Usually at the Panrotas Forum themes are presented that are considered to be trends, which will soon become routine for professionals in the tourism sector.
In this year's edition, let's hope that this happens again. Not only because Panrotas CEO José Guilherme Alcorta gave a more relaxed tone to the Forum, which for many years has undeniably been an event with a sober atmosphere, but above all, because the sustainability agenda was in evidence.
In his opening speech, he highlighted the offsetting of CO2 emissions of the entire event with the support of the Tour House, the use of reusable materials in the assembly of the event, and the support to social projects of income generation, among others. In addition, it was clear the effort to give space to audiences that are considered a minority, but as Renato Meirelles pointed out, represent more than 72% of the Brazilian consumer market.
We are talking about the fact that this edition had five women as masters of ceremonies and as one of them well pointed out, it was very good to see more women on the stage of the Panrotas Forum. Even though there was a low representation of 7 women out of the 37 invited to speak to the audience. However, when it came to diversity, it did not go unnoticed that there was only one black guest on the program who, by the way, Luiz Gustavo Lo-Buono debuted on stage highlighting precisely the lack of diversity in the corporate environment, bringing data that can no longer be neglected by the industry.
Besides, with so many black women working brilliantly in tourism, such as Georgia Mariano and Rogéria Pinheiro, the space was granted only for them to introduce others and not to tell what they do so well. Although Mariana Cançado in her lecture on ESG said that it is urgent to introduce this agenda in business strategies for the sake of existence, change happens step by step. That's why we must continue to be attentive to the promotion of diversity and inclusion in the sector.
In the environmental scope, in several moments the audience could hear about the importance of the practice of sustainable tourism. SEBRAE presented cases of energy efficiency, such as the Village do Sol Hotel in Rio Grande do Norte, which, after investing in photovoltaic panels, saw its first energy bill reduced by R$10,000. SABRE brought data from another survey confirming the change in the profile of the traveler who is more concerned about his or her carbon footprint and the impact of the trip. The CNC launched Vai Turismo (Go Tourism), a set of proposals for the development of the sector that was delivered this week to the candidates for the presidency. Among the proposals are studies on tourism sustainability and accessibility.
The 2022 edition of the Panrotas Forum had the tone of change, something very timely and pertinent for the moment of recovery that the sector is experiencing after the critical period of the pandemic. Once again, the event was attended by many tourism leaders, but fortunately, this time more opportunity was given to new names that are consolidating themselves, reaffirming the feeling of renewal.
Coincidence or not, this new format of the event goes against what Paulo Kakinoff, CEO of GOL until July 1st of this year, provoked the trade by emphasizing that year after year, we keep pointing out the deficiencies of tourism in Brazil. Isn't it time for us to stop criticizing and finally for the trade to act together, especially the leaders of the sector to act in an adequate governance model to seek together the necessary solutions?
The new tourism times were presented in this event, the tone of sustainability was set, whether in the environmental, social, or governance axis. Now it remains to be seen what will be done. For, the urgent change does not plead for an individual protagonism of companies or people from the sector, but a collective action for a more sustainable and responsible Brazilian tourism for its impacts.
