What is sustainable tourism? University students debate the issue
The wide divergence among the various definitions for sustainable tourism prompted a number of Windhoek-based university student to get together for a public debate, hopefully to bring some clarity to the concept, even if it applies only to Namibia.
Late last month, the “Brown Paper Bag” Universities Tourism Debate was hosted at the Hotel School of the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST).
The International University Of Management, the University of Namibia (UNAM) and NUST participated in the event which was sponsored by Canadian gold mining company B2Gold.
The debate focused on sustainable tourism, a concept that for most of the advocates rests on visiting a place as a tourist and trying to make only a positive impact on the environment, society and economy.
The IUM team claimed victory receiving the floating trophy and tablets as first prize and the student teams had to debate on the importance of conservation and tourism and the associated opportunities in the communal conservancy tourism sector.
Mark Dawe, Country Manager and Managing Director of B2Gold Namibia said conservation and tourism have to go hand in hand if sustainable solutions are to be found for the country and that they are a leader in the sphere of sustainability.
The debating event formed part of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism World Tourism Day celebrations, with the them for this year being Sustainable Tourism.
As a member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, Namibia joined other countries in commemorating this day.
