400,000 little things we can do

Our busy schedules and hectic lifestyles often push us to take for granted our loved ones. Sometimes it takes a birthday, an anniversary or some other commemorative day to bring what should be obvious and constantly on our minds.

So, even though some would say that we have more than enough special days, one may say that we do need these days to jolt us to think on what and who is special in our lives.

Today is one of those days: World Tourism Day. We are not celebrating a loved one but we are being asked to spend some time to consider an activity which, although important to all, is not always given the importance it deserves.

Tourism is most probably contributing, directly or indirectly, to your lifestyle. Its success depends very much on what we do, individually and collectively. So today I wish to put forward a very simple message: We can all work to improve our tourism. Not just the government; not just the entrepreneur but each and every one of us. We can start by doing the most obvious and basic things like not littering, respecting our natural and cultural heritage and being courteous to each other. Our tourism product needs these small efforts just as much as it needs some large-scale projects.

The government and the private sector will continue investing in our product. But we as citizens certainly need to do more than just sit and point out our shortcomings. If you are reading this piece in the morning, think of what you can do today to make a difference to our tourism product and then go ahead and do it.

The theme chosen for this year's World Tourism Day is Climate Change. Climate change will impact heavily on the future of tourism. Regions which are now attractive because of their gentle climate, such as Mediterranean islands, can be facing temperature hikes that will reduce if not eliminate their attractiveness. Destinations that are attractive because of their biodiversity, that attract visitors because of their rich flora and fauna, are running the risk of losing the species that attract tourists. Mountain resorts that appeal to snow sport lovers run the risk of having less or no snow. And the list goes on.

The message here is simple: We need to take better care of our environment and our world if we want tourism and our livelihood to be sustainable. So think twice about leaving those lights on unnecessarily. Think more than twice about using your car when you can walk or cycle. Think about using alternative sources of energy at home. Think how you can reduce your carbon footprint. Think and then act. The internet is a wonderful source for ideas on how you can reduce your footprint.

These last months tourism and the environment were often in the news. Like any other economic activity, tourism will leave an impact on the environment. We need to work to reduce this impact and see that tourism works for rather than against the environment. This is not impossible. I would say, in fact, it is necessary if we want to see a future for the industry that puts euros in our pockets, creates jobs for our children and puts us in contact with the world around us.

So let us make a difference today. Let you and me do just one thing that counts. After all, 400,000 little things will make a big difference.