Pre-Conference Courses

When I registered for this conference it seemed to me I had two choices: travel on Saturday and use Sunday for look around and education or travel on Sunday and be rushed. Since this turned out to be the two week holiday for most of southern Germany, being smart about travel seemed wisest.

 

really shaggy sheep grazing

really shaggy sheep grazing

So here I am, registered, educated and fed. Not a bad deal.

The session I attended turned out to be extremely interesting. Titled Responsible Tourism the three speakers covered a fairly wide range of topics. The first discussed the economic impact of tourism for good and bad on the developing world ( with a strong aside about who actually makes money and how/why/what travel health professionals can accomplish. The idea of the human zoo comes to mind…. Visit a local tribe and see….

The second speaker, more than a little disorganised covered the two way street of disease impact on both travellers and local populations ( hint – the new world only furnished syphilis. The old world provided measles, mumps, chicken pox, smallpox, …..)

The final speaker was the most interesting and organised. She discussed the whole emerging money making field of volunteer tourism aka voluntourism . Specifically she discussed Gap years, short term feel good projects and the more than real negative impact that many of these program’s have. As a group we had a rousing discussion of the different segments of this population.

Even more fun was the opening ceremony complete with The Night Watch

 

The living Night Watch

The living Night Watch

 

 

And an excellent speaker who discussed what was really portrayed in many of the Old Dut h Master’s Paintings.

The lighter side of old Dutch Masters

The lighter side of old Dutch Masters

I forgot to take pictures of the exquisite food preparation. You will just have to use your imagination.

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3 Responses to Pre-Conference Courses

  1. So many sheep in what looks to be a very urban setting!

  2. Holly says:

    Exactly. Poor things look like they are more than ready to be sheared. Between them and the Convention Center in the background is a major freeway. Quite urban.

  3. Kris says:

    Sounds like an above average conference. I love the living Nightwatch!

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