tourism « Adventure. Travel. Life.

What will travel look like in our future? Will we seek adventure closer to home or abandon plane travel all together and opt to experience our travels virtually as an avatar? TEDxWhistler – whistler’s first independent TED talk – has brought speakers and community members from a variety of backgrounds to discuss their “ideas worth spreading” on the topic of tourism in a sustainable world. In addition to the sum 100 community members and media present at Canada Olympic House, TEDx is also being beamed via live webcast on their website.

With a global oil crisis looming in the next 40 years and an estimated 1.6 billion people expected to travel (as per UN World Travel statistics) the question of how to maintain tourism without damaging indigenous cultures or our environment any further, is on the minds of many.

One of the topics that rings true to me today is “voluntourism.” Bruce Poon Tip, CEO and founder of Gap Adventures brought to the table examples of how a business model can be sustainable. From creating the first ever women’s weaving group in communities along the Inka Trail to creating Tanzania’s first ever World Aids Day, Gap Adventures has inspired travelers to not only experience new cultures, but also make a difference in the remote communities they visit.

Carbon offsets might be today’s trending topic, but tomorrow’s solution could very well be much more innovative and effective. I’ve been live tweeting from TEDxWhistler all afternoon. Follow me on Twitter to find out what we’ve been learning about sustainable tourism at this very interesting event.

Whistler, BC is a town that has had sustainability on the brain for quite some time. From the myriad of community groups passionate about preserving the natural habitat to a municipal government making bold environmental decisions, this town is certainly one of the most progressive in Canada. And, I’m not just saying that because I happen to call it home!

The 2010 Winter Games – touted the “Green Games” by organizers – is, perhaps, the perfect time to create dialogue around sustainable tourism and Whistler’s role in that future. And there’s no better time to do that than on Day 7 of the Olympics.

TEDxWhistler, an independently organized TED event, will take place on February 18 in Whistler, and will also be broadcast via live webcast around the globe. You might recognize the TED talks for their “ideas worth spreading” videos on a variety of topics.

TEDxWhistler: Tourism’s Place in a Sustainable World, is organized by the Whistler Centre for Sustainability, a non-profit organization that was created by Whistler citizens and the municipal government.

The four speakers are: Bruce Poon Tip, founder of Gap Adventures; Valerie Langer, the Director of British Columbia Forest Campaigns for ForestEthics; Wade Davis, a filmmaker, anthropologist and author; and river conservationist, Mark Angelo.

As Government 2.0 picks up steam, this event is reflective of the new transparency. Whistler will certainly be impacted by climate change – and this community will have to band together to find its role in fusing our tourism industry and sustainable practices.

TEDxWhistler runs February 18 from 1-4pm. There are a only total of 100 seats available so if you can’t be there in person, watch the livestream from the comfort of your own home, office or even classroom.

If you feel inspired, submit your vision of sustainable tourism in Whistler. There are 30 seats reserved for the best entries.

I’m intrigued to see what discussions will come out of this session and how the ideas percolated at TEDxWhistler will inspire the future of Whistler’s sustainable tourism industry.

Disclaimer: I know the organizers of this event. However, I am not writing this blog for monetary gain and am genuinely interested in the topic.