Theme: Sustainable Tourism for the Future

Sustainability is not just a guiding theme for our 2025 Convention – it is the foundation upon which the entire programme has been designed. As the world of tourism evolves, tourist guides stand at the forefront of shaping responsible, resilient, and forward-looking practices. With the Convention motto “Sustainable Tourism for the Future”, we reaffirm our commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to the values embedded in our WFTGA Code of Guiding Practice.

This Convention is both a platform for dialogue and a live demonstration of what sustainable tourism can look like in practice.

Sustainable Planning from the Start

Our organising team has made a conscious effort to apply sustainable principles at every level of planning:

- We are working closely with official hotels to encourage the installation of water dispensers and the use of reusable products.
- Meal planning prioritises organic, seasonal, and locally sourced produce. This has required extra coordination and, at times, has increased costs – but we believe sustainability is worth the investment.
- We have limited the production of printed materials and encourage digital access to schedules and guides wherever possible.

Content with Purpose: Learning through Sustainability

- every keynote speakers and panel discussions will directly address the challenges and opportunities of sustainable tourism and guiding.
- Field visits during the Convention, as well as pre- and post-tours, will highlight innovative sustainability projects across Kyushu. These include recycling initiatives, community-led tourism models, and cultural heritage conservation efforts.
Participants will witness how Kyushu has transformed from an industrial hub to a vibrant island of cultural tourism – a story deeply rooted in both resilience and historical reflection.

Mountain Fuji near Fuji Five Lakes, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Japan

Greener Travel Options

- On arrival and for local transfers, we encourage participants to use the Fukuoka subway system.
- For long-distance journeys on pre- and post-tours, we proudly use Japan’s Shinkansen trains – one of the world’s most efficient and low-emission rail systems.

Innovation in Guiding: A Sustainable Certification

In collaboration with UNESCO, we are initiating the development of a Sustainable Tourist Guiding Certificate, which we hope to pilot through a dedicated workshop during the Convention. This programme aims to create a global benchmark for sustainability in the guiding profession.

A Code of Practice for a Sustainable Future

As part of the Convention, the WFTGA Code of Guiding Practice will be reviewed and updated to integrate sustainability more deeply – particularly in alignment with the SDGs and ethical tourism standards. This is a collective effort, and we invite all delegates to contribute their voices to this important process.

Accessibility and Flexibility – A Sustainable Model

We are offering hybrid participation options to make the Convention more accessible and reduce travel where possible. Throughout the organisational process, we followed a framework of “Must – Should – Could”, carefully considering what is essential and what can be simplified to reduce impact – not only for the planet but also for ourselves and our teams.

The Legacy Project – A Message of Peace

As part of the Convention experience, we proudly participate in the Legacy Project in Nagasaki, hosted at the renowned Peace Park. This deeply moving initiative invites visitors to contribute to the city’s message of peace by offering paper cranes (senbazuru) – a tradition inspired by Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who folded a thousand cranes in hope of recovery after the atomic bombing. Today, these cranes symbolise hope, remembrance, and the universal desire for a world free of nuclear weapons.
During our visit, delegates and participants will have the opportunity to engage directly with this legacy. By contributing cranes, we become part of a global call for peace and solidarity – values that lie at the very heart of responsible and sustainable tourism.

Tourist Guides as Ambassadors of Peace and Ethics

Tourist guides are often called ambassadors of peace – a role that has never been more important than in our current global climate, marked by rising populism, polarisation, and division. The Convention will include dedicated sessions reflecting on this ethical responsibility:
- How can we, as tourist guides, uphold and promote values of peace, inclusivity, and intercultural understanding in our daily work?
- How can training and certification programmes incorporate these principles more intentionally?
- How does interpreting history – especially painful or divisive history – contribute to a more sustainable and compassionate tourism culture?

By addressing these questions, we reaffirm that sustainability is not only about environmental stewardship, but also about human dignity, memory, and shared values. As tourist guides, the stories we choose to tell, and how we tell them, shape perceptions and build bridges.Through the Legacy Project, through thoughtful conversation, and through the ethical compass of our profession, we honour our commitment to sustainable tourism for the future.

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