published by Elena on Tue, 10/09/2012 - 20:22
On 4 October, 2012, the public Thai organization DASTA (Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration) spearheaded by a dedicated team around Dr. Jutamas Jan Winsansing, of Perfect Link Consulting Group and PATA Thailand Organization Chair, convened the first International Forum on the Creative Tourism Network Thailand.
For this purpose, both me and my colleague Caroline Couret of Barcelona Creative Tourism and the International Creative Tourism Network travelled almost 20.000 kilometres in order to be part of this special forum and to experience Thai culture through a series of networking events and hands-on workshops.
Creative Tourism: Hands-on workshops experiencing local Thai culture
Throughout the week we spent in Thailand (Bangkok & surroundings), it felt as if Caroline and me had been given the status of “unofficial Royals”! It is amazing what the hospitality of the Thai people stretches to given the international context and the wealth of creative tourism activities on display.
published by Elena on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 12:25
On June 1, the “Coalition Internationale pour un Tourisme Responsable” (www.coalition-tourisme-responsable.org) gathered for the sixth time this year in order to discuss matters of great importance: How can tourism be, and can it be, after all, become a more sustainable form of development? Is creative tourism as a more active and engaging form of cultural tourism in the mix? And what do the French say or do about sustainable development, enfin?
Laurie Buchet, of Ardennes Luxembourgeoises Regional Tourism Board, first told me about the conference event two months ago. We immediately decided we had to come, to listen and to join the debate, as well as using the opportunity to enjoy an interesting weekend in Paris from a “local point of view” (interactive cooking course offered through the Creative Paris network, tour with a Greeter - “Meetingthefrench.com” - Couchsurfing, etc.).
