ASIA Travel Tips.com

(http://www.asiatraveltips.com)

Accor has been awarded the prestigious PATA Gold Award in the Education and Training category for its work with ECPAT to fight the commercial sexual exploitation of children.

The honour is equally shared with ECPAT, who provided its ‘ChildWise Tourism’ training programme as the foundation, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) for its co-operation and support in launching the training in Thailand.

Together Accor, ECPAT and the TAT launched Childwise Tourism in Thailand for all hotel General Managers and Certified Trainers in 2002. Accor plans to expand the campaign during 2003 to other destinations where its  hotels are located in co-operation with ECPAT and the respective National Tourism Organisation in each country.

The employee educational programme trains staff on how to deal with situations involving child prostitution as they arise. Accor has developed a brochure on commercial sexual exploitation of children that is put into the welcome packets for all new employees.

Accor also printed a poster that is now prominently displayed in all its hotels in Thailand, educating guests on its commitment to protecting children, sustainable tourism and protecting the environment. It communicates information to customers regarding penalties for commercial  exploitation of children, while educating tourists on Thailand’s legal code.

In February Accor became the first hotel group in the world to sign ECPAT’s (End Child Prostitution Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes) Code of Conduct for the Protection for Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism.

The winning campaigns were selected from over 310 Gold Award entries by panels of international experts in each category. The winners will receive their awards during the 52nd PATA Annual Conference in Bali, Indonesia, April 13-17, 2003.