Responsible Tourism.


Dr Harold Goodwin has worked on 4 continents with local communities, their governments and the inbound and outbound tourism industry. He is a Professor Emeritus and  Responsible Tourism Director at the Institute of Place Management at Manchester Metropolitan University, Managing Director of the Responsible Tourism Partnership and adviser to the World Travel Market on its Responsible Tourism programme at WTM London, which attracts 4000 participants each year, and WTM Africa and Latin America and Arabian Travel Market. He chairs the panels of judges for the World Responsible Tourism Awards and the other Awards in the family, Africa, India and Latin America. Harold founded the ICRTD series of International Conferences on Responsible Tourism in Destinations in 2002, he co-chairs the conferences with the local host organisation. He is also Founder Director of the International Centre for Responsible Tourism which he founded in 2002 and which promotes the principles of the Cape Town Declaration.

30 November 2023

Who owns a destination?

Tourism Concern in the UK ran a campaign for many years reminding us that we take “Our Holidays in Their Homes”. This is obvious. The definition […]
28 November 2023

Small American town turned into “one giant Airbnb”

With a population of 219 inhabitants during the week and 50.000 over the weekend, the quaint little village of Hochatown, in Oklahoma, is one of the […]
22 November 2023

The dangers of Instagram tourism in national parks

On Sunday morning, listening to Open Country, a weekly radio programme mainly for townies, the interviews were with the Langdale/Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team. They had just […]
13 November 2023

Almost 50% of all global destinations now offer Digital Nomad Visas

Destinations all over the world are making efforts to catch up with the latest trends in digital nomad lifestyles, according to a new analysis by the […]
7 November 2023

These are the 2023 winners of the Global Responsible Tourism Awards

The World Responsible Tourism Awards have been running since 2004 and have had a series of sponsors over the years, and they have grown and matured […]
31 October 2023

Milan’s lively Porta Venezia to clamp down on late night food and drinks

Following complaints and even legal action by locals about noise, congestion and crime in the Porta Venezia area, Milan officials are showing they are listening. The […]
31 October 2023

Frontiers in Responsible Tourism

On Tuesday, November 7th there is a Responsible Tourism Conference at WTM London this year, which ends with a celebration of 21 years of panels and […]
24 October 2023

Japan to tackle overtourism through better transport and alternative destinations

In the fight against overtourism, popular Japan is planning to enhance its transport networks and introduce measures to spread the footfall of its current tourism boom. […]
20 October 2023

UNWTO names the best tourism villages of 2023

Wrapping up the week-long meeting of the UN’s World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly taking place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, the organisation has revealed the 54 villages […]
19 October 2023

Why travel matters and why we need to do it better

At the heart of Responsible Tourism are the values of respect and the aspiration to create meaningful connections. Respect does not require the denial of difference. […]
19 October 2023

Welsh landowner says Roman fort visitors are “scarring the landscape”

A Welsh farmer and landowner who says he has been looking after an historic site for years has lost patience with poorly-behaved visitors and taken guerilla […]
19 October 2023

How tourism threatens Puerto Rico’s bioluminescent bay of Lajas

Tourism, while a boon to many destinations, is posing growing threats to the pristine bay coast of Lajas, Puerto Rico. Known for its unique bioluminescent plankton, […]
18 October 2023

Amsterdam’s tourist tax set to become steepest in Europe

Amsterdam is increasing its tourist tax from 2024, making it the city with the highest such visitor charge in Europe. How much? In a budget statement, […]
17 October 2023

One of Japan’s most iconic views now comes with a tourist tax

Japan is introducing a visitor tax at one of its most famous tourist sites to raise money to help protect and preserve its heritage for another […]
13 October 2023

There are limits to growth in tourism

When we look up into the night sky or out across the sea, our planet looks infinite. It isn’t. Growth at 3% per annum results in […]
12 October 2023

Seville bans obscene outfits and behaviour in crackdown on bachelor parties

Earlier this year Seville announced plans to manage tourist numbers in the charming, winding and often hot and bustling streets of its historic centre using WiFi, […]