Travel with a Purpose with Saul Blanco Sosa

Let's talk about sustainable tourism preservation with inspiring industry expert Saul Blanco Sosa. He's from Guatemala and lives near the famous Mayan city of Tikal. He is currently the Director of Sustainable Travel Programme at Preferred by Nature, and has been advocating sustainability in the travel sector since 1994.

This conversation is about how travel can help people learn and make the world a better place. We talk about doing business in a responsible way, including the power of auditing, how to avoid "box-ticking," and what a sustainable hotel might look like. We look at ways for businesses to deal with problems like food waste, the exploitation of children, and the use of renewable energy. We talk about how important tourism certification is and how important it is to recognize the role of indigenous people.

Saul started traveling in a way that was good for the environment when he was 18 and learning how to be a tour guide at Tikkal National Park. When he realized that sustainable travel was a way to show the world how different countries are, he became very interested in it. He says how important it is to be a good ambassador and show tourists from all over the world their culture. This conversation shows that travel can be a great way to learn, but it must also be done in a responsible way. He then cites examples of how travel can have bad effects, like making problems worse in sensitive areas, and how to deal with this. He shares how tourism can be both a chance for growth and a way to hurt communities. He says that we can't stop tourism completely, so we should focus on making the interactions between locals and tourists more meaningful. We also talk about how important tourism certification is and how important it is to recognize the role of indigenous people.

Lastly, Saul talks about how important it is to slow down when traveling and take the time to get to know a place and its people. This will help you make memories that will last and have a positive effect on the people who live there.
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Time Stamps

02:51 Exploring the Roots of Sustainable Travel

06:07 The Impact of Travel on Society

09:45 The Value of Auditing for Sustainability: A Discussion

12:27 Sustainable Practices in the Hotel Industry

14:00 Indicators of a Truly Responsible Company

17:16 Acknowledging the Elephant in the Room: How to Tackle Challenges Collectively

20:22 Sustainable Tourism Initiatives: A Discussion on Food Waste in Argentina

23: Sustainable Food Practices: Social Fridges, Supply Chains, and Reuse of Food Waste

25:00 The Role of Certification in Sustainable Development

27:40 The Need to Innovate in the Travel Sector

29:12 Exploring the Financial and Sustainability Benefits of Renewable Energy

32:15 Sustainable and Responsible Travel

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