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.