Overtourism causes negative social, environmental, and economic impacts on local communities and ecosystems worldwide.

The influx of tourists can lead to high rent and property costs, forcing locals to relocate due to unaffordability.

In cities like Barcelona, overtourism has driven up housing costs by 68% over the past decade, impacting local businesses and jobs.

To mitigate overtourism, cities are implementing strategies like limiting visitors, imposing tourist taxes, and promoting sustainability.

Venice has introduced a tourist fee, reservation system, and 468 CCTV cameras to manage tourists and track visitors and residents.

Brehat island and Dubrovnik implement measures to reduce waste and remind visitors of rules.

Sustainable tourism practices can help mitigate overtourism and reduce carbon emissions.

Visiting off-beaten-path destinations during shoulder season and taking fewer, longer trips can reduce air miles and support local economies.

Eco-friendly transportation and locally owned hotels can reduce carbon emissions and support communities.

Local communities must be involved in sustainable tourism development, as they are most affected and can provide valuable insights.

The tourism sector accounts for 8.1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which have declined since 2010 due to technological developments.

International tourism reached 84% of pre-epidemic levels by July 2023, with a 20% rise in the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.

Properly planned tourism can achieve sustainable development and contribute to poverty reduction and economic growth.

Sustainable tourism can create jobs, alleviate poverty, and empower host communities.

Effective management planning is essential for nature reserves and protected areas.

Stakeholder engagement is crucial for sustainable tourism policy development.

Local community involvement in sustainable tourism helps share benefits equitably and minimizes negative impacts.

Overtourism causes negative social, environmental, and economic impacts on local communities and ecosystems worldwide.

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Sedona Film Festival presents ‘Crowded Out’

“Crowded Out” is a powerful short documentary exploring over-tourism, featuring interviews with local residents and global experts. (Image provided by SIFF)

Originally Published: September 14, 2022 8:43 p.m.

The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the third film in its four-week Sustainable Tourism Film Series. “Crowded Out: The Story of Overtourism” will show on Thursday, Sept. 22 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre at 4 p.m. The event will also include a selection of “Sustainable Travel: Where Next?” short films along with a panel discussion.

“Crowded Out” is a powerful short documentary exploring overtourism, featuring interviews with local residents and global experts.

Overtourism occurs when there are too many visitors to a particular destination. When rent prices push out local tenants to make way for holiday rentals, when narrow roads become jammed with tourist vehicles, when tourists cannot view landmarks because of the crowds – these are all signs of overtourism.

And it is the backlash from local residents that has made overtourism news. Cities such as Barcelona, Venice and Dubrovnik, and places once thought of as remote such as Iceland and Skye have suffered firsthand, and the protests by local residents have spread.

There has been decades of virtually uncontrolled growth, and it has crossed a threshold: in many destinations, tourism now demonstrably creates more problems than benefits.

This special event will also include a selection of short films from “Sustainable Travel: Where Next?” This series includes short-form documentary films, featuring insightful stories from the global travel and tourism sector showing how they are driving sustainable travel and protecting these precious destinations.

Following the screenings, there will be a panel discussion with representatives the City of Sedona, the Sedona Chamber of Commerce, Keep Sedona Beautiful and the tourism and hospitality industry here.

“Crowded Out: The Story of Overtourism” will be shown at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre on Thursday, Sept. 22 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $12, or $9 for Film Festival members. For tickets and more information, please call 928-282-1177. Both the theatre and film festival office are located at 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, in West Sedona. For more information, visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.org.

The final film in the Sustainable Tourism Series is:

Thursday, Sept. 29 at 4 p.m. “Vendemmia”

The influx of tourists can lead to high rent and property costs, forcing locals to relocate due to unaffordability.

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Content: 'I live in Tenerife - we've had enough of ignorant tourists keeping us up until 3am'

Fed-up locals in Tenerife are gearing up to march against unsustainable mass tourism next month.

By Alice Scarsi, World News Reporter

Fed up locals in Tenerife will take part in a march against overtourism in April (Image: GETTY-STOCK)

Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands, welcomed a record-breaking number of tourists in 2023.

Data shared by the local Chamber of Commerce revealed more than 6.5 million people arrived on the island in 2023.

Most notably, the number of arrivals - around five million of which were international - was 600,000 higher than that recorded in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic disrupted the tourism sector worldwide.

While tourism remains a vital sector for the island's economy, the mass arrivals have become more than a nuisance for many residents.

The large demand for short-term accommodations is one of the factors pushing up the cost of properties and rent, forcing many locals out of their homes and cities.

Particularly in southern Tenerife, some unable to pay rent had to relocate to shanty towns, motorhomes and tents.

Mass tourism is also placing local services and infrastructure under immense strain.

Moreover, as local municipalities are introducing stringent water restrictions amid a drought emergency, residents fear masses of tourists may worsen the situation on the island.

These, however, aren't the only challenging aspects of overtourism.

Josua Garcia-Garcia, 33, who works in a bar in Playas de las Americas, lamented the disregard for rules and lack of manners displayed by some visitors.

Tenerife welcomed a record-breaking number of tourists last year (Image: GETTY-STOCK)

He told the Olive Press: "It can be a nightmare when the tourists come, I only get four hours of sleep every night because of the music and noise, which keeps me up until 3am. We need stricter rules for tourists, a lot of them are ignorant of how we are suffering."

British expat Alex Kelly, 20, who works in the Rejoyce bar in Las Playas de Las Americas, said life in Tenerife has become "tough" in recent years.

Speaking about the eye-watering costs of long-term accommodations, she added: "I’m living with my boyfriend in his parents’ home because we can’t afford to move out.

"I totally get the viewpoint of the anti-tourism people, a lot of young people feel that way, the prices are crazy."

Despite many acknowledging that mass tourism is an increasing issue for Tenerife, other locals realise it is a necessary evil, as much of the economy of the island is based on it.

The frustration expressed by many locals will be publicly voiced next month.

Organisers of the protest taking place on April 20 - many of whom are groups focused on safeguarding the environment - will protest under the slogan "The Canary Islands have a limit. For a change of the model!

Their aim is to highlight how in their opinion the current tourism model has "overwhelmed" the island.

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In cities like Barcelona, overtourism has driven up housing costs by 68% over the past decade, impacting local businesses and jobs.

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Content: Excessive tourism _ Spanish tourists push up property prices, anger thousands of people in Barcelona
Author: United Morning Post
Published: Updated:
Thousands of demonstrators marched in Barcelona, Spain, on Saturday (July 6) to denounce the negative impact of the large number of tourists.
French media reported that under the slogan “Enough! Let ’ s limit tourism ”, about 2,800 people marched in a coastal area of Barcelona.
They called for a new economic model to reduce the number of visits by millions of tourists each year.
"I am not against tourism, but Barcelona is suffering from overtourism, which makes our city unlivable," said one participant.
On July 6, 2024, a large number of demonstrators took to the streets in Barcelona, Spain, to protest against “excessive tourism ” in the area.
(Reuters)
Demonstrators carried banners reading “Less sightseeing now! ” chanting slogans such as“ Tourists leave our community ” and stopping in front of the hotel to the surprise of the tourists.
The cost of housing in Barcelona continues to rise.
According to the local government, the cost of housing has risen 68% over the past decade, as well as the negative impact of tourism on local businesses and jobs in Barcelona, sparking the protests.
June 29, 2024, Malaga, Spain, tourists arrive at Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport and walk inside the passenger terminal while a group of tour guides wait for passengers to cross the border to start work. (REUTERS / Jon Nazca)
One protester said: “Local shops are closing to make way for those that can ’ t meet the needs of the community. ”
People can't afford to pay rent. "
In response to the “negative impact of mass tourism, ” the Barcelona City Council has announced that tourist apartments will be banned from renting from 2028 in order to put them back on the local housing market.
This was opposed by the Tourist Apartments Association, who said it would only help the black market.
On June 29, 2024, Malaga, Spain, tourists walk inside the passenger terminal after arriving at Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport. (REUTERS / Jon Nazca)
Spain is the second most visited European country, receiving 85 million foreign tourists in 2023, an increase of 18.7% over the previous year, just behind France.
The most visited region is Catalonia, which received 18 million visitors last year.
On June 25, 2024, in Ronda, Spain, two German tourists jumped at an attraction and their friends took photos of it. (REUTERS / Jon Nazca)
This article is authorized by the United Morning Post.

