SDT E-BULLETIN Sustainable Development of Tourism www.unwto.org/sdt/ Issue: Nº 19, February 2011 1
CONTENT Feature Articles 1 Green Economy 2 Biodiversity and long term sustainability of tourism 3 Tourism and the climate agenda 4 UNWTO Sustainable Tourism Observatories: an important Feature Articles 1 Green Economy and Tourism --- 2 Tourism in the International Year of Biodiversity -------------- 3 Tourism and the climate change step towards the responsible agenda ---------------------------- planning and management of 4 UNWTO Sustainable Tourism Observatories -------------------- tourism destinations 5 The Global Tourism Sustainability Criteria and 5 The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (e-mail 15 dic pto. 8) Criteria and Council (GSTC) ----- 6 Partnership (reunion Chantilly y Costa Rica) 7 TOI 6 Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism (GPST)----- 3 5 6 7 8 9 Publications Capacity Buildings (technical products) Other SDT activities 7 Tour Operators Initiative for Sustainable Tourism Development (TOI) --------------- Publications -------------- Capacity Buildings - Technical products ----- News and other events 10 11 12 13 2
1. Green economy and Tourism. Tourism in the Green Economy refers to tourism activities that can be maintained, or sustained, indefinitely in their social, economic, socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental contexts: sustainable tourism. This term describes policies, practices and programs that take into account not only the expectations of tourists about responsible natural resource management (demand), but also the needs and quality of life of the environment and communities that support tourist projects (supply). waste management and recycling, fisheries, water, forests, agriculture, tourism, finance, modelling and enabling conditions. GREEN economy The GER is expected to make a macroeconomic case for increasing public and private investments in green sectors and to motivate and enable policymakers, business executives and shareholders at large to invest in green sectors and in green policy reforms. Success will be measured by the amount of increased investment in green sectors that will translate into benefits in economic, developmental and environmental terms. Targeted audiences are those that have control over such investments: a) governments through policies and public finance; b) businesses with green sector interests; and c) shareholders and financiers who invest in green companies. In late 2009, UNEP started working on a global Green Economy Report (GER) - a core element of the Green Economy Initiativewhich looks beyond green responses to the financial and economic crisis and makes a case for, and provides guidance on investing in specific environmentally significant sectors as a medium and long-term economic strategy. This research has involved over 70 institutes around the world, covering the following chapters: renewable energy, industry, transport, cities, buildings, UNWTO, jointly with UNEP is producing a tourism chapter and a series of background papers devoted to show how investment in sustainable tourism solutions can contribute to sustainable development and to a green economy. The chapter analyzes investment in tourism, what the challenges are, the current status of such investments and how increased investments to support a shift to green tourism solutions would contribute to the output growth (value added) of the tourism sector. It also makes projections of how increased investment in sustainable tourism affects the level and quality of employment in the sector with reference to the international labour standards and 3
decent work criteria (ILO standards), the various dimensions of poverty, and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), with the use of country examples. The chapter also addresses the crucial issue of ensuring that tourism responds effectively to environmental challenges, including biodiversity loss, ecosystems degradation and climate change, through a win-win approach that balances the economic goals of the tourism industry with sustainability criteria. With the aim of firmly integrating tourism within the green economy agenda, SDT participated in several related meetings which have been held throughout 2010: In July 5-6 2010, an International Workshop on the Green Economy Report was organized in the International Environment House in Geneva, Switzerland. At this workshop the authors of the Green Economy Report shared their initial results/key messages. The issues discussed at the workshop together with comments from a technical peer review process were assembled for guiding the final revisions of the various chapters. For more information about the Green Economy Report, which is expected to be published early 2011, please visit: http://www.unep.org/greeneconomy/greeneco nomyreport/tabid/1375/default.aspx The Issue Management Group on a Green Economy met for the first time on 23rd-24th March 2010, hosted by the World Bank at its premises in Washington, DC, United States. Among others, the meeting reviewed existing, planned and ongoing work and processes, especially inter-agency efforts, discussed conceptual issues with a view to developing a shared vision and consistent messaging on green economy concepts, reviewed existing work among the Environment Management Group member organizations and undertook an initial discussion of the potential contribution of each UN agency to the transition to a green economy. In June 22-23, 2010, a presentation on Contribution of Tourism to the Green Economy, followed by a debate, was made at the 34th meeting of the World Tourism Organization's Committee for the Middle East which took place in Sana'a (Yemen). About 65 delegates representing 12 Arab countries, international organizations and private sector attended it. 4
