By Paul Tavner

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Coming to the Fringe RT Network event as first-timer, I genuinely wasn’t sure what to expect. I’d never attended a networking event before and was worried that I’d feel a bit like an outsider with little to offer by way of contribution. I was, therefore, pleasantly surprised to find myself on the receiving end of a very warm reception from a diverse bunch of genuinely friendly and interesting individuals.

A lot of good people with a lot of good things to say at the Fringe RT Network event @ WTM 2009

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Posted under General, responsible organisations, responsible travel, responsible travel news

by Paul Tavner

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As part of the run up to next week’s Fringe Responsible Travel Network event, we’re talking with veteran attendees. I caught up with Stephen Chapman, founder of Make Travel Fair (a media sponsor of the event along with whl.travel), to get his take on past events and to see what he’s looking forward to on Monday 9 November.

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Past Experiences

Stephen Chapman - Founder of Make Travel Fair

It was a great event last year. In fact I travelled into London especially for this event and didn’t attend WTM. For me this may become increasingly what happens as this year even more small events like this are cropping up on the fringes of WTM. There was a great mix of people [at the Fringe RT Network event] last year and the atmosphere was relaxed and perfect for chatting over a few drinks. It’s always great to have opportunities to connect in this sort of setting, particularly these days when we can spend so much time interacting online with people all around the world.

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Posted under General, responsible organisations, responsible travel, responsible travel news

By Paul Tavner

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Monday November 9 marks the beginning of the 2009 World Travel Market, one of the travel industry’s most important annual events. While many people from around the world will be descending throughout the week on London’s ExCeL centre to meet, greet and do business, an increasing number will also be making a beeline to the Fringe RT Network Event – 6:30pm to 11pm in the Pavilion End Bar, close to the heart of the city – to meet, engage and inspire.

The Fringe Responsible Travel Network Event @ WTM, pictured here from a previous year, is a chance to connect and reconnect with people passionate about responsible travel

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Posted under General, responsible organisations, responsible travel, responsible travel news, whl.travel news, whl.travel newsletter

By Paul Tavner

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Although Laos is well known for its natural beauty, you have to see it to believe it. Actually, sometimes really seeing it – living it the way locals do rather than just passing through it – is the only way to believe it. After all, with the thick jungle that covers much of the landlocked nation sometimes making venturing off the beaten track a daunting prospect, if you’re going to lurch toward the little-known, you might as well live it as fully as possible. Thus it goes with the genuinely breathtaking experiences of two of Laos’ most popular and stunning waterfalls: Kuang Si and Tad Se, both located within easy reach of the northern city of Luang Prabang.

A wooden bridge, part of the path network that surrounds Kuang Si, crosses the main run-off from the falls

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Posted under General, Laos, countries, local tips, whl.travel newsletter