2022 GSTC Asia-Pacific Conference Program

September 15^th (Thursday) – Conference Day 1

• Luigi Cabrini, Chair of GSTC
• Kwan-Young Kim, Governor of Jeollabuk-do
• Im-Joon Kang, Mayor of Gunsan City
• Sun-Hee Yoon, Vice Administrator, Seamangeum Development and Investment Agency

Caesar Indra – President of Traveloka

@ Convention Hall 2

As international travel is returning so does the demand for large conferences as well as business retreats and small meetings. A retreat is usually a smaller meeting that convenes in an off-the-beaten-path destination, while a small meeting typically takes place at a hotel close to an airport or train, with meeting space and audio-visual support to accommodate the size and scope of the meeting. Showcasing small meetings provides an exceptional opportunity for events organizers to plan differently when it comes to choosing meeting sites and itineraries. As such, this gives rise to opportunities to address sustainability issues in a more focused manner.

Moderator: Mr. Hongkook Ha – Secretary General, Korea MICE Association

Speakers:

• Yuko Suga – Sales Manager, Fukuoka Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Benjamin Wong – CEO, Tricolage

Panelists:

• Francis Hong – Director, Suwon Convention & Visitors’ Bureau
• Jong sool Kwon – Executive Director, Korean Tourism Organization

@ Room 203

Responsible travel is indispensable for Ecotourism. What type of travelers visit the natural areas and how the Ecotourism site is designed – these elements influence the natural resources, cultural heritage and the locals who live there. Ecotourism should not disrupt the environment, culture and the locals, while it is challenging in reality. In this session, we will explore the future direction of ecotourism by examining the design and branding strategies for revitalizing ecotourism and the implications in the case of revitalizing ecotourism in the Asia-Pacific region.

Moderator: Emi Kaiwa – Manager Asia Pacific, GSTC

Speakers:

• Catherine Germier-Hamel – CEO, Destination Mekong
• Yunsik Choi – CEO, Eco-Environmental Design Research Institute INNO

Panelists:

• Prof. Yoon Yoo-shik – Department of Convention and Exhibition Management, Kyunghee University
• Dr. Hag young Heo – Senior Research Fellow, National Park Research Institute
• Dr. Hyeong O Kim – Research Fellow, Jeonbuk Research Institute

@ Convention Hall 2

A Sustainability Management System (SMS) is used to identify the risks, outline corresponding management, and monitor and document performance relating to the environmental, social, cultural, economic, quality, human rights, health, and safety issues which will be based on the size, business nature, and scope of an organization. Through regular monitoring, the SMS sets a platform for continuous improvement in sustainability performance. Most importantly, the SMS and all related information has to be clearly documented. This is addressed in GSTC-I criterion A1.

Moderator: CB Ramkumar – Regional Director, South Asia, GSTC

Speakers:

• Su Kim Loh – Senior Vice President – Sustainability, Resorts World Sentosa
• Matawee Mujchapan – Operations Manager, Environment & Sustainability, Centara Hotels & Resorts

Panelists:

• Eunice Kang – Account Director, Marriott
• Seung wan Gu – General Manager, Best Western Jeonju Hotel
• Vincent LELAY – Vice President Operations, Accor Ambassador Korea

@ Room 203

Ecotourism is usually about responsible travel and protecting the natural areas, so does the strong impression of the environmental aspect of sustainability. Almost unavoidable to disrupt the untouched nature and locals by the travelers, while ecotourism business could be helping the community. In this session, ecotourism, which benefits the local community such as community-based tourism will be explained with examples in Asia-Pacific, and ecotourism in Jeollabuk-do for revitalizing the local community through examples and implications of activating will be discussed.

