The Travel Corporation announces Diamond Sponsorship of the UN International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017

Leading global travel company supports United Nations in mobilizing global awareness and action around the value of tourism to create positive change

TORONTO, Jan. 20, 2017 /CNW/ - The Travel Corporation (TTC) is proud to announce its Diamond Sponsorship of the UN International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017, in partnership with the UNWTO for the duration of 2017.

Recognizing the fundamental value of the global tourism sector as a lever for development of nations economically, socially, culturally, and environmentally, the United Nations 70^th General Assembly designated 2017 as the UN International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, framed within the context of the universal 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The International Year aims to support changes in policies, business practices, and consumer behaviour towards a more sustainable tourism sector that contributes to SDGs.

As a leading global travel company, TTC is on a continuing journey to ensure the environment and communities we visit remain vibrant for generations to come. Through the years, through our portfolio of brands and businesses, and alongside our TreadRight Foundation, TTC has supported more than 40 sustainability projects in nearly as many destinations across the globe. Our guiding principle it to encourage sustainable tourism development through conservation, leadership, and support for communities.

In supporting the UN International Year of Sustainable Tourism For Development as a Diamond Sponsor, TTC recognizes the importance of continually pushing the agenda forward with our travellers, partners and employees, in the interest of helping to advance the positive transformation of the travel and tourism industry.

"We were eager and honoured to support the UNWTO in this latest initiative because we recognize that our sector has a tremendous opportunity and responsibility to drive sustainable development around the world," says Brett Tollman, Chief Executive, The Travel Corporation (TTC). "In 2017, we look forward to helping mobilize industry stakeholders and educate policy-makers as well as the general public about the value of tourism to bring about positive change."

"2017 is a unique opportunity for us to promote the contribution of tourism to achieving the future we want – and also to determine, together, the exact role we will have tourism play in the sustainable development agenda, to and beyond 2030. Promotion, however, must be mirrored by action. Central, therefore, to the success of 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development is providing inspiring examples in leadership of tourism businesses across the globe - leaders demonstrating on a daily basis their commitment to the promotion, protection and  preservation of destinations, working to reinforce tourism as a force for good," says Dr. Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of the UNWTO. "For this very reason UNWTO is very proud to have The Travel Corporation (TTC) as a partner of International Year. Across three generations of Tollman family leadership, TTC through its business and its TreadRight Foundation, has evolved to become a reflection of excellence in delivering traveller experiences that are grounded in the core principles of social, economic, cultural and environmental sustainability. Great admiration is also held for their efforts in building traveller awareness around the positive impact that travellers themselves, can make on the communities and places they visit. I look forward to working with TTC throughout 2017, and I thank the Tollman family for their unwavering commitment to UNWTO and the principles of sustainable tourism."

This year the global UN system, and global community at large, will promote tourism's role in the following five key areas:

1. Inclusive and sustainable economic growth
2. Social inclusiveness, employment and poverty reduction
3. Resource efficiency, environmental protection and climate change
4. Cultural values, diversity and heritage
5. Mutual understanding, peace and security

A full program of activities was unveiled by the UNWTO on January 18, 2017 on the occasion of the Opening of the UN International Year of Sustainable Tourism For Development in Madrid, Spain at UNWTO Headquarters.

TTC joins several other travel and tourism organizations from around the world as the first sponsors to join the UNWTO to support the program of activities of the year.

About The Travel Corporation:
The Travel Corporation is a highly successful international travel group of 30 award-winning brands including Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, Contiki Holidays and Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection. The Travel Corporation's guiding principle is one of providing the most enjoyable, enriching travel experience for its customers across the globe.  

About TreadRight
Created as a joint initiative between The Travel Corporation's family of brands, the TreadRight Foundation is a not-for-profit working to ensure the environment and communities we visit remain vibrant for generations to come. To date, TreadRight has supported more than 35 sustainable tourism projects worldwide. The Foundation's guiding principle is to encourage sustainable tourism development through conservation, leadership and support for communities. Foundation priorities are set by the Steering Committee, which includes sustainability leaders like Céline Cousteau and Costas Christ.

TreadRight's past project partners include WWF, Conservation International and The National Trust in the UK. Current initiatives include sponsoring the National Geographic Society's inaugural "World Legacy Awards," and inspiring wildlife advocates like Terri Irwin.

To learn more about our past and current work at TreadRight, please visit us at treadright.org.

About UNWTO
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), a United Nations specialized agency, is the leading international organization with the decisive and central role in promoting the development of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. It serves as a global forum for tourism policy issues and a practical source of tourism know-how. Its membership includes 157 countries, 6 territories, 2 permanent observers and over 500 Affiliate Members.

SOURCE The Travel Corporation