Sunday, August 27, 2023 – 11:27 AM
ABU DHABI, 27 August / WAM / The UAE is considered a pioneer in the region and the world in adopting the concept of sustainable tourism as part of its strategy to achieve the goals of economic development and the preservation of natural resources.
With the significant growth in the demand for sustainable tourism globally, and amid the acceleration of the development of infrastructure and systems that support sustainable tourism in the UAE, the country is likely to be one of the most prominent countries in the region and the world to benefit from the growing demand for sustainable tourism in all its forms.
According to Allied Market Research (AMR), global research, the value of the global sustainable tourism market reached $3.3 trillion in 2022, and is expected to reach $11.4 trillion by 2032, at a compound annual growth rate of 14% from 2023 to 2032.
The UAE, which is hosting COP28 from November 30 to December 12 of this year, has made great progress in the field of sustainable tourism in recent years, as it has taken a number of initiatives and measures to promote sustainability in this sector.
The UAE aims to be a pioneer in the field of sustainable tourism, by applying the best international practices in this field, and to this end, it is committed to strengthening cooperation with local and international partners, working to address the challenges facing this sector, and developing environmental awareness tools and programs.
And all studies confirm that sustainable tourism is growing significantly as a result of the high awareness and demand for all types of sustainable tourism.
Many studies show an increase in public awareness and demand for sustainable tourism, as the issue of taking into account sustainability when choosing a travel destination or way of life has become more prevalent.
According to a study by Bain & Company, a global research and advisory firm, two-thirds of consumers surveyed in selected markets consider aspects of sustainability important or very important when traveling for leisure, and 73% of them expect sustainability to become more important in the next five years.
Sustainable tourism aims to reduce the harmful impacts of travel on the planet while enhancing social and economic benefits by focusing on environmental protection, preserving biodiversity, respecting indigenous cultures, and upholding ethical principles.
Globally, as travelers become more aware of the environmental, social and cultural impacts of their trips, there is a growing desire for sustainable tourism, as they are actively looking for destinations and activities that promote environmental conservation, reduce carbon emissions and protect natural resources.
Many companies and organizations are also integrating sustainable tourism into their social responsibility agendas, by promoting eco-friendly travel options and collaborating with eco-travel providers.
Conducive government initiatives are critical to developing and supporting a sustainable travel and tourism sector, and globally, governments are beginning to realize the value of sustainable tourism for societal development, economic expansion, and environmental preservation.
Governments have put in place laws and regulations to promote green travel and provide incentives for sustainable tourism companies, and financial incentives to support sustainable tourism initiatives.
Currently available estimates of travel and tourism emissions range between 8 and 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions, or between 3.9 and 5.4 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2019, which imposes an urgent need to accelerate work towards achieving zero goals, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.
According to the Council, there is a need for more research and consistent standards for measuring greenhouse gas emissions in the travel and tourism sector to ensure reliable and comparable evidence about the sector’s impact and effectiveness.
The UAE was one of the first countries in adopting and developing a sustainable tourism system in all its details, starting from the organization and ending with stimulating public and private agencies to implement sustainability standards related to the environment, energy consumption, recycling, and so on.
Among the initiatives that contribute to enhancing the efficiency of environmental and sustainable tourism in the UAE are those launched by the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi to promote sustainability in the tourism sector, which is divided into three initiatives: the new guidelines for the sector and tourism sustainability, and the carbon emissions measurement system for hotels in Abu Dhabi; To estimate the carbon footprint it leaves behind, and to audit the energy consumption of all hotels in the emirate.
Also in Dubai, there are many initiatives such as the Dubai Seal of Sustainable Tourism, which is awarded to hotel establishments that achieve the highest percentage of compliance with the 19 sustainability standards approved by the department.
It is noteworthy that the sustainability strategy pursued by the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai paved the way for innovative initiatives such as the carbon calculation tool, which allows partners and hotel owners to determine energy consumption levels to manage them efficiently according to environmental practices that are in line with sustainability requirements, in addition to the “Dubai Initiative” initiative for sustainability, which encourages Use of refillable water bottles.
Emad Al-Ali / George Ibrahim
2023-08-27 07:28:13
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