by Kristen Hess
Last updated: 10:45 AM ET, Mon April 22, 2024
On April 22 in London, some of the top players in
travel collaborated to publish a joint report on how to help combat and reverse
biodiversity loss.
Launched in time for Earth Day, the plan is the
brainchild of the Nature Positive Tourism Partnership, whose members include
the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the
World Tourism Organization, and the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, and was
also developed in collaboration with ANIMONDIAL.
The report also relies on extensive consultation from
several business, government and academic experts, including the International
Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Commission on Protected
Areas (WCPA).
The new plan, "Nature Positive Travel &
Tourism in Action," represents the sector's pledge to support the
implementation of the UN's biodiversity plan, the Kunming-Montreal Global
Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
The current plan follows the 2022 WTTC report "Nature Positive Travel & Tourism,"
which included frameworks and examples that encourage travel providers and
travelers alike to engage in journeys that help contribute to our natural
treasures.
"This historic partnership with Travel &
Tourism heavyweights is a significant step in our collective journey towards a
more sustainable and responsible sector," WTTC President and CEO Julia
Simpson said. "This report is not merely a publication but a movement
towards integrating environmental stewardship into the core of travel
experiences."
"As we celebrate Earth Day, let us heed the call
to nurture and protect our destinations. Our sector's reliance on nature,
coupled with our expertise in creating inspiring and memorable experiences,
means we are ideally placed to be guardians of nature," Simpson continued.
The plan presents more than 30 case studies involving
inspiring actions by businesses, national and local government agencies, civil
society groups, and inter-sectoral partnerships worldwide. The report believes
that by offering actionable guidance and insights, companies can see the link
between tourism's resilience and biodiversity and help them become better
stewards of our planet.
"For years, UN Tourism has been at the forefront
of integrating tourism into the broader UN biodiversity agenda, including
supporting the work of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD)," Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of UN Tourism,
said.
"This pivotal new collaboration among key global
players sets a robust framework for sustainable practices that not only drive
significant impact but also exemplify the power of united efforts in conserving
biodiversity," Pololikashvili continued.
"This report is a testimony to what we can achieve
together for nature's preservation, inspiring a global movement towards more
sustainable and resilient tourism," Pololikashvili concluded.
The report recognizes that the tourism sector is vital
in protecting biodiversity. Its approach, "Nature Positive Tourism,"
is designed to be a touchstone for change because it focuses on providing the tools and insights into
protecting much-loved travel destinations that the industry depends on.
"This report is a milestone for Travel and
Tourism, representing our commitment as an industry to protect and conserve
nature," Sustainable Hospitality Alliance CEO Glenn Mandziuk said.
"The Alliance is proud to contribute to and
collaborate on this insightful and action-orientated report which will bring
tangible change to destinations around the world, supporting biodiversity.
Nature underpins our society, economies and indeed our very existence,"
Mandziuk continued.
"The hospitality industry is today a leader
amongst industries in its Nature Positive approach and this report signifies
how much our industry understands the true value of nature," Mandziuk
concluded.
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