November 7, 2012 – Serena Hotel’s Gilgit-Baltistan Collection celebrated World Responsible Tourism Day today, 7th November 2012, as an “Official Supporter” reinforcing its commitment to operating as a responsible tourism business and its dedication to bringing about positive change within the tourism industry in Pakistan.
Sometimes confused with many other types of tourism, Responsible Tourism, as defined by the 2002 Cape Town Declaration for Responsible Tourism in Destinations is tourism that “creates better places for people to live in and better places for people to visit.”
Since 2005 individuals, companies and organisations around the world have been celebrating World Responsible Tourism Day (WRTD) to assist build a more solid and sustainable future for the travel and tourism industry.
This year all four of Serena hotels in Gilgit-Baltistan; Gilgit Serena Hotel, Hunza Baltit Inn, Shigar Fort Residence and Khaplu Palace & Residence held responsible tourism events in their respective regions with the overriding theme of promoting a cleaner environment and for all communities to aim to become “plastic bag free”.
It is estimated that around the globe some 500 billion plastic bags are used annually – that is almost one million plastic bags used per minute. To make things worse it is estimated that approximately 60 – 100 million barrels of oil are required to make these plastic bags each year. In Pakistan plastic bags are a serious hazard causing major environmental and health problems in communities. One of the main problems with plastic bags is that they are non-biodegradable – they do not break down, decompose or rot for over 10,000 years. When they are carelessly thrown away they not only pollute the landscape but also threaten animals, damage the soil and block drains and gutters causing overflows of
sewerage and water resulting in a breeding ground for germs and bacteria that cause many diseases to both human, plant and animal life.
To begin the education process Serena Hotels has not only engaged stakeholders of the tourism industry and local dignitaries but has all engaged school children in World Responsible Tourism Day. Debating and art competitions, street clean ups and parades through villages carrying banners with the message “Say no to plastic bags” were all a part of the activities. One of the key objectives was to communicate to shop keepers that they should reduce the use of plastic bags and for them and their customers to use recyclable cloth or paper bags. Serena Hotels distributed numerous cloth bags amongst school children to ensure that their family members stop using environmentally damaging polythene bags.
Moving forward from World Responsible Tourism Day Serena Hotel’s Gilgit-Baltistan Collection encourages everyone to join them on their mission to ensure communities of Pakistan become plastic bag free and to assist in promoting a more sustainable future.
Photographs: https://www.facebook.com/media/set
Ismailimail 