Thu 27th October, 2011
Government ministers joined speakers from Europe, Africa and Australasia for a major international conference in Mauritius co-hosted by the University of Bedfordshire.
It was the first major international conference hosted by the University’s Institute for Tourism Research (INTOUR) and the Division of Tourism and Leisure and it focussed on tourism’s influence and role in shaping environmental and social change.
The International Tourism Sustainability Conference took place on the Mauritian resort of Balaclava Fort and was jointly organised by the University of Technology in Mauritius with INTOUR.
Professor Andrew Holden, the Director of INTOUR who is Professor in Environment and Tourism, jointly chaired the event with Dr Ramesh Durbarry from the University of Technology in Mauritius. He said: “The conference went brilliantly. Around 65 people from 23 different countries presented papers which were very good – there was lots of good practice shared that we can start to implement now.
“Our aim was to draw attention to the sustainable development of tourism in Mauritius and we definitely succeeded because the conference even featured in the international press! Not only that, it has cemented the University’s world-leading reputation in South and East Africa.”
Professor Holden, who also gave a paper, added: “The recognition for this landmark conference is really important because we’re planning to hold it bi-annually and attract more and more academics, practitioners and professionals from the world of tourism. There are plans for the 2013 conference to be held at the University itself.”
INTOUR is also planning another conference for June 2012, called ‘The influence of tourism on global activity: central or peripheral?’. It will be held at the University’s Putteridge Bury campus. For more information email: andrew.holden@beds.ac.uk or isabel.torres-martinez@beds.ac.uk
Latest news» 2011» October» Landmark tourism conference is an international success