2. Tourism in the International Year of Biodiversity The United Nations declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB) and throughout the world many initiatives were undertaken to raise awareness of the need to protect biodiversity and reduce biodiversity loss. A High Level Dialogue on Tourism, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development was convened as the central event of WTD, with the participation of tourism ministers, biodiversity researchers and private industry representatives. The conclusions: the need for the tourism sector, including governments, the private sector, intergovernmental organizations and civil society, to assume a collective responsibility for conserving biodiversity and implementing global targets, were officially presented by UNWTO at its side event, Tourism and Biodiversity: how to achieve common goals towards sustainability, held during the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP10), in Nagoya, Japan from 18-29 October 2010. UNWTO joined the IYB activities starting in early May with the launch of the World Tourism Day (WTD) 2010 website on the IYB that included, among others, a video message, logo, photo competition, and a call for papers on tourism and biodiversity. The WTD, held annually on 27 September, was celebrated in 2010 in the city of Guangzhou, People's Republic of China, around the theme Tourism and Biodiversity and highlighted the important linkages between tourism and biodiversity. UNWTO Sofia Gutiérrez and Michael Meyer at the CBD COP-10 meeting. Photo courtesy of IISD Reporting Services, Franz Dejon/Photographer 5
3. Tourism and the climate change agenda Climate change is one of the most serious threats to the economy and the environment. As climate defines the length and quality of tourism seasons, affects tourism operations and influences environmental conditions that both attract and deter visitors, the tourism and travel sector is highly-climate sensitive. countries through financing. Participants also underlined the vulnerability of certain tourism destinations in developing countries to the devastating impacts of coral reefs, to the loss of basic tourism services such as water supply and food security. UNWTO presented as well its Hotel Energy Solutions project aimed at increasing energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy technologies by SME hotels in the European Union. For more information about the Hotel Energy Solutions please visit: www.hotelenergysolutions.net Photo credit: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authorities. Recognizing the high dependency of tourism activities on climate conditions, and the high vulnerability of many destinations to climate change impacts, UNWTO launched the Davos Process on climate change and tourism named after an international conference held in 2007. Against this background, UNWTO jointly with the Secretariat of Tourism of Mexico held a side event at the Sixteen Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 16), in Cancun, Mexico, from 29 November to 10 December 2010. The side event presented the work undertaken so far by the tourism public and private sectors to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, promote adaptation in tourism businesses and destinations, invest in new technologies and support developing Mexican President Felipe Calderón and Tourism Secretary Gloria Guevara at UNFCCC COP16. Also pictured here UNWTO Director SDT, Luigi Cabrini. 6
Feature Articles.4. UNWTO Sustainable Tourism Observatories In order to help policy makers, planners and tourism managers to strengthen their institutional capacities for information management and monitoring in support of decision and policy making, UNWTO launched, in 2004, the concept of the Global Observatory of Sustainable Tourism (GOST) based on the UNWTO methodology for sustainable tourism indicators. sustainable tourism in Guilin (China) with the establishment of an observatory in Yangshuo County. Yangshuo was conceived to be the first in a network of similar centres around the world. A Collaboration Agreement between UNWTO and Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangzhou, for the establishment of a Monitoring Centre for UNWTO Sustainable Tourism Observatories, was signed in September 2010. Sun Yat-Sen University has already produced since 2006 regular annual reports for the Yangshuo observatory. Information gathered on the "triple bottom line" - the social, environmental and economic impacts of tourism is intended to help policy makers decide on future developments and improve coordination between private and public sectors. Two more observatories will be soon operational in the National Park of Huangshan, Anhui Province and in Zhangjiajie, Hunan province (the observatory will cover also the park where the famous Avatar movie was taken). Foundation stone laying ceremony for UNWTO Tourism Observation & Research Station in Yangshuo, China, 2006. Photo courtesy of UNWTO. This initiative intends to facilitate the establishment of a network of observatories, through the use of a systematic application of monitoring, evaluation and information management techniques, as key tools for the formulation and implementation of sustainable tourism policies, strategies, plans and management processes. In the same year, UNWTO and the Guilin Municipal Government reached an agreement of collaboration on promoting In front of Yangshuo Sustainable Tourism Observatory and Research Station, 2010. 7
5. The Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria and Council The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) was established in August of 2010, as a body aiming at the dissemination and application of the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC) and its main goals for 2011 include the launch of an accreditation process - for existing tourism certification programmes - and of a market access strategy. The Criteria are seen as an important tool especially for the accommodation and tour operation sector and is already being used as reference by several organizations and companies. The GST Council has, to date, 65 full members. It has established a website and set up facebook and twitter pages. Members of the Secretariat and the Board have been actively present, mostly as speakers, in some of the industry s main events. The GST Criteria were developed after a long and exhaustive analysis of all the most relevant literature and aim at expressing in 37 simple statements the requirements that a tourism business have to meet to be considered sustainable. They cover four areas: maximizing tourism's benefits to local communities, reducing negative effects on cultural heritage, reducing harm to local environments and planning for sustainability. These GSTC initiatives are led by a group of organizations from the public and private sector, with UNWTO as one of the founding partners and as a permanent member of the Board of the Council. Detailed information on both, the GST Criteria and Council can be found at the web sites below: http://www.sustainabletourismcriteria.org/ http://www.gstcouncil.org/ 8
6. Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism The concept of a Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism (GPST) was launched in 2010 as a follow up of the Marrakech International Task force on Sustainable Tourism Development (ITF-STD) and aims primarily at developing policies and supporting projects of sustainable tourism. The Partnership is expected to facilitate collaboration and information sharing and replication and scaling up of successful sustainable tourism initiatives. It focus on policy, projects, tools and networks for all tourism stakeholders at all levels, by working on policy frameworks, climate change, environment and biodiversity, poverty alleviation, cultural and natural heritage, private sector sustainable practices and finance and investment. The GPST initiative was formally established at the 1 st Annual General Assembly of the GPST, held successfully in Costa Rica, in January 2011. The meeting also allowed members to engage in the establishment and management of the Partnership framework, including its procedures and budget for operations and activities. To date, the Global Partnership is made up of 18 national governments, five UN organizations, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 17 international and business organizations as well as 16 nongovernmental organizations who will demonstrate their commitment in advancing sustainability in the tourism sector. For further information, please visit: http://www.unep.fr/scp/tourism/activities/ partnership/ 9
7. Tour Operators Initiative for Sustainable Tourism Development (TOI) The Tour Operators Initiative - created in 2000 to encourage tour operators to make a corporate commitment to sustainable development - is fully supported by the UNWTO (currently hosting the TOI s Secretariat), UNEP and UNESCO. COOPERATION WITH DESTINATIONS In Side, Turkey, TOI succeeded in introducing the parameters of sustainability - environmental protection, economic growth and social wellbeing. From 2002 on, waste separation and recycling improved, while illegal dumps located in close proximity to Side s Roman ruins, the city s major tourist attraction, were closed and a new site opened, including a composting area, a waste separation, compacting area and wastewater (leaking water) treatment. The existing wastewater treatment plan was then upgraded and its daily capacity boosted enough to meet demand for the next 20 years. The Side project was recently showcased at the OECD Workshop on Sustainable Development Strategies and Tourism, held in Paris, France on 18 June 2010, and at the Linking Tourism and Conservation (LT&C) Workshop organized by GRID in Arendal, Norway, 4 to 5 June 2010, to highlight the need for multi-stakeholders participation in developing effective and viable sustainable tourism business models and the importance of investments in sustainable tourism development at protected areas. In Riviera Maya (Mexico), TOI and WWF initiated a successful dialogue geared to developing a strategic action plan for the region with tourism source markets, local business stakeholders, federal agencies and Congress representatives. The Mesoamerican Reef Tourism Initiative (MARTI) was identified as key local partner to pragmatically help hotels and resorts to reduce potable water consumption and solid waste generation. The project has led to the development of a Mexican Official Norm with the provision of rules for Siting, Design and Construction practices at the Yucatán Peninsula. After field visits and strategic meetings to best assess tourism development in Morocco, from 22 to 25 February 2010, particularly in Tanger, Al Hoceima, Nador, Saidia and Rabat, TOI committed to have an advisory role with the Moroccan Government. In Thailand, particularly in the Andaman Sea coastal area, the TOI is keen to strengthen local stakeholders participation in sustainable tourism planning and management, through capacity building programmes, while increasing investments in the local tourism industry.. 10
Publications Manual on Tourism and Poverty Alleviation Practical Steps for Destinations With the aim of contributing to the understanding of tourism as a tool for poverty alleviation and sustainable development, UNWTO jointly with SNV has produced this publication, which outlines some practical steps that can be taken in tourism destinations to shape and manage tourism in ways which deliver more benefits to disadvantaged individuals and communities. The manual looks at the process of analyzing a tourism destination in terms of current contribution of tourism to the poor and planning how this could be strengthened in the future. It proposes the establishment of a tourism strategy and action plan based on this analysis which embraces pro-poor concerns and actions and provides guidance on planning monitoring and evaluation. Furthermore it contains an indicative programme of training sessions, including handouts, using the material contained in the manual. Tourism and Biodiversity Achieving Common Goals Towards Sustainability This publication analyses the way that tourism can contribute to the protection of biodiversity and enhance its role as a main resource for tourism destinations. It illustrates the high value of biodiversity for tourism, outlines current policies, guidelines and global initiatives in which the interrelationship between tourism and biodiversity is addressed, as well as identifies risks and challenges for the tourism sector from the global loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. The report concludes with ten recommendations for actions on biodiversity and tourism for governments (national and destination level), the tourism private sector, international organizations and NGOs. 11
