After unveiling the Global Guidelines to Restart Tourism, the World Tourism Organization, UNWTO, and the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme have announced a new vision for global tourism which will ensure that the sector grows better, stronger while balancing the needs of people, planet and prosperity.
This combined effort comes at a time when several destinations around the world begin to ease restrictions on travel and mobility and the tourism sector is getting ready to resume its activity.
According to UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili sustainability must no longer be a niche part of tourism but must be the new norm for every part of the sector.
“Sustainability must no longer be a niche part of tourism but must be the new norm for every part of our sector. This is one of the central elements of our Global Guidelines to Restart Tourism. It is in our hands to transform tourism and that emerging from COVID-19 becomes a turning point for sustainability” he said.
The One Planet Vision for the Responsible Recovery of the Tourism Sector is structured around six lines of action to guide responsible tourism recovery for people, planet, and prosperity, namely public health, social inclusion, biodiversity conservation, climate action, circular economy and governance, and finance.
It further calls for responsible recovery for the tourism sector, which is founded on sustainability, to build back better. This will underpin tourism’s resilience to be better prepared for future crises. The Vision will support the development and implementation of recovery plans, which will contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to the Paris Agreement.
The vision further canvassed that at a time when governments and the private sector are embarking on the path to recovery, the time is right to keep advancing towards a more economically, social and environmentally sustainable tourism model.
According to Sabina Fluxà, Vice-Chairman and CEO Iberostar Group, a leading international Hotel and Resort company, “it is imperative to keep focused on creating a more responsible and fair way to travel”, adding that “Iberostar has responded by integrating sustainability in elevated safety protocols and further committing to our circular economy policies to ensure any new waste is managed properly.”
Similarly, Delphine King, Executive Director of The Long Run, an international community of nature-based tourism businesses, “Our members collectively conserve over 20 million acres of fragile ecosystems, and none of this work has stopped despite the pandemic and tourism’s pause, demonstrating where priorities lie.”
On his part, James Thornton, CEO, Intrepid Travel, a leading provider of adventure travel experiences, call for committed actions and underscores that “We believe climate action is a collective commitment to the sustainability of the entire travel industry, and the world we so love to explore”.
The One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme aims to enhance the sustainable development impacts of the tourism sector by 2030 by developing, promoting, and scaling up sustainable consumption and production practices that boost the efficient use of natural resources while producing less waste and addressing the challenges of climate change and biodiversity.