To mitigate overtourism, cities are implementing strategies like limiting visitors, imposing tourist taxes, and promoting sustainability.

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“Let the tourists go home! ” – Over-sightseeing is overwhelming the residents of Europe ’ s popular cities
Lisa Stüve
14 July 2024
Many of Europe ’ s holiday destinations are expected to see record numbers of visitors this summer.
However, local residents were deeply troubled by the development of mass tourism and took to the streets to protest.
Is there a solution?
Https: / / p.dw.com / p / 4iD5I
In many of Europe's most popular tourist cities, residents began to protest against the influx of tourists.
Venice is one of them, the local residents are plagued by tourism, the city's housing prices are rising, and the number of available housing is decreasing.
Venice ’ s Old Town also has a resident population of less than 49,000, compared to an estimated 20 million tourists visiting Venice each year.
Europe has the most visitors from all over the world, and Venice isn ’ t the only city to suffer from a surge in visitors.
In Barcelona and other tourist cities in Spain, there are increasing reports of local residents protesting against tourists.
In Lisbon, Prague and Amsterdam, large-scale tourism has led to growing tensions between tourists and locals.
Residents everywhere protested for the same reasons: rising rents, soaring property prices, and problems with access to resources.
Tourism is one of the economic sources
The EU estimates that tourism accounts for about 10 per cent of the economy's total output.
About 12.3 million people are employed in the industry.
“But these are just abstract numbers, ” says Sebastian Zenker, a tourism researcher at Copenhagen Business School.
He pointed out that if rents rise at the same time, property prices exceed residents' affordability, and restaurants are affordable only to tourists, then the income from tourism will not bring real benefits to local residents.
For locals, tourism development must provide them with the balance they feel – that is, liveability is not unduly negatively affected while benefiting from tourism.
Although a large number of people are employed in the tourism industry, "only a few have a good income or can make a living from it," Zeng said in an interview with Deutsche Welle.
He said low wages were a problem.
In Italy, where there is no legal minimum wage, the minimum hourly wage is 4.85 euros in Portugal and 6.87 euros in Spain.
Big tourist tax
Where did all the money go?
Paul Peeters, who studies sustainable tourism and transportation at the University of Breda in the Netherlands, says the money is mostly going to the airline industry, large hotel chains, international companies and cruise lines.
When calculating the flow of tourism, the choice of travel mode is crucial. Cruise tourists eat and drink on board, and passengers who order through large travel agencies usually sell their tickets, hotels, and meals in packages, which tend to spend less locally.
But at the same time, the arrival of tourists brings with it air pollution and water consumption – all at the expense of local residents.
This sense of imbalance has further exacerbated tensions between locals and tourists.
All stakeholders in the tourism industry understand that they need tourists, and the question is how to develop tourism and what kind of tourism to develop.
Copenhagen tourism researcher Zeng Ke said.
Restrictive marketing, rules and bans
The first policies are in place.
For example, new hotels are no longer allowed in Amsterdam.
In addition, the city is trying to control drug and party-themed tourism through targeted restrictive marketing measures.
“De-marketing ” refers to advertising strategies designed to reduce the demand for a product from a specific target group – for example, the city of Amsterdam.
In Lisbon and Palma de Mallorca, the housing market has long been disconnected from the needs of residents and economic realities.
Response: No new rental licenses will be issued to online short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb.
Mallorca has set a time limit for tourist rental housing.
Barcelona has taken a more radical step: the city ’ s 10,000 vacation apartment permits for tourists are set to expire in 2028.
The move aims to reduce pressure on the housing market.
Rents in Barcelona have risen by more than 60% in the past decade.
In addition, there will be further restrictions on the scope of cruise activities or additional charges.
From 2021, Venice will no longer allow large cruise ships to sail into its waters in its historic center.
Amsterdam plans to adopt a similar measure in 2026.
This will not only reduce the number of tourists, but also reduce air pollution.
Are tourists bad too?
Similar to Amsterdam, Mallorca wants to shake off the image of a party city.
They hope to reduce the overall number of tourists, and will be more willing to accept those who can afford to spend.
This is known in industry jargon as “high quality tourism ”.
But is this the solution to the problem?
“It ’ s not, ” says Macià Blázquez-Salom, a geography professor and activist.
He is also a resident of Mallorca.
He believes that excessive emphasis on “luxury tourism ” will only exacerbate inequality.
“‘ Party tours ’ and ‘ beach tours ’ are often limited to specific areas and operate on a scale and standardised basis similar to factory production lines, ” Blasker-Salon told Deutsche Welle.
Its immediate impact is often limited to a small part of the city.
In contrast, tourists with high spending power typically have higher demand, consume more water, tend to travel more excursions, and generally have the financial means to purchase property.
“This will further promote gentrification (Gentrifizierung) and with it the possibility of real estate speculation, ” explains Blaske Salon.
"This type of visitor will have a direct impact on the lives of all the residents," the statement said.
Making tourism sustainable
The tourism industry is still largely driven by pure data growth and is delighted with the growing number of visitors each year.
But for residents of places like Barcelona, Venice and Mallorca, further growth is no longer an acceptable option.
Is there a solution?
Peters says keeping visitor numbers within the limits of what cities and communities can afford or as a way to do it.
He said that ecological and social factors should be taken into account when formulating tourism development strategies and management measures.
For tourism to be sustainable, agreements must be reached with airlines, ports and airport operators, which are often driven by overcapacity – that is, by expanding growth.
© 2024 Deutsche Welle Copyright Notice: All content in this article is protected by copyright law and may not be used without special permission from Deutsche Welle.
Any misconduct will lead to recovery and criminal prosecution.

Venice has introduced a tourist fee, reservation system, and 468 CCTV cameras to manage tourists and track visitors and residents.

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Content: The city has introduced another effort to combat overtourism.

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An official checks details on tourists' mobile phones in Venice, Italy, on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021.
Credit: Andrea Merola/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Venice isn't just planning a new tourist fee and reservation system to manage tourists, it also is deploying hundreds of CCTV cameras and a mobile phone tracking system to keep tabs on who's entering the beloved city.

Venice's goal is to track "every person who sets foot in the lagoon city," Reuters reported, describing a system of 468 cameras and sensors that allow officials to differentiate residents from visitors, track origins and destinations, and determine how fast people are moving.

Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro told the wire service that although he's expecting pushback on the new measures to control tourism, he told reporters "I have a duty to make this city liveable for those who inhabit it and also for those who want to visit."

Venice has yet to make a decision on how many visitors is too many or when exactly it will begin enforcing reservations and fees. The city already has begun taking steps to limit tourism, starting with banning large cruise ships from the city's famous canals.

Venice has historically attracted an estimated 25 million tourists per year, enough to dirty the water flowing through the city's iconic canals and clog idyllic tourist attractions.

The city plans to use an app for reservations and is testing turnstiles that could shut out visitors if the city becomes too crowded. On the water, Venice plans to measure gondola traffic and speeds. Boat traffic in canals typically brings up enough sediment to be noticeable, but a quieter pandemic on the water has led to crystal clear waters that hadn't been seen in decades.

As part of the city's efforts to manage tourism, Brugnaro made clear in his Sunday news conference that visitors will be expected to adhere to certain guidelines. "There'll be conditions attached to obtain priority bookings and discounts," he said. "You can't come in your swimming suit. You can't jump from a bridge or get drunk. Whoever comes must respect the city."

