Actor and Philanthropist Edward Norton and Saudi Ministry of Tourism Pledge $1mln to Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust – Actor and Philanthropist Edward Norton and Saudi Ministry of Tourism Pledge $1mln to Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust – A

Actor and Philanthropist Edward Norton and Saudi Ministry of Tourism Pledge $1mln to Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust – Actor and Philanthropist Edward Norton and Saudi Ministry of Tourism Pledge $1mln to Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust – A

- Ministry of Tourism donation in line with ongoing commitment to sustainable tourism development

Riyadh: American actor and global philanthropist Edward Norton and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb today pledged a $1 million donation to support the work of the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust in Kenya.

Mr. Norton is President of the Trust and made the announcement at the 22nd World Travel and Tourism Council Summit being held in Riyadh with the Saudi Ministry of Tourism committing $1 million on behalf of Mr. Norton as part of its continuing commitment to support conservation and sustainable tourism.

Speaking at the Summit, Mr. Norton said: “The defining challenge of the 21st Century is adapting our economies and industries to be ecologically sustainable and to put the brakes on global warming.

“This challenge has to be met by the global tourism industry as much as any other sector. Tourism gets deserved credit for the positive connections it promotes but it can be an extractive industry with negative environmental and social consequence like any other when not properly held to account.

“We have to raise the bar higher on sustainability standards for the tourism industry and I really appreciate that WTTC invited me to be a little