There is nothing more practical than a good theory
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New Year Resolution 2026: Joining the Meaningful Tourism Movement to survive in difficult times
Into the second quarter of the 21st century toward a Meaningful Tourism Economy - Starting the Meaningful Tourism Movement
Creative destruction, climate catastrophe, and the future of tourism
Dear reader, first of all, apologies for the late distribution of last week's edition of Meaningful Tourism Weekly. For technical reasons beyond our control, we could publish the edition online on time last Thursday; however, the distribution by email could only be executed on Monday this week. The
From experience to transformation: Unlocking the true potential of Meaningful Tourism
Dear reader, our colleague Jake Haupert of the Transformational Council recently published a short piece discussing the difference between experiential travel and transformative travel. He gave a rather romantic-sounding answer: "Experiences fill itineraries, Transformations imbue all the space between, as the glue, the through-thread, the secret sauce, the mojo,
Africa and the Future of Meaningful Tourism
Dear reader, this week, Africa has been in the focus of the Meaningful Tourism paradigm discourse. The first five Meaningful Tourism Online Lectures for five African countries provided not only presentations by nine different local experts – five of them Certified Trainers for Meaningful Tourism – but also lively debates with the
AI as a partner in travel decision making
Dear reader, AI is quickly becoming the biggest tool of creative destruction since the introduction of the internet in all fields of life, including tourism. In tech-savvy cultures, like in China, it has already made the transition from being a tool to being a partner. Most people are surprised to
Sustainable Tourism Beyond Certification
Dear reader, during the last decade, when the impact of tourism, especially on the environment and on local communities, became under increasing scrutiny, the field of sustainable tourism certification and accreditation has been perceived by many as a beacon of hope and responsibility. Proper certification was seen as more than
Meaningful Tourism for cities in China and around the world
Dear reader, in the last few days, your humble editor PROF M, had the pleasure of being invited to the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) Regional Tourism Conference Europe 2025 in Marbella/Spain. WTCF is based in Beijing and has successfully brought together more than 160 cities from around the
From Mass Tourism to Meaningful Tourism
Dear reader, busy weeks for the dissemination of the Meaningful Tourism paradigm around the world. After the Sustainable Destinations Forum last week in Dubai, which saw six members of the Meaningful Tourism community participating, in the coming week, the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF ) has invited your humble editor, PROF
Meaningful Tourism at Sustainable Destinations Forum in Dubai
Dear reader, the last two days, your humble editor, together with five other Meaningful Tourism community members, attended the Sustainable Destinations Forum 2025, organised by our partners from Green Destinations and the Dubai Tourism Authority. MTC had the privilege to present on both days the Meaningful Tourism paradigm to more
Meaningful Tourism Award 2025 winners to be announced during conference in Kathmandu
Dear reader, the preparations for the Meaningful Tourism Award 2025 are in full swing. Your humble editor is happy to share with you that the announcement of the 18 winners will happen as part of a prestigious conference in Kathmandu/Nepal on December 4, 2025. Winners who happen to be
Meaningful Tourism Award 2025
Meaningful Tourism celebrates the Nobel Prize for Creative Destruction
Dear reader, “Schumpeter” is the name of the business column in The Economist for a good reason. The Meaningful Tourism paradigm recognizes the key concept of Creative Destruction, which Joseph Schumpeter developed back in 1942, as one of the foundations of a holistic concept for the future sustainable development of
Pakistan Travel Mart
Meaningful Tourism Award 2025
Dear reader, this week, the readers of the Meaningful Tourism Weekly are provided with a head start: You are the first to learn about the start of the Meaningful Tourism Award 2025 and its new format, a day before the official announcement. For the fourth time, the Meaningful Tourism Centre
Sustainable Destinations Forum 2025
Earning money from sustainable hospitality
Dear reader, at the 25th WTTC Global Summit in Rome, Italy, which ended two days ago, key leaders from the public and private sectors declared that the summit served as a "declaration of our shared commitment to shaping a tourism model that balances growth with responsibility". What a
Africa
Guilin looking at Tourism Trends
Dear reader, Last week was spent by your humble editor in China. After successful talks with our partner for the GITF Guangzhou International Travel Fair 2026 conference and activities in Guangzhou, China provided the usual marvels of modern technology and service orientation. Almost all travel based on electric cars and
PATA Travel Mart 2025
Nepal: Lessons for the global tourism industry
Dear reader, the streets of Kathmandu are full of cars and bikes again and life has gone back to normal. However, the burned-out buildings dotting the capital and many other cities of Nepal are a stark reminder of the unrest in the last week, which led to the fall of
Nepal
Tourism 24 years after the attack on the World Trade Centre towers
Dear reader, the 11th of September, commonly spelt 9/11 in US-American English, is connected to four coordinated Islamist terrorist suicide attacks. Nineteen members of the al-Qaeda organisation hijacked four commercial airliners, crashing the first two into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre in New York City and
Africa
Europe is the past, Asia is the present, Africa is the future
Dear reader, After Meaningful Tourism being a major topic at conferences and fairs in Hong Kong SAR, Beijing and Bangkok in the month of August, September will see more strategic steps forward for the Meaningful Tourism movement. With the latest group of newly certified trainers, the community has grown to
Vietnam
Designing Meaningful Tourism for a Changing World
Dear reader, This week, your humble editor is attending the PATA Travel Mart in Bangkok and actually got a new name. It is a great pleasure to see that Meaningful Tourism is one of the key elements of discussion. The first day of the annual PATA Travel Mart 2025 saw
PATA Travel Mart 2025
China – Polluter and Clean Energy Producer No. 1
Dear reader, as mentioned last week, your humble editor had the honour to be the only international keynote speaker at the Third Yongding River Green Development Forum and the Symposium on Ecological Protection and Green Development with the topic "Ecological Integration - Harmonious Coexistence”, organised by the People'
meaningful tourism for students
Learning by travelling - Meaningful Tourism for students
Dear reader, your humble editor was back from the 5th International Association of Chinese Tourism Scholars (IACTS) Biennial Conference hosted by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, School of Hospitality and Tourism Management in Hong Kong. However, a colleague from Beijing urgently needed an international tourism expert for another conference in
PATA Travel Mart 2025
Preparing the next generation of tourism managers for Meaningful Tourism
Dear reader, first of all, let your humble editor say thank you for the good wishes for the new office of the Meaningful Tourism Centre in Kathmandu. The move went well with only the usual small hiccups with the installation of the internet connection, so we can continue to serve
employees
Satisfied employees instead of Human Resources
Dear reader, Last week, we discussed the fact that employees working in tourism and hospitality service-providing companies, organisations, and institutions are often overlooked in discussions and recommendations for a more sustainable, responsible, or regenerative tourism. Increasing levels of staff shortages around the world have been the consequence of this, especially