Meena Thiruvengadam is a Travel + Leisure contributor who has visited 50 countries on six continents and 47 U.S. states. She loves historic plaques, wandering new streets and walking on beaches. Find her on Facebook and Instagram.

Brehat island and Dubrovnik implement measures to reduce waste and remind visitors of rules.

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Content: International
International news.
Retaliatory Tourism Damage Law "Restriction Order" under Kojima
As the global tourism industry recovers after the COVID-19 epidemic, the problem of “overtourism ” has emerged in many places, and national and local governments in Europe have made extraordinary efforts to discourage tourists during the summer peak season, including limiting the number of visitors per day by booking, so as to reduce the impact on local residents and the surrounding environment.
The northern French island of Brehat, known for its scenic beauty, has tried to host 6,000 visitors a day, 15 times more than its 377 residents, and Mayor Olivier Carre issued an executive order last week that said the local community could not handle the 10-fold increase in waste during the peak tourist season, limiting the number of visitors on the same day from July 14 to August 25. There are 4,700 people.
Industry says 80% of customers gather in 20% of districts to call for diversion
The influx of tourists also drained the path to the lighthouse on Brea Island to the northern attraction and impacted the protected area.
The French tourism ministry said on Wednesday that visitor numbers in the first quarter of this year had returned to pre-epidemic levels nearly in 2019, but Alliance France Tourisme said 80 per cent of tourists had flocked to only 20 per cent of the country, calling on the industry to promote sub-popular attractions to divert tourists.
CNN reported on the 10th of this month that this year's "crazy" summer of local people flocking to Europe has begun.
Allianz, a travel insurance company, estimates that the number of Americans visiting Europe this summer will rise by 55% from last year.
In preparation for this summer ’ s post-epidemic travel season, the Dubrovnik government has launched a “Respect the City ” campaign, which includes an animated promotional film to remind visitors of the rules of behavior at the attractions.
Venice is planning to impose a tourist tax, and attractions have a reservation system and have stepped up fines for non-compliant visitors.
(AFP / CNN)
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Sustainable tourism practices can help mitigate overtourism and reduce carbon emissions.

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Content: Perpetual Tourism Leaves Good Mountains and Water to Future Generations
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The tourism industry has caused no small impact on the ecological environment, and increasingly severe climate change has also posed a threat to the tourism industry.
If you want to continue to travel abroad, you should face up to environmental problems and adopt a more environmentally friendly way of travel.
Has the national awareness of sustainable tourism increased?
In what ways can travellers be considerate of the environment?
According to the Singapore Airlines Carbon Emissions Online Calculator, each flight from China to Taipei, the one-way carbon emissions of a single person is about 260 kilograms; in other words, the carbon emissions generated by the return flight are equivalent to the refrigerator operating for about seven and a half months.
Carbon emissions will exacerbate the greenhouse effect, and fuel consumption will exacerbate resource consumption.
In other words, every time you travel abroad by plane, it actually has a certain impact on the environment.
As the tourism boom returns, the importance of sustainable tourism can be imagined.
Sustainable tourism means trying to reduce the negative impact on the environment and local culture while ensuring the long-term development of the tourism industry. In the 2021 European Tourism Commission document, sustainability is not the exclusive domain of professionals or academics, but something that everyone can practice.
According to a survey conducted in October 2020 by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and consulting firm Accenture, the outbreak of coronary disease has led more local consumers to make more environmentally friendly choices; about 80% of the study participants said they care about the environment, and about 41% of the time they buy something, the environmental benefits of the product or service are the most important consideration.
However, when planning a trip, it seems that fewer people are thinking about environmental protection.
People don ’ t know enough about sustainable tourism.
Tourism Australia ’ s annual Consumer Demand Plan for July and August 2021 revealed that nearly half of local travellers agreed that “sustainability is important to my life ” but only 30 per cent were willing to make environmental considerations a priority when planning their trip.
Tourism Australia ’ s regional general manager for Southeast Asia / South Asia / Middle East, Brent Anderson, explained the survey at an online seminar last month.
Taking Australia as an example, he pointed out that Singaporeans think less about sustainable tourism, perhaps because they have little understanding of the local sustainable tourism experience.
The survey also found that Australia and Japan were the top destinations for sustainable tourism, followed by New Zealand.
Perpetual tourism can be started from multiple sources.
If you want to practice sustainable tourism, you can start by reducing flight and reducing carbon flight.
Some airlines work with sustainability companies to get passengers into a carbon offset scheme.
For example, visit Singapore Airlines' carbon offset website.
singaporeair.com.sg), you can calculate the carbon emissions of your flights and the cost of offsetting them.
For example, if you want to offset the carbon emissions from Singapore to Taipei, you can choose to pay $3.39.
The money will be used to buy carbon credits that have been certified by independent agencies to fund projects that reduce greenhouse gases or help improve climate change.
Then there is accommodation.
More and more hotels are making their environmental plans clear on their websites, such as using solar energy, offering free bicycle rental services to customers, or replacing small bottled toiletries with shampoo and body soap. You can also consider the location of the hotel when booking – are there bus stops or subway stations nearby?
Or can you just walk to where you want to go? Using public transport is one of the ways to reduce carbon emissions.
The closer you get to nature, the more you can appreciate the importance of environmental protection.
Especially if you have children at home, you should try to take your children to experience the wonders of nature, whether it is hiking or hiking with higher difficulty, or snorkeling, you can make people feel that sustainable development can not be just talk.
To continue to breathe fresh air and let yourself and future generations see beautiful landscapes, it is necessary to start turning environmental protection into a part of life as soon as possible, including travel.
In terms of eating, drinking and playing, sustainable tourism is inseparable from the local food culture and historical culture.
Choose a restaurant that uses local ingredients, as well as a visit to a farm or farmer ’ s market to buy freshly picked crops or locally made food.
Mr Anderson said sustainable tourism for Tourism Australia also includes the conservation and restoration of the natural environment. Both operators and visitors must be involved in conservation “so that this generation and future generations can continue to enjoy natural wonders and culture. ” All beautiful.
Six tips for environmental protection and zero waste
There are many ways to practice sustainable travel, and one of the principles is to reduce the amount of garbage created while traveling.
Practices include:
Find out if your local tap water is safe to drink before you go, and carry your own water bottle with you to avoid buying plastic bottled water.
If tap water is not available, check with the hotel if there is a water dispenser, or glass bottled water that can be repeatedly bottled.
· Carry reusable daily necessities, such as cutlery, lunch boxes, shopping bags and handkerchiefs, avoiding disposable utensils, plastic bags and paper towels; lunch boxes can be used to hold things that can ’ t be eaten.
• Try to walk, cycle, or take transportation with a smaller carbon footprint, such as buses, subways, and trains.
· Avoid using the hotel ’ s single-use packaged shampoo and shower gel, and try to bring your own solid soap, or bathroom supplies that can be bottled repeatedly.
Understand local recycling policies and properly dispose of recyclables.
If something is broken during the trip, such as shoes or bags, try to fix it instead of replacing it immediately.
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Visiting off-beaten-path destinations during shoulder season and taking fewer, longer trips can reduce air miles and support local economies.

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Content: HOMEPAGE

From where you go to what you do, experts share how to travel the world without destroying it

  • Traveling sustainably is about making intentional choices to serve your destination and planet well.
  • We asked experts how to make these choices when planning a trip to be as sustainable as possible.
  • This article is part of "Better Me," a series about improving your lifestyle and helping society through sustainable efforts and eco-consciousness.

Sustainable travel can feel like an oxymoron — as Justin Francis, the cofounder and CEO of Responsible Travel, a UK-based travel company that evaluates trips and vacation providers, told Insider.

The travel industry can create jobs, or it can lead to over-tourism that lowers residents' quality of life. Flights emit harmful emissions, but transport travelers to destinations where they can support local economies and participate in positive, nature-based tourism. Lodging accommodations can boost the local economy, or price residents out of their homes.

