On 4 June 2009, several leading global advocates of responsible tourism joined forces to initiate a series of free, public webinars (Web-based seminars) about the present and future of their fast-expanding industry.

Co-hosted by Your Safe Planet and Make Travel Fair, sponsored by whl.travel, and with the vital participation of Planeta, it was the first of the regular online gatherings that will tackle the crosscutting issues and demonstrate the universal appeal of responsible tourism as it applies to a broad range of constituencies in all sectors.

To read and react to comments about all past webinars, please visit our webinar forum hosted by Fringe Travel.

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THE WEBINAR SESSIONS

SESSION ONE (4 June 2009) — Taking Responsible Tourism to the Warewaves

At the first meeting, four responsible tourism leaders discussed and illustrated some of the thoughts and ideas propounded during Responsible Tourism Week 2009 – an online discussion held the week of May 18-22, 2009, that focussed on responsible tourism around the world.

• Full recording, chat transcript and written summary
• Additional commentary (see the comments below the fold)

SESSION TWO (18 June 2009) — Responsible Tourism Webinar Gives Mic to Travel Publishers

At this session, four speakers representing Bradt Guides, Footprint Travel Guides, Lonely Planet Publications and Wanderlust magazine were scheduled to share how responsible tourism is increasingly important to them and their organisations. Unfortunately, sound problems kept two out of the lively sold-out discussion.

• A written account of all that was said by Tom Hall of Lonely Planet
• A written account of all that was said by Adrian Phillips of Bradt Travel Guides
• Written questions and answers compiled from the webinar chat room
• Full recording of webinar with voice conflicts that were not present during the live session
• Full chat transcript