29 November 2008
Arusha — Conference tourism for this year will come to a climax with the hosting of the 2008 Travelers' Philanthropy Convention which will be held at the Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge about 20 kilometres from Arusha from December 3 to 5.
The 200 to 250 conference attendees will include representatives from tourism companies from around the world, as well as experts from development and conservation organizations. It will also include representatives from the UN and other international agencies, academics, government officials, and others interested in how responsible tourism can contribute to poverty alleviation and biodiversity conservation.
Among the key speakers of the conference are Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan and David Western, chairman of the African Conservation Centre, also a Kenyan citizen who was raised and educated in Tanzania. Professor Maathai serves on the boards of organisations including the UN Secretary Generals Advisory Board on Disarmament and the Jane Goodall Institute.
David Western Prof. Wangari
The international conference with a focus on Africa will examine the growing trend among responsible tourism businesses to support local community and conservation projects.
The conference will cover a range of topics including the role of tourism businesses in supporting HIV-AIDS education and prevention; raising funds from travelers and travel businesses for conservation of wildlife, and parks and protected areas; Travelers Philanthropy initiatives to address climate change; and developing business models that incorporate Travelers' Philanthropy as a central element.
The 2008 Travelers' Philanthropy Conference has attracted major sponsorships from governments and the tourism industry.
The conference also features eight outstanding safaris that combine wildlife viewing with visits to community projects supported by tourism businesses, as well as visits to Zanzibar and a trek up Mt. Kilimanjaro.
The conference is being organized by the U.S. based nonprofit organization, the Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development (CESD), and a 3-person team in Arusha.
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