But Francis believes people can travel "in a way that not only reduces harm but actively maximizes the benefits, for both planet and people."

Five other sustainable travel experts who spoke with Insider agree and say there are actions travelers can take to lower their negative impact, support the destinations they're visiting, and have an overall better trip. They suggest considering every aspect of your trip — from where you go to how you get there — as you plan to travel more sustainably.

Kelley Louise, the executive director and founder of Impact Travel Alliance, a nonprofit centered on informing travelers to help improve the world, told Insider that traveling sustainably takes practice and being an imperfect traveler is better than not trying.

As Louise said, "It's about asking, 'How can you make little decisions that add up over time and have a positive impact on the world?'"

If you're looking for a place to start, here's what the experts Insider spoke with recommend.

First, choose a destination with the planet in mind

Go off the beaten path

Some of the experts Insider spoke with suggest skipping top tourist destinations and opting for under-the-radar spots.

"By seeking out the less-visited destinations, you will be helping to spread the economic benefits of tourism more widely and helping to avoid the negative impacts that over-tourism has on local residents," Georgina Davies — the communications manager for The Travel Foundation, a group that advocates for sustainable tourism — told Insider.

Paloma Zapata agrees. The CEO of Sustainable Travel International — an organization that works with local governments, businesses, and nonprofits to provide sustainable travel opportunities — also recommends visiting a hidden gem. If you're going to Greece, for instance, you could skip Mykonos and head to an island like Anafi or Ios with fewer tourists.

Once you've picked your destination, Davies encourages travelers to visit the region's national parks and protected areas. Often these places have entrance fees, which support conservation efforts.

Choose a destination that embraces sustainability

Jessica Blotter, CEO and cofounder of public benefit corporation Kind Travel, told Insider she looks for destinations with tourism boards that have a dedicated sustainable travel section on their website.

She recommends avoiding areas where sustainable transportation and lodging are hard to find, and "where access to nature and the outdoors is limited."

Vacation during shoulder season

Tossing a coin in the Trevi Fountain without hordes of people around or exploring Niagara Falls in the winter isn't just beneficial to travelers; experts say it also supports sustainability.

Visiting destinations during shoulder seasons "spreads the benefits of tourism locally across the year and lightens the burden of over-tourism in popular destinations," Francis said. His company, Responsible Travel, has a guide that outlines the best time to visit certain destinations

Zapata added that you're also more likely to have a stress-free and special vacation if you're visiting when there are fewer crowds. "It could be even more enriching," she said. "When you're on a beach or on a sailboat and it's just surrounded by masses of people, maybe that's not the best experience."

Visit fewer places for longer

One way to travel more responsibly is to visit fewer places for longer periods of time. For example, instead of spending a week in four European countries, plan a 10-day trip to one or two.

"Fewer but longer trips mean fewer air miles, more money in local hands, and you'll have a more relaxing trip, too," Francis said. "If you can, keep shorter trips close to home or travel by land or sea." He added that these modes of travel can be an adventure in themselves, and allow you to "see so much more of a destination."

If you must travel a long distance, Blotter recommends stretching the trip as much as possible to maximize your experience. "Booking multiple, long-haul trips per year is not sustainable or carbon-friendly," she said.

Consider how you get there

Evaluate the distance for the most sustainable way to get there

The first step in deciding how to responsibly get to your destination is considering the number of people traveling and the distance you're going.

Besides biking and walking, trains are typically one of the most sustainable ways to travel, Zapata said. If your destination is accessible by train, consider that.

If you're debating whether it's more sustainable to fly or drive, Zapata said it comes down to the distance.

"A lot of times trains are going to be more energy and carbon efficient," she said. "But when it comes to a car, there comes a moment when flying is actually more carbon efficient than driving when you're talking about very long distances."

Calculators like the ones offered by the International Civil Aviation Organization and Environmental Defense Fund can help travelers map out the least carbon-intensive way to get from A to B.

If you need to fly, opt for nonstop routes and travel in economy

Flying will likely be the most unsustainable aspect of your trip. Aviation makes up about 2% of global carbon emissions and 80% of a vacation's carbon footprint comes from the flight, according to National Geographic.

Experts suggest thinking about how much you should fly in a year. For example, maybe you take one international flight a year and prioritize having the rest of your trips close to home, Louise said.

But no matter where you jet off to, experts recommend flying nonstop in economy.

"When booking long-distance plane travel, always choose a direct flight with no layovers," Blotter said. "Direct flights use less carbon dioxide than connecting flights."

Additionally, by flying in economy, as some of the experts Insider spoke with pointed out, you maximize the number of people a flight can carry by taking up less space.

Ultimately, though, the best thing you can do is reduce your carbon footprint during your trip.

Experts like Louise and Gregory Miller, the executive director of the international nonprofit Center for Responsible Travel, agree that carbon offsets act more like a Band-Aid than a solution to sustainable travel. But if they do decide to purchase carbon offsets, which reduce or remove emissions to compensate for those made during a trip, Miller suggests purchasing through a reliable, vetted program. Groups like Zapata's Sustainable Travel say they invest people's money into carbon-reducing projects centered on clean energy and biodiversity.

Think about how you pack

Pack light

The simplest advice when it comes to being a sustainable packer is to pack less, Zapata said. "Travel light," she said.
"You don't need 20 shoes to travel."

Blotter agrees and says that by packing lighter, you'll reduce carbon emissions. That's because the lighter the aircraft, train, car, or boat, the less energy is needed.

Louise added that by packing fewer items and using a carry-on, you'll get through security faster and avoid the hassle of checking a bag.

Pack reusable items

Francis suggests adding the items you use at home to your packing list. That might include a reusable water bottle, a bag for shopping, and utensils to avoid plastic cutlery.

Louise acknowledges that it might not be feasible for every traveler to carry a reusable water bottle, so she urges travelers to consider what other meaningful swaps they could make. For example, Louise said she swapped liquid shampoo and conditioner for shampoo and conditioner bars a few vacations back. The bars are lighter than liquid soaps, which means they save carbon emissions during transportation. Plus, many are packaged in recyclable paper instead of plastic.

The switch became permanent in Louise's daily life, she said, adding that it made traveling easier since she didn't have to worry about leaks or liquids at airport security. "It's a cool example of how we can look for more sustainable experiences that are also better travel experiences," she said. "Plus it opens our eyes to new habits that can help us become more conscious consumers as well."

Pack brands you support

If you're doing some pre-vacation shopping, Louise recommends buying from brands that place sustainability at the forefront of their business.

"If you're supporting corporations and brands that are working on sustainability as well, then that's going to move the needle and create change a lot quicker than we could as individuals," she said.

For tropical getaways, pack reef-safe sunscreen

If you're heading to Aruba or planning a diving trip in Belize, experts say travelers should ensure reef-safe sunscreen is on their packing lists.

"Sunscreen can be very damaging to the environment and not everybody knows," Zapata said.

Ingredients in everyday sunscreen can harm both coral reefs and local wildlife, according to the National Ocean Service. Look for a reef-safe sunscreen that lacks harmful ingredients like oxybenzone, octinoxate, nano titanium dioxide, and nano zinc oxide.

Where you stay matters, too

Look into a hotel's claims about sustainability

Between countless certification programs and eco-friendly branding, experts agree that it can be tricky trying to evaluate whether or not a hotel is actually contributing to a destination.

When researching different accommodations, look for specifics beyond being "eco-friendly" and giving up plastic straws, Miller says. He suggests looking for hotels with written policies about how they work with local communities, prevent food waste, and help environmental initiatives like reforestation and supporting local dive sites.

If they don't have that information, Louise urges travelers to ask questions: "If they are authentically sustainable, they'll be excited to answer them."

Blotter encourages travelers to choose accommodation options that are upfront about their environmental efforts.

