Last week, the inaugural Canadian Association of Tour Operators (CATO) Symposium took place in Alentejo, Portugal, with the participation of 14 of its members.
The event included more than 50 local suppliers, focusing on sustainable practices within the travel industry.
The discussions surrounding "sustainable development" are a critical topic for the future of tourism, CATO officials said.
The symposium featured a workshop titled “Sustainability Accelerator,” which focused on the importance of sustainability in business.
Professor Graham Miller and Rochelle Turner led the session. Turner serves as the Global B Corp Impact Manager at Intrepid Travel, and Miller holds the Rodrigo Guimaraes Chair of Sustainable Business at Nova School of Business and Economics. The session also included insights from two Portuguese specialists on sustainable tourism practices within the country.
The discussions stressed that sustainability in travel encompasses not only environmental considerations but also the well-being of local communities and the tourism sector. Emphasis was placed on raising awareness, providing education, and implementing actionable measures to promote sustainable travel.
The symposium concluded with participants acknowledging the significance of fostering sustainable practices in tourism to protect natural and cultural resources, support local economies, and address the growing demand for responsible travel.
“Alentejo offers both the beauty of its remarkable past as well as a vision for a promising future; a future in which residents and travellers don’t simply co-exist but instead enhance each others well-being and benefit equally," said CATO Chair Brett Walker. "CATO shares this vision, and it was abundantly clear during our time in Alentejo that our members do, too."
