UCB Welcomes Prestigious Speaker

Final year and Postgraduate tourism students recently welcomed a high profile guest speaker, Tricia Barnett, Director of Tourism Concern, an independent UK based charity which works to fight exploitation in tourism.

Tourism Concern lobbies governments and challenge industry to be accountable, exposing serious abuses through their campaigns; also encouraging holidaymakers to challenge their own perceptions about the cultures they visit and the real impact of their holiday. Supporting marginalised voices and creating alternatives for the people living in countries where tourism has an impact.

Tricia, who has spoken at the United Nations and to governments across the world, illustrated the work of Tourism Concern using their campaign after the South East Asian tsunami in 2004. After the Tsunami, Tourism Concern were immediately aware of the severity of the impact on local people. This was not just because of the loss of lives and homes, but because of land evictions for tourism developments.

Whilst at UCB Tricia also met with a group of BA Events Management students (pictured) who are using their Live Events module to fundraise for Tourism Concern, holding a swishing event in January where people can swap clothes, giving them a way to update their wardrobe in an environmentally friendly and free way – and perhaps get rid of some of those unwanted Christmas jumpers! This is the second year that Events Management students have supported Tourism Concern, last years was a beach party themed event Bar-hamas raising £850 of vital funds.

For more information about Tourism Concern visit their website www.tourismconcern.org.uk and for more information about studying with us visit our course pages .