"Hotels that are truly eco-friendly should have a sustainability statement and clearly stated initiatives visible on their website," Blotter said. "While sustainability certifications are great and make it easier for travelers to identify sustainable lodging, not all hotels embracing eco-friendly practices will boast such certifications."

Blotter said to look for certifications from organizations that look into the foundation and practices of locations, businesses, and facilities to see if they meet their standards for sustainability and environmentalism. Some of these include the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, Certified B Corporation, and Green Globe, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and WELL Building Standard.

Although some certifications indicate a hotel is sustainable, Zapata and Miller said guests shouldn't book solely based on certifications since they can be costly for smaller resorts and hotels to acquire. "If they've made a commitment to the communities, to the destination, and they understand that they're part of the community that is what's important," Miller said.

Once you arrive, Zapata said guests should look for evidence that their accommodation is following the claims it makes. Speak to housekeeping staff, check in with chefs about the food they're serving, and see if you get new towels each morning — if you do, you could help save water by skipping this service.

Stay at mom-and-pop hotels and inns

Picking a locally owned bed-and-breakfast over an Airbnb or big hotel is going to have a more positive impact on the local community, some of the experts Insider spoke with said.

"Short-term Airbnb-type holiday rentals might feel convenient, but they're having a devastating impact on some popular destinations — pricing people out of their homes and wiping out whole communities," Francis said. "Consider opting instead for a local homestay, B&B or local-owned hotel."

Make smart decisions throughout your stay

Use public transportation

If possible, experts suggest skipping a rental car. Instead, turn to the destination's public transportation.

"Don't discount your travel in the destination," Francis said. "Try and avoid internal flights, and consider ditching the private car or tour bus. There are loads of great human-powered, local-guided tours around — by foot, bike, or even kayak."

Eat local foods

Besides the flight to your destination, food waste will likely be the second-largest contributor to your vacation's carbon footprint, according to National Geographic.

"We traditionally don't think of sustainable tourism as something like, 'Oh, I can lay on the beach and have a cocktail, and that could have a positive impact on the world,'" Louise said. But if you think about where your food comes from and the story behind that, it can have a positive impact, she added.

That means seeking ingredients that are grown nearby instead of shipped across the country and checking to make sure restaurants are hiring locals and paying them fair wages. By evaluating restaurants on these items, you'll likely get "fresher and better foods that are unique to that destination," Louise said.

Seek off-the-beaten-path activities

Most experts agree that when it comes to exploring a destination, it's worth turning to locals for advice. That might mean joining a local Facebook group, sparking a conversation on a public bus, or finding a community-based tourism program.

"Look for ways to seek out local voices and to understand how they want their destination seen," Louise said. By talking to locals, you're likely to avoid contributing to over-tourism and have a more unique experience, she added.

Another way you can approach activities is by centering your plans around a cause you and your group care about, such as ocean conservation or LGBTQ rights, Louise said.

Once you've settled on a topic, look at how your actions and the activities you choose can support that cause. For example, you might eat at restaurants owned by diverse staff or seek voluntourism opportunities to protect a nearby beach.

Blotter recommends avoiding experiences that use animals as entertainment like elephant rides, and looking for charity-run activities instead.

When you're back from the activity, whether it was a volunteer job or a locally-recommended hike, Miller said travelers should "brag about it." He encourages people who are traveling responsibly to post about their experience and use word-of-mouth to inspire others.

Buy local

Pass on the manufactured magnets, mass-produced T-shirts, and generic keychains. Instead, Zapata said travelers should search for items that are unique and crafted by locals.

"If you're going to buy a memento, buy something that's actually made there," she said. That way you ensure the money spent on the souvenir is directly supporting the community.

While all of these decisions you make as an individual matter, Miller says that ultimately "the solution to everything is to get governments and major corporations to change and reduce their emissions period."

According to Miller, that's something travelers can do in the voting booth that can go a long way.

Better Me tips for sustainable living

Slide through the following cards to read more expert advice on sustainable living. Then check out the rest of the stories from Insider's Better Me series.

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Eco-friendly transportation and locally owned hotels can reduce carbon emissions and support communities.

Local communities must be involved in sustainable tourism development, as they are most affected and can provide valuable insights.

Title:

Content: On the first day of the Saudi Tourism Forum...
Experts and officials discuss future sustainability of tourism destinations
Part of the Future of Destination Management Session at the Saudi Tourism Forum
A number of local and international specialists and officials have drawn the most prominent features of the future of local destinations, the sustainability of their attractiveness, and the attraction of tourists and visitors from home and abroad, through their participation in the session "The Future of Destination Management (Sustainability)", within the activities of the first day of the Saudi Tourism Forum in Riyadh.
Abdullah Al-Dakhil, spokesman for the Saudi Tourism Authority, said that Saudi Arabia is leading the region with the Middle East Green Initiative and is working hard to sustain the tourism sector in Saudi Arabia.
He pointed out that Saudi Arabia has started correctly to preserve the heritage, invest in major projects, and preserve the customs and traditions of local communities in tourist areas.
He pointed out that Saudi destinations have a very high attractiveness, as they achieved 93 million visits during the past year 2022 from inside and outside Saudi Arabia.
He considered that the local destinations are attractive, characterized by diversity and major projects, the availability of infrastructure, and easy access and entry to the Kingdom.
For his part, Raed Al-Sayed, Group Head of Environment and Sustainability at Red Sea International, pointed out that the major projects in Saudi Arabia are strategic projects aimed at sustainability, including the Red Sea project.
Explain the importance of investing in local destinations.
He pointed out that there is an evaluation and measurement of the objectives of the Red Sea project achieved in accordance with the latest international practices, and the governance of the Ministry of Environment, as well as the element of the adequacy of the local community.
He pointed out that tourism offers in Saudi Arabia are distinctive, and depend on the sustainability of local destinations and their integration within a single system, in addition to seeing for the first time the diverse Saudi culture by tourists and visitors from different countries of the world as a unique experience.
For his part, Ansar Babu, Director of Operations at the Royal Commission for Al-Ula Governorate, said that sustainability focuses on environmental conservation, community development, economic viability, construction and development for years to come, providing job opportunities, and participating in the tourism industry for citizens.
He explained that the experience of Al-Ula has a priority, namely the Saudi Green Initiative, reaching the goal of zero carbon emissions, dealing with waste, developing the local community, and moving by bicycle to further support sustainability.
He pointed out that the attraction of tourists to Saudi destinations is through many entertainment and cultural events, adventures and rich experiences.
It is noteworthy that the first edition of the "Saudi Tourism Forum" will be held under the slogan "Babak Tourism", during the period from 14 to 16 March at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center, with the participation of 350 Saudi entities specialized in the travel and tourism industry.
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The tourism sector accounts for 8.1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which have declined since 2010 due to technological developments.

