How can the tourism sector help prevent exploitation and promote more ethical hospitality?
In Terrasini, institutions, companies and tourism and hospitality businesses discussed the social value of tourism, a moment of debate dedicated to the role and social responsibility of tourism businesses in promoting a more sustainable and ethical model of hospitality. The meeting involved tourism operators, local institutions and trade organisations such as Hospitality ProTerrasini interested in strengthening the link between economic development, social responsibility and the protection of rights.
The training day ‘Business, hospitality and responsibility: the social value of tourism’ was much more than just an opportunity for discussion; it was a chance to recognise the social value of tourism and the role that businesses, administrations and communities can play in building fairer and more inclusive territories. Talking about hospitality means, first and foremost, talking about people. It means promoting a model of development that is not limited to welcoming visitors, but also protects those who work in the sector and enhances local communities. Tourism that is capable of generating real value for local areas, attentive to the needs of communities and oriented towards sustainable profit, which does not exploit either the environment or people, but instead focuses on collective well-being, dignity of work and social and environmental sustainability.
The meeting was promoted thanks to the collaboration between CESIE ETS and ANCI Sicilia through the HOST – Tackling Human Trafficking in the Hospitality Sector project, a European project that aims to prevent labour exploitation in the hospitality sector in order to promote responsible tourism and build more aware, welcoming and sustainable territories for all.
Tourism is a key sector for the economy of local areas, especially in Sicily, but it also carries with it important social responsibilities. A responsible approach to hospitality is not only about the quality of the services offered, but also the social impact that tourism activities have on the local area.
Events such as this demonstrate that change stems from dialogue and collaboration between different actors, united by the desire to transform tourism into a tool for sustainable growth, responsibility and respect for rights. Building ethical hospitality means imagining a future in which economic development and human dignity can go hand in hand. The meeting in Terrasini is just the beginning of a broader journey. Taking the discussion outside the major centres and into the regions means broadening participation, listening to local needs and working together to build more inclusive and concrete responses, strengthening the link between tourism development, communities and social responsibility.
To stay up to date on the project’s upcoming activities, contact cinzia.broccolo@cesie.org or progetti@anci.sicilia.it .
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
