Sustainable tourism a worldwide goal for the UN

Read more about: businesses, climate change, development, economy, ecotourism, sustainable, sustainable tourism, United Nations, United Nations Environment Program

On Wednesday, the United Nations unveiled a new global initiative to make tourism worldwide environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.

Initially spearheaded by the French Government, the Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism was designed to identify and disseminate successful initiatives from anywhere in the world and make them applicable elsewhere. The initiative will support implementation of policy recommendations and lessons learned in integrating sustainability in tourism, and develop new tools and projects where no existing solution has been found.

“The partnership is aiming high. The goal is to transform the way tourism operates around the world by seeking out and replicating successful, sustainable policies, projects, and investments,” said Achim Steiner, Under-Secretary General for the UN and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). “The impacts of poorly managed tourism can be profound, damaging perhaps even destroying the natural and cultural attractions that tourists come to experience in the first place while contributing to global and regional challenges such as climate change and water scarcity.

“However, there are many potential, positive impacts. Well-managed ventures can play a key role in assisting countries towards the low-carbon, resource-efficient, Green Economy urgently needed in the 21st century. In doing so they can deliver not only environmental, but significant social and economic benefits,” added Mr. Steiner.

Tourism a key player in a green economy

The tourism sector is a massive job creator, representing 5% of the global GDP as well as accounting for over 10% of current annual investment worldwide, and as much as 50% in some developing countries.

Based out of UNEP’s Paris-based Division of Technology, Industry and Economics, the program is joined by 35 other countries, organizations, UN programs and agencies and professionals, among them the United Kingdom and the UN World Tourism Organization.

The partnership’s mission and efforts will be based on the work of the International Task Force on Sustainable Tourism Development, a three-year United Nations initiative led by France, and whose members are the founders of this new partnership.

The task force developed a series of policy recommendations to guide governments, destination managers, financial institutions, and tourism businesses towards good business models while conserving nature, culture, and society.

Developing a best practice standard

Partner members also developed the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria – global guidelines for tourism businesses derived from more than 4,500 industry best practices from around the world. The policy recommendations, the successful task force projects, and the criteria form part of the framework for guiding the work of the partnership.

The new entity will focus on policy, projects, tools, and networks for all tourism stakeholders, at all levels, by addressing and working on: policy frameworks, climate change, environment and biodiversity, poverty alleviation, cultural and natural heritage, private sector sustainable practices, and finance and investment.

For more info, visit www.unep.org.

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