Where sustainable travel ideas take off

World Travel Market remains a leader in Responsible Tourism programming, witnessing the sector make significant strides in accountability as sustainable initiatives become the industry standard.

We continue to deliver cutting-edge educational content designed to support the ongoing improvement of the travel sector.

Join us at World Travel Market and discover your power to change.

The history of Responsible Tourism

The principles set out in the 2002 Cape Town Declaration remain at the heart of responsible tourism today. These commitments continue to shape an industry that:

The 2002 Cape Town declaration agreed that responsible tourism:

Minimises negative economic, environmental, and social impacts
Generates greater economic benefits for local communities while enhancing their well-being
Improves working conditions and access to opportunities within the industry
Actively involves local people in decisions affecting their lives and futures
Contributes positively to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, embracing diversity
Creates more meaningful and enjoyable experiences for travelers through genuine connections with local people and deeper understanding of cultural, social, and environmental issues
Ensures access and inclusion for people with physical challenges
Encourages cultural sensitivity, mutual respect, and fosters local pride and confidence as we advance toward a more sustainable future, these principles guide us in creating travel experiences that truly benefit both visitors and hosts alike.

2004-2011

2004 - in association with World Travel Market, the International Tourism Partnership founded the WTM Responsible Tourism Awards.
2007 - the 1st UNWTO Ministers' Summit on Tourism and Climate Change launch of World Responsible Tourism Day.
2011 saw the launch of Responsible Tourism programming at Arabian Travel Market.

2013-2014

2013 - the WTM Responsible Tourism Awards now in their 10th year were renamed WTM World Responsible Tourism Awards.
2014 - Responsible Tourism programming launched at WTM Africa.

2015-2022

2015 - the UN Sustainable Development Goals launched, and Responsible Tourism featured in the Industry Report for the very first time.
2019 - WTM Latin America launched Responsible Tourism programming.

2023 - 2025

2023 WTM Launches the Sustainability Summit
2024 WTM Announces new Sustainability Advisor

Who we are

The World Travel Market Responsible Tourism Programme is an education initiative developed for the tourism sector, which evolved from Environment Awareness Day, launched at World Travel Market in 1994.

Over the last 29 years, the responsible tourism and environmental awareness programming at World Travel Market has focused on raising awareness for the impact tourism has on its much-loved planet and supporting the industry in taking accountability and driving improvements to protect the planet for future generations.

In 2001, the UK Government Sustainable Tourism initiative was launched.

Platform for Change

Platform for Change has been drafted to provoke discussion about the issues that need to be addressed and the solutions that have been tried and tested. Attending WTM is the most efficient way to learn about the biggest developments in the sector and opportunities for positive change.

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Dive into Responsible Tourism

Learn from the industry leading experts and read their latest blogs, covering a variety of topics in Responsible Tourism.

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