Title:

Content: Featured ArticlesInternational
World Travel and Tourism Summit reveals global climate footprint data for travel and tourism
Regions _ Followers
The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has launched environmental and social research on the climate footprint of the global travel and tourism industry.
This came during the 22nd World Summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council, organized by the World Travel and Tourism Council in cooperation with the Global Center for Tourism Sustainability in the capital Riyadh.
Environmental and social research covers 185 countries on all continents, the first of its kind at the international level, and will be updated annually with the latest figures, including measures that monitor the sector ’ s impact on a range of indicators, including pollutants, energy sources and water use, as well as social data, age data and gender wages in jobs related to the travel and tourism sector. Accuracy.
Julia Simpson, President and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), announced in her opening speech the results of Environmental and Social Research (ESR).
One of the largest research projects, the World Travel and Tourism Council will be able to provide accurate reports and track the impact of various industry activities on the environment.
She explained that the tourism and travel sector is making great strides in decarbonization, stressing a focus in increasing the production of sustainable aviation fuel supported by government incentives, and also to greater use of renewable energy in national public electricity grids so as to promote the use of sustainable energy in hotel rooms.
The sector ’ s 8.1% share of the carbon footprint can be impacted by becoming more efficient and decoupling growth from the amount of energy consumed starting today, she said, noting that every decision and every step towards change will lead to a better and brighter future for all.
For his part, His Excellency the Minister of Tourism, Mr. Ahmed Al-Khatib, expressed his pleasure for the participation of the World Travel and Tourism Council in this important research that will follow the impact of future activities, stressing that the Kingdom recognizes that travelers and investors want policies that promote sustainability in the sector and that the Kingdom has embarked on a phase to make it a leader in the field of sustainable tourism.
“Within the framework of the Saudi Green Initiative, we launched more than 60 initiatives last year to achieve this goal, the first batch of initiatives was investments in the green economy worth more than $186 billion, ” he said.
Previous estimates have indicated that the global travel and tourism sector is responsible for up to 11% of all global emissions, however, leading research by the World Travel and Tourism Council shows that the sector ’ s total greenhouse gas emissions reached only 8.1% in 2019 globally. Thermal.
These emissions have continued to decline continuously since 2010, as a result of technological developments, as well as the introduction of a number of energy efficiency measures to activities within the sector. Between 2010 and 2019, the GDP of the tourism and travel sector grew at a rate of 4.3% annually, while its environmental impact increased by only 2.4%.
The World Travel and Tourism Council will continue to release new data on the sector ’ s performance in these indicators over the course of 2023.
Governments around the world will have a tool to guide their decision-making and more accurately accelerate the process of environmental change.
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International tourism reached 84% of pre-epidemic levels by July 2023, with a 20% rise in the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.

Title:

Content: Monday, 09 October 2023 08: 58 GMT
Investing in Smart and Sustainable Tourism Cities
(MENAFN- Alghad Newspaper)
International tourism continues to recover from the worst crisis in its history, with arrivals reaching 84% of pre-epidemic levels between January and July 2023, according to data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The Middle East, Europe and Africa is leading the global tourism recovery with a 20% rise over pre-epidemic levels, and tourism demand continues to show remarkable resilience and sustainable recovery, even in the face of economic and geopolitical challenges. The number of international tourists worldwide increased by 43% year-on-year in the first seven months of 2023 to 700 million.
The tourism sector in Jordan continues to achieve unprecedented levels since the beginning of this year, driven by the large number of tourists coming to the Kingdom.
Figures from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities showed that the number of international visitors to the Kingdom has achieved a remarkable rise and unprecedented levels compared to the same period of previous years, where the number of visitors in the first seven months of this year 2023 reached about 3.75 million visitors, an increase of 51.3 percent compared to the same period in 2022.
Tourism is one of the main sources of income for many countries, and depends on the budgets of major countries, such as France, Spain and America, for example, in Jordan, the contribution of the tourism sector to the national economy and GDP is 14.6%.
With intense international competition to attract more tourists, many new tourism ideas are emerging.
Capitals and cities around the world have begun to shift to so-called “smart sustainable cities ”, a term that aligns with climate change and significant technological development, to enhance economic resilience and quality of life.
Jordan attaches great importance to the establishment of a sustainable tourism sector, as the tourism sector is a priority in the Kingdom ’ s Economic Vision 2033, as this sector is a key pillar of economic diversification.
Sustainable tourism is defined by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) as tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts and meets the needs of visitors, industry, the environment and host communities.
Jordan adopts future and global trends focused on responsible and sustainable tourism to enhance its competitiveness. The Kingdom is working to establish this culture among local tourist destinations, focusing on innovation and digital transformation in this sector to increase revenues and growth and enhance opportunities for SMEs. The Kingdom ’ s objectives of climate neutrality and sustainable economic development.
The Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI), issued by the World Economic Forum (WEF), measures the factors and policies that lead to the development, sustainability and resilience of the travel and tourism sector in order to contribute to economic and social development.
In order to promote sustainable tourism, a holistic blueprint for smart cities and sustainability needs to be developed, covering a variety of areas including sustainable management, performance measures, health measures, investment in digital technology, training, qualification and innovation, business environment, infrastructure development and modernization, including renewable energy systems, and smart green transportation., water management systems, waste management and air quality, agriculture and green spaces, public safety and disaster management, as well as governance.
It is also necessary to stimulate partnership efforts with the private sector to contribute to a prosperous future for the tourism sector, attract industrial and commercial investments and handicrafts, take advantage of the retail and events sectors, and digital marketing to attract more local and international visitors, so that tourism is not the determining factor in the sustainability of local communities and is an important supporter of their resources, thus creating inclusive economic growth through real and sustainable tourism products and experiences. To improve its position regionally and globally, reduce the impact of seasonality of tourism and work to enrich the product and experience of tourism continuously to prolong the duration of stay of tourists and increase their spending, and repeat their visits to enjoy new experiences.
Sustainable development will generate local jobs directly in the tourism sector and indirectly in a number of supporting and resource management sectors, and contribute to enhancing the activities of profitable local sectors, through integrated and sustainable investments through the development of an innovative package of services, products and logistical and financing solutions, designed to empower investors, entrepreneurs and tourism-related enterprises to support them and enable them to take advantage of huge opportunities in the tourism sector. The tourism sector, enhancing Jordan ’ s leading position on the global tourism map.
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NEWSLETTER

Properly planned tourism can achieve sustainable development and contribute to poverty reduction and economic growth.

Title:

Content: GSS launches maiden tourism survey

The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has launched a survey aimed at obtaining domestic and outbound tourism data for the effective and efficient development of tourism policies and programmes for the country.

Dubbed; “The Domestic and Outbound Tourism Survey (DOTS)”, it will involve the collection, compilation , analysis and dissemination of tourism information on Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians who are resident in the country.

Covering a one-year period, it will, therefore, gather data on domestic visitors travelling within the country for tourism purposes and outbound visitors travelling outside the country for tourism activities.

The DOTS, is one of the four surveys to be conducted by the GSS primarily aimed at compiling the Tourism Satellite Account (TSA), a document which will serve as the basis for computing the sector’s true relevance to the national economy.

The rest are;  The Ghana International Travellers’ Survey (GITS), Accommodation Units Survey (AUS), and Tourism Supply Establishment Survey (TSES).

The survey was launched yesterday ( Monday, April 17, 2023) at Winneba.

Realising projections

The Government Statistician, Professor Samuel K. Annim, who officially launched the survey, stated that the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MoTAC) had projected that the sector could potentially attract 4.3 million tourists translating into foreign exchange worth $1.5 billion while creating direct and indirect employment for 1.4 million people in the country.

“This is a sector that could provide us with all our resource needs and that is why we want to check whether indeed, these numbers can be attained.

The only way we can take Ghana forward is to get quality data and point policy makers to the right statistics”, he added.

Therefore, the DOTS, Prof. Annim said, would provide comprehensive data on; how attractive the country’s tourist sites were, the facilities available, number of people visiting and how realistic the ministry’s projections were.

Tourism and the SDGs

The Chairman of the Technical Team for the survey, Prof. Kwaku Boakye, in his keynote address, said the developmental ability of tourism had not been lost on government as they continued to invest in exploratory ways to optimise benefits from the existing tourism resources with a view to enhancing their economic fortunes.

Therefore, tourism, he said, when properly planned and developed could be used as a vehicle to achieve many of the sustainable development goals directly and indirectly.

“For example, tourism has been empirically known to contribute to poverty reduction (SDG1), reduced hunger (SDG2), created decent work and economic growth (SDG8), and contributed to conserving the environment and sustainability of (SDGs 11 &13)”, Prof. Boakye explained.

The chairman, who doubles as a professor of tourism at the University of Cape Coast, urged
all residents to participate willingly in the exercise to help compute the true contribution of the tourism industry to the national economy.

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Sustainable tourism can create jobs, alleviate poverty, and empower host communities.

