A national conference called Towards Sustainability in English Tourism was held at the New Forest on 1 November to promote a national strategy for sustainable development in tourism.

Ben Tuxworth – conference chair and strategy director of the sustainability charity Forum For The Future – organised the conference to address the effect on future holiday choices resulting from the imminent introduction of carbon rationing and likely lifestyle changes enforced by dwindling natural resources.

More than 160 tourism professionals – including B&B owners, attraction operators, hotel managers and tourist board representatives – convened to discuss how business, social and environmental priorities can complement each other and entice visitors to UK destinations in view of these environmental impacts on the sector.

The VICE approach was advocated – which addresses the need to balance visitor, industry, community and environmental interests – as the basis of a common national framework with sufficient flexibility to address local needs.

Anthony Climpson, New Forest District Council’s representative and chair of the organising group, revealed a three-part model which focuses on working with national quality assurance schemes, promoting tools for destination managers to adapt locally and rolling out a nationally consistent sustainability accreditation scheme for tourism businesses.

Case studies were also presented to debate the results of the approach at local and regional levels in England and Scotland, particularly in reference to the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS)

The delegates also took steps towards founding a national network for sustainability in UK tourism.

The conference was organised by the New Forest District Council, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Visit Britain, South West Tourism and Tourism South East. Details: www.susdestinations.co.uk or www.thenewforest.co.uk