By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Sept 1: The International Conference on Responsible Tourism and Hospitality (ICRTH) 2022 officiated at UCSI Hotel here today is participated by two leading tourism and travel organisations – World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).
Organised by Sarawak Research Society (under the initiative of Responsible Borneo) and the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management of UCSI University Sarawak Campus, the three-day conference from today until Sept 3 takes place at the UCSI Hotel here.
Themed “Mobilising Responsible Tourism to Actions: Towards Economic Prosperity, Socio-cultural Inclusivity and Environmental Sustainability”, the conference aims to advance the knowledge and practice of responsible tourism for sustainable development.
It is an event that brings tourism and hospitality stakeholders, including the public sectors, private firms, academic institutions, associations and the local communities, together to share ideas and resources, as well as to network and collaborate.
The conference will feature two keynote speeches, two professional dialogues, 26 industry sessions, 20 academic presentation sessions, 10 workshops, 30 booths and exhibitions, as well as an excursion to Borneo Cultures Museum and around Kuching City.
There are about 150 speakers from 30 countries involved in the conference which will cover a wide range of topics related to responsible tourism, such as ecotourism, smart tourism, gastronomic tourism, tourism education, women empowerment in tourism, youth leadership in tourism and event tourism.
The conference UNWTO Regional Department for Asia and the Pacific director Harry Hwang, PATA chief executive officer (CEO) Liz Ortiguera, ICRTH 2022 chair cum Sarawak Research Society chairman Prof Dr Hiram Ting, UCSI University Sarawak Campus Pro Vice Chancellor Mukvinder Kaur Sandhu, Business Events Sarawak CEO Amelia Roziman and Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) CEO Sharzede Salleh Askor were among those present.
The ICRTH was first organised in May 2021 when Sarawak was still in the midst of the pandemic.
Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg in his opening speech read by Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the ICRTH is not a one-off event for excitement and achievement but it is Sarawak’s affirmative response towards sustaining and regenerating tourism through responsible tourism initiatives. — DayakDaily