Moderator: Prof. Young-ki Choi – Jeonju University

Speakers:

• Sophea Sok – Regional Program Manager, Asia-Pacific, Planeterra Foundation
• Dr. Boguk Kim – Senior research Fellow, Jeonbuk Research Institute

Panelists:

• Sunhee Yoon – CEO, Jeju Ecotourism
• Susan Santos de Cárdenas – President & CEO, Society for Sustainable Tourism
• Seung Ho Lee – Director, Korea National Park Nature Center(Byeonsanbando), Korea National Park Service

September 16^th (Friday) – Conference Day 2

@ Convention Hall 2

• Ho Yeol Bae – Director of Development Bureau, Saemangeum Development and Investment Agency
• Cheh Hsien Lee – Division Director, Planning, Sentosa Development Corporation

Sentosa is Singapore’s premier island resort getaway, home to an exciting array of themed attractions, award-winning spa retreats, lush rainforests, golden sandy beaches, resort accommodations, world-renowned golf courses, a deep-water yachting marina and residences. The 500-hectare island is managed by Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC), a statutory board under Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry. Last year SDC launched the Sustainable Sentosa strategic roadmap, and has recently achieved a certification as a sustainable tourist destination by GSTC-Accredited Certification Body Vireo Srl.

@ Convention Hall 2

The young generation is an integral part of tourism industry and make up a significant proportion of the tourism workforce. This session will discuss tourism companies’ internal culture of employees’ development, growth of university student and interns in the tourism industry, as well as how well how younger generation of business owners work nowadays.

Moderator: Roi Ariel – General Manager, GSTC

Speaker: Natalie Kidd – Chief People and Purpose Officer, Intrepid Travel

Panelists:

• Jason Lin – Co-founder & CEO, Talent Basket
• Jennifer Lin – Senior Manager, Business Development, Southeast Asia, Rezio
• Shinobu Hayama – CEO, Journey for Change
• Halim Choi – Program Officer, Jeonbuk MICE Bureau

@ Convention Hall 2

Destination stewardship requires good public policy and strong private sector practices. The Destination Management Organization (DMO) has a role in both, not just the first. The DMO needs to provide guidance and encouragement to the private sector to operate more sustainably. Criterion A4 of the GSTC Destination Criteria and its Performance Indicators underscores that DMO’s must take an active role in engaging with the private sector. This is needed to encourage more sustainable forms of services and experiences.

Moderator: Randy Durband – CEO, GSTC

Speakers:

• Christina Leala Gale – Sustainable Tourism Manager, Pacific Tourism Organisation
• Shin Yee Chee – Chief of Staff, Batu Batu Tengah Island
• Suk Yoon – Assistant Director, Environment Policy Division, Ulsan Metropolitan City
• Kashi Raj Bhandari – Sr. Director, Nepal Tourism Board

@ Room 203

As travel technology is improving and more widely applied to product information and distribution, destinations and tour operators put more focus on managing the visitor flow in tourism hubs as well as dispersion into less visited destinations and attractions. Better tourism dispersal and more respect for host communities and the natural environment allow the sustainable development of smaller tourist destinations. This is also seen as an increasing number of travelers seek less crowded and more ‘authentic’ places to visit, so better traveler dispersion through improved visitor management is vital.

Moderator: Prof. In-pyeong Ryu, Jeonju University

Speakers:

• Natalie Kidd – Chief People and Purpose Officer, Intrepid Travel
• Hajime Ono – Chief Official, Office of Director for Travel Promotion, Japan Tourism Agency, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

Panelists:

• Dr. Michail Toanoglou – Professor of Hospitality & Tourism, Jeonju University
• Hugh Kim, Executive Director, Jeonbuk Culture & Tourism Foundation
• Sung eun Kim – Team manager, Korea Tourism Organization

@ Convention Hall 2

Currently, there are two sets of the GSTC Criteria: GSTC Industry Criteria and GSTC Destination Criteria. With growing interest and requests, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council is now developing the GSTC MICE Criteria. Conference participants are welcome to take part in this consultation activity as part of the development process and help shape the GSTC MICE Criteria.

Moderated by Randy Durband – CEO, GSTC

@ Convention Hall 2

Currently, there are two sets of the GSTC Criteria: GSTC Industry Criteria and GSTC Destination Criteria. With growing interest and requests, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council is now developing the GSTC Attraction Criteria. Conference participants are welcome to take part in this consultation activity as part of the development process and help shape the GSTC Attraction Criteria.

Moderated by Dr. Mihee Kang – Assurance Director, GSTC

September 17th (Saturday): Post-conference tour

Only for those that have registered by September 9th

More details here

Leave Jeonju

Drop some participants that head to Seoul at the Jeonju train station.

Train leaves Jeonju at 15:24, and arrive at Seoul station at 17:13.

Then head back to Gunsan downtown and Best Western.