climate change conference in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. The Secretary of State of Tourism of Guanajuato, Mr. Juan José Álvarez Brunel, heads the Sustainability Coordination of the National Association of Secretaries of tourism of Mexico A.C. (ASETUR) and led the discussion of climate action in tourism at sub-national level since becoming a signatory.
Adventure Tourism in Darien Gap Raises Ethical Questions
25.08.2023 - 13:11 / skift.com
Deep in the Panamanian jungle, Venezuelan migrant Franca Ramirez was scrambling to reach higher ground as a rushing river broke its banks, he said, when something caught his eye: a group of young men, snapping photos of the landscape.
The former police officer, who says he fled imprisonment and torture in Venezuela, was surprised.
They were more than a day’s journey into the Darien Gap. The notorious stretch of jungle in Panama has become a treacherous part of the journey for tens of thousands of people trekking across the Americas, hoping ultimately to reach the United States.
“I asked if they were migrants,” Ramirez said last month, after making it to Mexico. “They said no, that they were creating content and sightseeing in the jungle.”
The encounter was a rare moment of two different worlds colliding in one of the planet’s wildest places.
The jungle has long attracted hard-core adventurers. It is known as the ‘gap’ on Panama’s Darien isthmus because it is the only missing section, running about 60 miles, on the Pan-American highway that stretches from Alaska to Argentina.
For decades, only the most intrepid of travelers ventured into this once impenetrable forest – dodging guerrillas and bandits; hunting for rare orchids or the great green macaw; and seeking the thrill of being one of the few brave enough to enter the wilderness where the road ends.
As adventure tourism has gained popularity worldwide – from climbing Mount Everest to riding a submarine to view the Titanic – tour agencies have also organized group excursions to the remote jungle.
“Tourism has been on the slow burner for decades in the Darien,” said longtime Panamanian tour guide Rick Morales. “The jungle is special because it’s powerful and humbling.”
In recent years, parts of this jungle have become the site of humanitarian catastrophe. Hundreds of thousands of migrants from across the world, including as far as Afghanistan, and parts of Africa, cross the perilous terrain en route to the U.S. border.
Blocked by visa restrictions from entering countries closer to the United States, a quarter of a million people traversed the lawless region last year.
At least 137 migrants died or went missing, including at least 13 minors, according to the U.N.’s International Organization for Migration (IOM).
In addition to its lack of infrastructure, the Darien poses security challenges: the migrant routes in particular are controlled by criminal groups.
“The real number of migrants who have died and disappeared in the jungle is much, much higher,” the IOM said in a statement to Reuters.
Tourists and migrants rarely meet face to face; the routes are almost always separated by dozens of miles. The migration routes hug the Darien’s northern coast on
Adventure Travel Shaping Youth Group Tour Itineraries to Africa
Young travelers are hungry for adventure, and it’s taking them to Africa.
Bartlett Steps Up Multi-Destination Tourism Drive as Jamaica Targets LATAM Market
As Jamaica seeks to unlock the vast potential of the Latin American (LATAM) visitor market, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has emphasised the importance of multi-destination tourism and ‘co-petition’ to this initiative. Minister Bartlett highlighted the issue during his address at the ‘Keys to LATAM’ Conference, organised by the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) and Adtelligent Limited. The conference, held earlier today (September 7) at the Spanish Court Hotel, brought together industry professionals to explore business opportunities in the lucrative Latin American (LATAM) market.
Do I need a visa to visit Singapore?
A visit to Singapore is a glimpse into the future. From its modern and almost surreal airport to its eye-catching and ever-changing skyline, Singapore is continuously innovative.
As Amsterdam bows out, what will be the new capital of cannabis tourism?
Amsterdam has dominated cannabis tourism for 40 years, but now it’s stepping back from this multibillion-dollar industry, creating opportunities for emerging marijuana destinations in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. New rules in the Dutch city’s central tourist area limit alcohol sales, require bars to close earlier, and impose a €100 ($107) fine for public marijuana smoking.
Day trippers to Venice will have to pay a $5.50 tourist fee as the city tries to curb excessive tourism
Some visitors to Venice will have to start paying a daily tourist fee of 5 euros ($5.36) next year. The initiative covers the introduction of a new tourist flow management system to discourage day trippers on certain dates.
Saudi tourism revenues reach US$10 billion in Q1 2023
Saudi Arabia’s tourism revenue touched US$10bn at the beginning of 2023, as the country continues to grow its travel and tourism sector.
Future of Tourism: 5 Key Questions
With the pandemic now over, what’s the future of tourism? What does the decline of full-time office employees mean for tourism and business travel? Why hasn’t U.S. solved its visa delay mess? We’ll discuss these topics with the executives of NYC Tourism+Conventions, U.S. Travel Association, Visit Britain, Intrepid Travel and others on-stage at the Skift Global Forum in New York on September 26-28.
Washington D.C. to Spend $20 Million to Close Global Tourism Recovery Gap
Destination DC will spend nearly $20 million on marketing in an upcoming advertising campaign as the city deals with a slow travel recovery.
Travel and tourism industry deal activity decline by 35.7% YoY in January-July 2023, reveals GlobalData
US and UK saw respective deal volume reducing to almost half; China emerges as notable exception.
Capital investment fuels growth in Travel & Tourism, forecast to reach nearly $1 trillion says WTTC
Strong travel growth spurred rise in sector investment in 2022; Asia-Pacific and Africa see investment up 161% in 2022 over 2000.
J2 adventures introduces a start-up touring concept that offers Jewish travel adventures around the world
J2 adventures is designed to meet the needs of families and groups by integrating thematic, custom-designed excursions around specialized topics and interest areas.