Positive Action Community Tourism initiative seeks to return tourism wealth to local residents
Driven by British entrepreneur Mark Weingard, the Positive Action Community Tourism initiative proposes a model where hotels contribute to the social, cultural, and economic development of their host communities. The movement, which started in Malta, aims to create a global network and is working with the World Travel & Tourism Council for international expansion.
Key points
- The Positive Action Community Tourism initiative was launched to involve the hotel sector in host community development.
- The initiative was driven by British entrepreneur Mark Weingard, founder of the Iniala Group.
- Founder Mark Weingard reports that the movement currently has four members and is working with the World Travel & Tourism Council to launch internationally.
- Weingard plans to replicate his hotel model in Lisbon, Athens, and Madrid.
What Happened
The boom in international tourism has left many destinations facing a paradox where large businesses increase revenues while residents face rising housing costs and a loss of local identity. In response, British entrepreneur Mark Weingard, founder of the Iniala Group, launched the Positive Action Community Tourism initiative in Malta.
The initiative aims to bring together hotels, organizations, and local stakeholders so that tourism leaves positive social, cultural, and economic legacies for local people.
Context
According to Weingard, the movement currently has four members and is working with the World Travel & Tourism Council to launch internationally. Weingard states that hotels need to build relationships with their host communities rather than simply making a profit, citing his own Iniala Valletta hotel as an example of restoring historic buildings to blend into the cityscape.
Weingard reports plans to replicate his hotel model in Lisbon, Athens, and Madrid with properties connected to local culture and identity.
What Comes Next
The Positive Action Community Tourism initiative seeks to spread its philosophy to other cities such as Madrid, London, Paris, and Lisbon through a broad agreement bringing all stakeholders together. Weingard aims for more hotels to join the initiative to help solve gentrification issues affecting cities globally.
Why it matters
The Positive Action Community Tourism initiative proposes a collaborative hotel model to address rising housing costs and gentrification in tourist destinations.
What we know
- Mark Weingard founded the Positive Action Community Tourism initiative to encourage hotels to contribute to the social, cultural, and economic development of their host communities.
- The Positive Action Community Tourism initiative is collaborating with the World Travel & Tourism Council to expand internationally.
- Mark Weingard plans to expand his hotel model to Lisbon, Athens, and Madrid.
What remains unclear
- Whether the Positive Action Community Tourism initiative will successfully scale globally and achieve its broader goals across major international cities remains to be seen.