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Content: 9.5 C
Alba Iulia
Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Zambia’s comparative advantage lies in the opportunity to advance home grown tourism initiatives

General News Zambia's comparative advantage lies in the opportunity to advance home grown tourism...

Government has renewed its commitment to sustainable use of natural resources in its developmental agenda.

Tourism Permanent Secretary Evans Muhanga says Tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in the world as it contributes to job creation, environmental protection and poverty alleviation.

Speaking when he officiated at the four days sustainable Tourism meeting in Lusaka today, Mr Muhanga said if the Tourism sector is well structured, it can empower host communities to generate trade opportunities.

He said sustainable Tourism remains a topical issue globally and that Zambia cannot afford to ignore consequences of unsustainable tourism practices if the country is to achieve real growth presently and in the future.

Mr. Muhanga noted that the United Nations General Assembly adopted 2017 as the international year of Tourism which was a watershed moment to energize institutions and countries across the world to prioritize tourism as a catalyst for positive change in the economic sector.

He said government needs to scale up efforts to build upon the impetus created when Zambia hosted the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) on Sustainable Tourism in Livingstone.

He stated that it was during that time that South Luangwa National Park was declared an international sustainable wildlife park for tourism development.

“Government’s desire is to ride on this feat as an encouragement for the tourism sector to achieve inclusive growth by promoting partnership and collaboration with other stakeholders in tourism,” he said.

Mr. Muhanga added that government believes that Zambia’s comparative advantage lies in the opportunity to advance home grown tourism initiatives.

He said the country will see revenue growth from the tourism sector as the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have started easing as more Tourists will start visiting the country.

He expressed hope that the four -day training will enhance partnership and collaboration required to promote tourism sustainability in the country.

“I have no doubt the participants will gain the necessary technical knowledge on sustainable Tourism which will in turn improve the economy,” he said.

He implored participants to apply the acquired knowledge in their day to day sustainable Tourism in the country.

And CBI Zambia local Consultant Rachel Ward explained that CBI, an NGO based in the Netherlands has come to Zambia to offer technical support on sustainable Tourism.

Ms. Ward said sustainable Tourism is the talk of everyone globally and must be harnessed in a quest to foster development in the country.

She commended CBI for being an all-weather friend to Zambia in the Tourism sector especially that the country has conducive weather patterns and friendly people.

She said sustainable Tourism is going to help Zambia and called on the hospitality industry to improve the standards in their hotels and lodges in order to attract tourists to Zambia.

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Zambia’s comparative advantage lies in the opportunity to advance home grown tourism initiatives

Government has renewed its commitment to sustainable use of natural resources in its developmental agenda. Tourism Permanent Secretary Evans Muhanga...

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Effective management planning is essential for nature reserves and protected areas.

Title:

Content: Egyptian News
Minister of Environment Inaugurates Strategic Planning Workshop for Natural Reserves
This came in the presence of Alessandro Fracasti, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Eng. Mohamed Aliouh, Project Manager, Dr. Mustafa Saleh, President of the Environment and Development Group, and a group of researchers of the reserves at the Ministry and experts and leaders of the environment.
In her speech, Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad stressed that Egypt is exerting efforts to achieve its commitment to the new global procedures in the United Nations Framework Convention on Biological Diversity and the efforts of the declaration of the biodiversity framework beyond 2020 at the Conference on Biological Diversity in Canada 2022. The journey began four years ago, looking at the economic and social system of conservation of nature reserves, and beginning to change the culture of officials to work in a different way that enhances the economic benefit of reserves and implement more activities to achieve sustainability, which benefits the local communities living in these reserves by integrating them in the management of reserves, whether as guards of the reserve.
The Minister of Environment pointed out that the success of achieving the new vision in the management of protected areas requires the availability of a number of factors, the first of which is the establishment of a regulatory, institutional and legal system to allow its implementation. Cooperation between the Ministries of Environment, Tourism and Antiquities and a number of national bodies such as the Tourism Development Authority and Urban Communities.
The Minister added that the creation of a climate supportive of understanding the product of ecotourism of various dimensions is one of the most important factors for the success of the development of natural reserves, so the Ministry of Environment through the project of integrating biodiversity in ecotourism to grant green fins to diving centers, and the preparation of a guide to sustainability standards within natural areas. Last week, the first standards for environmental products were introduced, encouraging private sector investment.
She explained that increasing environmental awareness as a more comprehensive concept helped pave the way for supportive policies or the development of infrastructure in reserves, where the concept of the environment in the world changed from facing pollution to linked to the sustainable and rational use of natural resources.
The Minister of Environment pointed to the launch of the campaign to prepare for the green and Eco Egypt campaign to promote 13 environmental tourist destinations, which did not focus only on the nature of the place or the scarcity of plants or the type of fossils as an artistic part that does not attract the attention of the citizen. their heritage.
She also stressed the importance of the human factor and the return of the relationship of harmony and harmony between humans and nature, by training on management plans, and creating a dialogue with the main beneficiaries from the private sector and local people from tribes and associations to present their views, stressing the importance of those voices and opinions in the success of the project.
The Minister of Environment expressed her aspiration through the workshop with the officials of the nature reserves of the Agency of Environmental Affairs, national experts and consultants to come up with practical and realistic steps that are primarily in the interest of the people and local communities, which are the basis of the conservation and development process, stressing that the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the tourism sector is a key partner to provide an environmental tourism product....
UNDP Resident Representative Alessandro Fraxetti stressed that effective management planning is an important tool to ensure the sustainability of any nature reserve, stressing the importance of ensuring as much consultation with stakeholders as possible and setting mutually agreed goals to be adhered to by all, adding that nature reserves cover nearly 17% of the world ’ s land and 8% of its oceans. The level of protection granted to them depends on several factors: adequate funding, diligence in enforcing and enforcing laws, effective management practices, and strong public support.
The UNDP Resident Representative pointed out that many nature reserves are facing a decline in financial and human resources, which makes it more difficult to develop and implement effective management plans, stressing that good management plans will attract the private sector to invest in nature reserves. Biodiversity COP 15 held in Montreal last year reaffirmed the importance of nature reserves and the critical roles they play in our global society, including preserving biodiversity, providing ecosystem services, and supporting regional economies through tourism and recreation, noting that the ambitious goals set in Montreal reflect this importance. scientific resources.
For his part, Dr. Mustafa Saleh, Chairman of the Environment and Development Group, pointed out that the protection of nature is a permanent and sustainable activity that helps in development and increase national income, which is consistent with the state ’ s trend to expand development programs, especially in desert areas. Consultants, reserve workers and local community residents participated with their opinions and ideas.
The workshop comes in line with the ministry ’ s policy of sustainable use of nature reserves, where it aims to develop unified rules for strategic planning in the field of nature reserves, how to discuss means of financial development, raise investment capabilities of reserves and offer new investment opportunities, and train workers to develop long and short term strategic plans. Ecotourism in Egypt as a promising field, especially with the announcement of a new marine reserve at the COP27 Climate Conference in Sharm El Sheikh.
The workshop will discuss a number of topics, including the mainstreaming of biological diversity in Egyptian tourism, the integration of conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity in the development and operation of tourism in the areas of threatened ecosystems in Egypt, the preparation and modernization of the management of natural reserves, the example of which is Wadi el-Gamal Hamata Reserve, and the declaration of a new marine protected area in the Red Sea.
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Stakeholder engagement is crucial for sustainable tourism policy development.

