Measures against global warming are proceeding worldwide today. Efforts to make tourism industry environmentally friendly are an important factor to increase global competitiveness.

MICE market is currently going into "green movement". "TTGmice", a business publication specifying MICE industry, put a cover story " GREEN MEETINGS: Are you green enough for today's carbon-conscious clients?" in its October 2007 issue. The story points out the growing concern for the environment in the MICE industry.

Several cases of "green" events and conferences are found in the above cover story.

An event planner in Asia goes green by using recycled or fairtrade products at the events and conferences he handles. MICE clients today show keen interest in the environmental impact of air travel and events. Requests for "green" conferences and events by clients particularly from the US and Europe promote green movement in the MICE industry.

"We need to consult environment experts about what we should do to minimize impact on the environment and how to apply 'green' practices in planning and organizing events. ", commented Tour East, a Singapore based DMC.

The "TTGmice" also covers the case of Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Centre is designed environment friendly; it uses rainwater collected from its roof for watering plants. It has a recycling program ready to put into practice. First, they will recycle paper, plastic and aluminum cans. It plans to further extend the program to recycle the entire waste disposal collected and reuse booths of each event.
In the meantime, a ground operator in Japan recently received an inquiry from a U.S. based travel company about possibility to organize an environment-conscious incentive tour to Japan. The operator was also questioned by a European travel company's director in charge of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) about its management policy of environmentally friendly operation. Travel companies in Europe expect their contracted suppliers to practice environment-conscious management as part of CSR, and the Director, CSR was regularly auditing its business partners' environment friendly operation.

The "Green Program" by American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) aims to provide educational and promotional resources so that travel agents and suppliers could increase their environment-consciousness. ASTA also supplies latest information including guidelines for "green" business development and knowledge on environmentally friendly tourism.

The amount of carbon dioxide emissions from global tourism is estimated to be approximately 12 billion tons annually, covering some 5% of global CO2 emissions, which is not high in percentage compared to other industries. However, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) estimates that expansion

of global traffic would lead to carbon dioxide emission growth of 152%* by 2035(under a 'business as usual' scenario for the tourism industry: projections of annual 4% growth in international tourist arrivals).

The global trend in environment-consciousness is such an important issue for all travel related companies today. By choosing to "go green" a company can gain competitiveness now. For the travel industry in Japan, too, it is an urgent issue. Planning and implementing policies to sustain environment on both national and regional level is an acute subject, if Japan hopes to remain an attractive and preferred destination in the global tourism marketplace.