048⎢Highlights from the WTTC Global Summit: Conversations with ICF's Top Aviation and Tourism Experts
In this groundbreaking episode of the Tourism Hub podcast, we’re honoured to have not one but two international experts on the show. Host Despina Karatzia welcomes Jane Thompson and Nikolaos Gkolfinopoulos of ICF. A long time friend and colleague, Nikolaos is Tourism Hub's first returning guest, making history as our first repeat appearance on the show! In this episode, Jane Thompson and Nikolaos Golfinopoulos from ICF highlight the organisation’s mission to build a more prosperous and resilient world through sustainable projects across various sectors, including aviation and tourism. Jane discusses the aviation industry's move toward sustainability, focusing on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) as a key solution to reducing carbon emissions by 2050. Nikolaos emphasises the importance of heat resilience in tourism, urging destinations to adapt to climate change through strategic planning. Both experts highlight the need for empathy, collaboration, and innovative solutions to address global challenges. They also share examples of best practices in sustainable tourism, such as Rwanda's well-managed gorilla tracking and Australia's commitment to environmental responsibility. Ultimately, the episode calls for using technology like AI to enhance efficiencies while maintaining human-centred approaches in solving tourism’s biggest challenges. 02:29 - Nikolaos discusses his journey at ICF 06:07 - SAF: The most realistic near-term solution for aviation 17:21 - The complexity of tourism and its challenges 18:01 - Nikolaos emphasises the urgency of climate action 27:25 - Australia's strong approach to sustainability measurement 29:46 - Best practices: Guerrilla families become gamekeepers 31:11 - World Travel and Tourism Council Forum in Perth, Australia 32:02 - NWA's sustainable tourism action plan for pilot destinations 38:05 - ICF's AI investment to improve tourism innovation 46:01 - Nikolaos and Jane discuss the future of tourism 50:27 - Jane and Nikolaos talk heat resilience in tourism About Nikolaos Gkolfinopoulos Nikolaos is the Head of Tourism of ICF, based in Madrid, Spain. He has 10+ years of experience in international tourism development. In his role with ICF, Nikolaos is working for and towards a sustainable future. He supports countries, destinations, and the private sector in solving their most complex tourism challenges related to climate change, heat resilience, social sustainability, crisis management and recovery, stakeholder engagement, and ever-evolving tourism trends. He places at the forefront of any development recommendations and action plans the inclusion of the local communities and the protection of natural assets. Throughout his career, he has recorded successful tourism development initiatives with governments and international donors. Nikolaos holds a M.A. of International Sustainable Tourism Management from Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, and a BSc in Economic Sciences from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. He has lived and worked in Greece, Australia, and Spain. Before joining ICF, he worked as a tourism consultant and research supervisor in Australia, followed by seven years of service at the UN Tourism (World Tourism Organization). He held multiple roles within UN Tourism and in 2021, was appointed to the post of Senior Project Specialist within the Technical Cooperation and Silk Road Department. Nikolaos is currently actively involved in international projects on tourism sustainability, master planning, decarbonisation, and maritime tourism. He leads ICF´s tourism practice and engagement with key international industry bodies such us UN Tourism, the World Travel and Tourism Council, and the Global Travel and Tourism Resilience Council. He is a strong advocate of the role of tourism in contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). More on Nikos: https://www.icf.com/company/about/our-people/g/gkol