Title:

Content: Sustainable tourism and environment one of the main pillars of the ministry ’ s strategy 2030
Saturday ، 28 May 2022 10: 33 PM
Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad
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Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad expressed her happiness on this day because it represents a milestone in reaching a real partnership for the protection of the environment between all stakeholders in different sectors from government, private and civil society experts and media, in addition to being a practical proof of the great efforts made during the past 15 years. And work to exploit natural resources properly to achieve growth in ecotourism in the conservation of natural resources to achieve reconciliation between the two sectors to work together to reach sustainability, a global challenge that achieves harmony between the tourism sector and the environmental sector.
This came during the launch ceremony of the project "Towards Green Development in the Tourism Sector" in the presence of Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, Dr. Khaled Al-Anany, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Alessandro Fracassetti, UNDP Regional Representative in Egypt, a number of representatives of ambassadors and stakeholders in the tourism industry and international media.
The Minister of Environment pointed out that the work between the tourism and environmental sectors to achieve sustainable development was carried out according to a clear vision and foundations, the most important priorities of which are the interest of the Egyptian state, as well as keeping abreast of the international developments taking place around us, in addition to protecting the right of future generations to natural resources.
The Minister of Environment stressed that the way to achieve this was not easy, but went through many identification and difficulties that have been overcome by science and certainty of the importance of what we are doing to convince the tourism sector of the importance of protecting natural resources and because it increases the benefits and rates of economic development.
The Minister of Environment pointed out that all this work coincides with Egypt's hosting of the climate conference cop27, which the Ministry of Tourism is making a great effort to work to get the hotels and restaurants of Sharm El Sheikh to the green star and adjust their conditions, pointing out that the work is in full swing to protect natural resources and biodiversity and lay the foundations of sustainability in the tourism sector, especially in all sectors, not to host the climate conference. Therefore, the outputs and results of the project must be launched today to emphasize the importance of returning to nature again and how to deal with tourist places and the importance of establishing environmentally friendly practices.
The Minister of Environment pointed out the importance of the existence of the green list in order to distinguish between environmentally compatible facilities, which are making an effort to reach sustainability and others, so it is necessary to thank everyone who made an effort in this for the sake of the environment and its protection.
The Minister of Environment said that the months of May and June coincide with many important environmental celebrations, as the second Saturday of May marks the celebration of the International Day of Migratory Birds, 22 May marks the International Day for Biological Diversity and 5 June marks the celebration of the World Environment Day.
She also expressed her thanks and appreciation to Dr. Khaled Al-Anany, Minister of Tourism for his support of the environmental work in the tourism sector, as well as pleased that the initiative of the Central Bank for the tourism sector will be useful in this regard for all those who contributed to this work from the United Nations Development Program, the Global Environment Facility, the Ministry of Tourism and Egyptian Media, experts and consultants. This is confirmed by the latest international reports and the latest report of the Intergovernmental Authority, which pointed out that if the temperature of the earth rises above 1.5 degrees Celsius, the environmental deterioration in the tourism sector will reach ten times what was done 10 years ago, time is not in our favor and loves to work to preserve our planet, we have no other choice.
Dr. Khaled Al-Anany, Minister of Tourism, thanked Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, and her team at the ministry, and Alessandro Fracassetti, UNDP regional representative in Egypt, for the continuous and fruitful cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, in order to achieve a balance between benefiting from tourism sites and maintaining environmental balance. The ministry pays special attention to environmental tourism, pointing to his visit this morning to Wadi Natroun, which is a model of ecotourism distinguished as it includes a group of monasteries dating back to the fourth century AD, which witnessed the passage of the Holy Family, in addition to its presence in the midst of green fields.
Dr. Khaled Al-Anany pointed to the concerted efforts with all concerned parties and the state pays special attention to providing environmental tourism and green tourism, and work to highlight Egypt ’ s green nature and natural elements and how to preserve it through reducing the pressures of human activities and spreading environmentally friendly practices, in line with the objectives of the Ministry ’ s Sustainable Development Strategy and Egypt ’ s Vision 2030.
The minister also praised the permanent cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, where many important initiatives have been launched during the past years, namely, the Greens fins initiative in the diving sector and marine activities in May 2020, which was obtained by 9 diving centers in South Sinai Governorate, and 19 other centers applied for it, the EcoEgypt initiative for natural reserves in 2020, and the Red Sea Marine Environment Protection Initiative in 2021.
He added that sustainable tourism and environmental tourism have become one of the main pillars of the ministry ’ s strategy 2030, and we are witnessing today the launch of the “Towards Green Development of the Tourism Sector ” initiative in cooperation with the Egyptian Federation of Chambers of Tourism, which includes a number of key outputs, including the guide to the best practices of sustainability in hotel and tourism establishments and its electronic platform.
The minister pointed to the ministry ’ s supervisory and supervisory role by obliging all hotel and tourism establishments as a first stage in Sharm el-Sheikh to obtain a certificate from one of the accredited international or local authorities stating that they have implemented all the requirements of green practices in accordance with the concept of sustainable tourism.
In a way that contributes to the mechanisms of transforming the city into a green city that preserves natural resources and environmental systems through obtaining these certificates, pointing to the response of the tourism sector and the demand for green transformation, despite the repeated crises it faced over the past periods.
In line with the global objectives of sustainable development, we have a clear goal of "improving the traveler experience" and the main strategy to do this includes promoting and ensuring the proper management of the environmental aspects of tourism, communicating effectively with travelers to ensure the sustainability of tourism products and destinations, and strengthening partnerships with the private sector and international bodies to preserve nature and protect its resources and biodiversity.
He stressed that in order to achieve sustainability and green tourism practices, the ministry is continuously cooperating with the Ministry of Environment to activate the project of integrating biodiversity conservation measures in the tourism sector in Egypt, which is carried out in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program and the Global Environment Facility. the tourism sector.
The project aims to integrate the concept of environmental conservation, natural resources and cultural resources in tourism, where work has been done through several axes, which is to integrate this concept at the level of tourism planning and development and supporting policies, and at the level of tourism activities, whether hotels, diving or tourism companies and trips in addition to supporting ecotourism.
He added that the project is based on sustainable tourism and another aspect is supporting ecotourism within nature reserves, where a number of products that have been produced can put Egypt on the path of green tourism, which is part of more than 25 activities that have been working on for a long time.
As explained by Alessandro Fracassetti, the regional representative of the United Nations Development Programme in Egypt, Egypt ranks 51st in the World Economic Forum ’ s Travel Enthusiasm Index for 2021, which makes Egypt one of the very few countries in the world that has witnessed a remarkable improvement, especially the current global conditions, which reflected the decline of tourism worldwide due to the coronavirus pandemic. He expressed the hope that these guidelines will lead to lasting positive effects to ensure the preservation of the Egyptian cultural heritage and environment, stressing the commitment to support the sustainable tourism initiative throughout Egypt in the future.
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Local community involvement in sustainable tourism helps share benefits equitably and minimizes negative impacts.

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Content: Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
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Mohamad Elbaz
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Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
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Mohamad Elbaz
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Fouad: We aim to raise awareness and build the capacity of owners and managers of environmental hostels in Siwa
Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad launched the Technical Support Program for Owners and Managers of Eco-Hostels and the Environmental Tourism Product Development Program at Siwa Oasis, in continuation of the efforts of the Ministry of Environment through the Ministry ’ s project to integrate biodiversity in tourism to support sustainable tourism and environmentally friendly tourism development in Egypt.
Dr. Fouad stressed that the two new programs aim to raise awareness and build capacity for owners, managers and employees of eco-lodges, in addition to raising the efficiency of hotels and eco-lodges with the participation of local communities and stakeholders to reach an environmental tourism product that achieves sustainable management of natural resources and maximizes the benefit of the cultures of local communities and associated natural resources.
The Minister of Environment pointed out that the two programs have already been implemented a scientific and practical study based on field assessment visits to reach the current situation of environmental hostels and prepare technical reports and launch a guide to the application of these standards in light of the current possibilities and future goals, with the participation of local communities as one of the most important axes of the Ministry of Environment to develop natural reserves.
Fouad explained that these two programs were implemented over two days in Siwa in the presence of a number of managers and owners of eco-lodges in Siwa, representatives of the Tourism Board, the City Council, the Tourism Office, representatives of NGOs and representatives of stakeholders associated with the eco-tourism sector in Siwa oasis.