Redressing Power Imbalances for Fairer Tourism

Just after the buzz of World Travel Market in London, Bristol Travel Massive gathered travel professionals at the Moxy Hotel Bristol for an evening exploring how to create fairer, more balanced partnerships across the global tourism supply chain. The Moxy’s bar area, with its quirky co-working vibe and colourful art reflecting the area’s history, provided a cool backdrop for discussion.

The panel, Diverse Perspectives: Redressing Power Imbalances Between Supply & Demand for Fairer Tourism, brought together three international voices who each champion community-led approaches to travel and was moderated by Emily Downes, Bristol Travel Massive chapter leader.

Chantal Potgieter of Themba Travel offered both UK tour operator and South African DMC perspectives, describing how she collaborates with local women to co-create meaningful travel experiences.
Caglar Gokgun of SGA Travels in Türkiye shared insights into his company’s gender equality programme, focusing on education for young women and ensuring tourism benefits are distributed beyond traditional hotspots.
From Nepal, Raj Tamang of Responsible Adventures discussed how his business empowers local communities through innovative itineraries and a strong focus on diversity, equality, and inclusion.

Across the discussion, themes of fairness, sustainability, and collaboration resonated strongly. The panellists examined how tour operators and DMCs can work together more equitably, the risks of commodifying local innovation, and how sustainability initiatives should always consider local context.

A big thank you to Chantal, Caglar, and Raj for sharing their perspectives, and to Moxy Bristol for kindly hosting the evening.

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📸 Photos thanks to Emily Downes and Heather Cowper