’Your Actions Count – Be a Responsible Traveller’ aims to raise awareness about the most common illicit goods and services that tourists might be exposed to while travelling.
The campaign provides guidance to recognize possible situations of trafficking in persons, wildlife, cultural artefacts, illicit drugs and counterfeit goods, and invites travellers to take action through responsible consumer choices.
“Tourists are global citizens and with over one billion tourists travelling the world each year they must become a force for good.
Making the right ethical choice as consumers reduces the demand for illegal products and contributes to preserve natural and cultural assets that form an invaluable part of the heritage of the communities and people we visit” said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai during the launch of the campaign.
UNODC Executive Director, Yury Fedotov, meanwhile emphasized the importance of informing travellers about where their money ends up when buying illicit products.
“Travellers have a responsibility not to contribute to the profits being generated through organized crime.
Whether it relates to the sale of people, animal products, drugs, cultural artefacts or counterfeit goods, it is important that travellers fully understand the exploitative nature of these activities.
Awareness campaigns such as this one are critical if potential consumers are to be informed about the adverse effects of their purchasing decisions.”
The campaign launches with the support of Marriott International and Sabre Holdings, the first tourism companies to partner in the campaign, promoting this important message among their millions of customers.
The campaign provides guidance to recognize possible situations of trafficking in persons, wildlife, cultural artefacts, illicit drugs and counterfeit goods, and invites travellers to take action through responsible consumer choices.
“Tourists are global citizens and with over one billion tourists travelling the world each year they must become a force for good.
Making the right ethical choice as consumers reduces the demand for illegal products and contributes to preserve natural and cultural assets that form an invaluable part of the heritage of the communities and people we visit” said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai during the launch of the campaign.
UNODC Executive Director, Yury Fedotov, meanwhile emphasized the importance of informing travellers about where their money ends up when buying illicit products.
“Travellers have a responsibility not to contribute to the profits being generated through organized crime.
Whether it relates to the sale of people, animal products, drugs, cultural artefacts or counterfeit goods, it is important that travellers fully understand the exploitative nature of these activities.
Awareness campaigns such as this one are critical if potential consumers are to be informed about the adverse effects of their purchasing decisions.”
The campaign launches with the support of Marriott International and Sabre Holdings, the first tourism companies to partner in the campaign, promoting this important message among their millions of customers.