Koko Tang, GSTC Board Member and Founder of Colorful Earth, Co-Founder of Vinetree Tourism
The 10th edition of Sharjah International Travel & Tourism Forum took place on November 22 at Expo Centre Sharjah and offered insights into the challenges, opportunities, and sustainability within the travel and tourism sector through a series of discussions, presentations and interactive workshops.
Koko Tang, GSTC Board Member and Founder of Colorful Earth, Co-Founder of Vinetree Tourism, was invited to the Forum as a Guest of Honor, to deliver the opening speech on “Sustainable Tourism: The Way to Improvement”.
“There is no easy answer to the definition of sustainable tourism. UN sets SDG 17 goals, which are also applicable to the tourism sector. We need to take a holistic approach. It is not just about mitigating single use plastic, reducing our carbon footprint, or avoiding food waste. It is more than that, it includes disability inclusion, green supply chain, respecting intellectual property rights of the local community, and preservation of natural and cultural heritage. It is, indeed, about maximizing all positive impacts and minimizing the negative impacts of tourism,” said Koko Tang.
Mrs. Tang also spoke on the panel ‘Strategies for Sustainable Travel and Tourism’ that brought together industry leaders, including Iftikhar Hamdani, Area General Manager of HMH Hotel Group, and Paul Bridger, COO of Rove Hotel, and was moderated by Doug Lansky, Destination Advisor and Tourism Expert.
The panel explored eco-tourism, waste reduction, and the economic and environmental benefits of sustainable tourism, providing valuable perspectives on shaping the industry’s future.
SITTF was organized by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA).