Capacity Buildings -Technical products Within the SDT programme, the transfer of technical knowledge is focused on four technical products : Indicators application, Observatories of sustainable tourism, Climate change adaptation and mitigation and Tourism management at heritage sites. to respond to the challenges that global warming and its related impacts pose to the tourism sector, particularly in developing countries and small island states, but also for other vulnerable regions. The capacity building programmes on indicators application aims to provide intensive training on sustainable tourism and indicators to relevant public administrations and the tourism private sector at different levels. It reflects UNWTO decade-long experience in this field, since indicators are principal tools for sustainable tourism policy, planning and management. UNWTO supports the establishment of observatories of sustainable tourism for tourism destinations, through the use of systematic application of monitoring, evaluation and information techniques as key tools for the development of sustainable policies. Capacity building on climate change adaptation and mitigation aims at strengthening the capacity of the tourism sector on adaptation to climate change and application of mitigation measures in order Tourism management at heritage sites builds on UNWTO ongoing work in this area and on the increased reported evidence of problems related to the management of increasing flow of tourists at both natural and cultural sites. It aims at facilitating the development of policy and operational guidelines to handle tourists congestion at cultural and natural heritage sites, as well as to improve the ability of the tourism sector to develop and present their destinations and heritage sites in a more comprehensive manner. 12
News and other events World Wetlands Week Between 31st January and 5th February 2010, Seychelles hosted the World Wetlands Week under the theme Wetlands connects life & culture. On that occasion, a Memorandum of Cooperation between UNWTO and the Ramsar Secretariat was signed. The signing of this MOC provides an opportunity to facilitate the development of project proposals, support awareness raising and promote information and expertise sharing, all of which aim at reinforcing the role of wetlands and their biodiversity ecosystems for sustainable tourism development. Further information and the celebration s report are available on-line at: http://www.unwto.org/sdt/events/en/det.php?id=569&lang=e The COAST (Collaborative Actions for Sustainable Tourism) project This is a GEF funded project aiming at supporting and enhancing the conservation of globally significant coastal and marine ecosystems and associated biodiversity in sub-saharan Africa, through the reduction of the negative environmental impacts which may be caused as a result of coastal tourism. There are nine countries involved in the project: Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal (in West Africa), and Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and Seychelles (in East Africa). UNWTO is responsible for two components of the Project: Eco-tourism and Livelihoods and Development and Implementation of Mechanisms for Sustainable Tourism governance. Within the framework of this project, in 2010, three regional trainings for project stakeholders were organized in Senegal, Ghana and Kenya. 13
News and other events UNWTO-Themis Foundation course in Mexico The course UNWTO-Sustainable Tourism Development: Management Policies and Instruments, addressed to tourism officials from Mexico and from other Latin American countries, took place in the city of Querétaro, Mexico, from 29 November to 03 December 2010. This annual course on sustainable tourism, which is now at its third edition, was organized by the UNWTO Themis Foundation, with support from the SDT programme and in collaboration with the Secretariats of Tourism of Mexico and Queretaro. More than 40 officials from national, regional and / or local governments, as well as from the private sector from Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Guatemala, attended the course. The content of the course, highly interactive and practical, included various topics such as climate change and tourism, the potential of tourism to contribute to poverty alleviation, biodiversity, sustainable tourism indicators and observatories. The SDT Programme also participates in other educational activities, such as the UNWTO Practicum, held every year in the framework of the Capacity Building Programme of the UNWTO Themis Foundation. Sustainable Tourism and the Middle East It is important to highlight the interest on sustainable tourism that countries in the Middle East have shown during the last year, with several events taking place, such as the World Green Tourism Conference, on 22-24 November 2010 in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), the 4th International Conference on Responsible Tourism Destinations, on 10-12 October 2010 in Muscat, (Oman) and the 34th meeting of the World Tourism Organization's Committee for the Middle East, celebrated in Sana'a (Yemen) in June 22-23, which included in its agenda green economy, tourism, and biodiversity. 14
ABOUT THE SDT PROGRAMME The SDT Programme aims to promote and mainstream the sustainable development of tourism globally. The programme supports and ensures UNWTO participation in global processes relating to sustainable tourism, undertakes research on related aspects such as poverty alleviation, heritage and biodiversity and provides tools, guidance and capacity building to UNWTO members on sustainability matters. For more information about UNWTO Sustainable Development of Tourism Programme (SDT) please visit http://www.unwto.org/sdt/ 15