How can the non-hotel accommodation sector contribute to more ethical, safer tourism that is mindful of human rights? At BTE – Palermo Non-Hotel Tourism Exchange, organised by Confesercenti, one of the key events for non-hotel accommodation facilities in Sicily, CESIE participated in the two-day event with the HOST project and had the opportunity to talk to operators, managers and professionals to answer this question, bringing to the attention of participants the risks of exploitation in the sector, as well as the tools and activities that can prevent them.
For years now, the BTE has been dedicating space to companies, innovative projects and initiatives with a high social impact, ensuring that the values of sustainable hospitality are not only about consumption but also about ethics, protecting the human rights of workers in a constantly evolving sector that employs thousands of people, many of whom come from third countries and are potentially vulnerable.
Participating in BTE did not simply mean “being present”, but entering the beating heart of the Sicilian hospitality sector, a sector in continuous growth, where every day the first contact is made between the territory and those who visit it. Surrounded by managers, small business owners, village operators and slow tourism professionals, HOST found the ideal context to explain how safety and protection are essential elements of ethical hospitality, and therefore authentic hospitality.
This value was also shared and highlighted in the plenary sessions, where the need to move beyond “hit-and-run” tourism in order to build more responsible experiences that are integrated into the territory and communities emerged strongly.
Our presence at the Opportunities Stand was an important step for HOST, as it gave us the opportunity to bring the issue of exploitation to the attention of a community that can really make a difference and bring about change, offering concrete tools and bringing us closer to the real beneficiaries of the project. In this direct dialogue, through meetings and new awareness, one of HOST’s most important objectives was achieved, namely to transform information into shared responsibility.
Ethical hospitality is now an integral and desirable part of truly sustainable tourism, shared primarily by those who use the services and are increasingly calling for the protection of workers alongside a unique and authentic experience. Responsible tourism is therefore only possible if it puts human rights at the centre.
Participation in the BTE therefore marks a significant step in the project’s journey, a concrete opportunity towards a culture of safe, ethical and inclusive hospitality.
Would you like to stay up to date on HOST’s upcoming initiatives?
Write to: cinziabroccolo@cesie.orge.org
About HOST
HOST – Tackling Human Trafficking in the Hospitality sector is funded by DG for Migration and Home Affairs (HOME), Asylum Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF).
Partners
- KMOP (coordinator, Greece)
- CESIE ETS (Italy)
- FSA – FUNDACION SOLIDARIDAD AMARANTA (Spain)
- MoMA – YPOURGEIO METANASTEFSIS KAI ASYLOU (Greece)
- FAIRWORK – STICHTING FAIRWORK (the Netherlands)
- SUSS – SUS STEP UP STOP SLAVERY (Cipro)
- LSI – THE INTERNATIONAL LA STRADA ASSOCIATION (the Netherlands)
- GFR – ELLINIKO FOROUM PROSFIGON (Greece)
- ANCI – ASSOCIAZIONE DEI COMUNI SICILIANI (Italy)
For further information
Contaxt Cinzia Broccolo, cinzia.broccolo@cesie.org
