International Conference on Responsible Tourism and Hospitality (ICRTH): Post-Event Reflection and Assessment
International Conference on Responsible Tourism and Hospitality (ICRTH) was planned by Sarawak Research Society (SRS) in 2019 with the aim to advance the discourse on responsible tourism for sustainable development. The first conference was held virtually in May 2021 and the second version was organised in Sarawak in September 2022 using a hybrid approach. It is a conference that brings governments, academics, researchers, industry players, associations, and communities together to harness partnership for a greater cause. Despite being a young conference, it receives some attention from the regional and international delegates, including officials from the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and Emerald Publishing. In particular, ICRTH2022 was purposefully designed to (1) involve local enterprises and support their business/products, (2) engage local communities and maximise travel benefits, (3) empower the youth and work with them, and (4) incorporate sustainable practices into the conference. This conference notes, however, also highlight some limitations or constraints in organising the conference for future consideration. The intention is to reflect on the shortcomings and evaluate what can be done better. The originally Sarawak homegrown ICRTH has now spread its network and partnership beyond its border to Southeast Asia and Asia Pacific. More importantly, it enables the responsible tourism movement and missions to gain more ground in the said regions.
Keywords: ICRTH; responsible tourism; stakeholders; partnership; sustainable practices