WTTC to cooperate with UNWTO and Sustainable Hospitality Alliance at COP15
The travel & tourism sector commits to the vision to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030
During COP15 in Montreal today, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), and the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (the Alliance) announced a new collaboration that will bring together the public and private sectors in a shared vision to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.
The vision sees the global Travel & Tourism sector supporting and inspiring governments, businesses, and society to implement the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and help to transform our relationship with the natural world.
Signatories to the vision have committed to adopting a nature-positive approach to tourism by integrating biodiversity safeguards by reducing carbon emissions, the impact of pollution, and the unsustainable use of resources, and by protecting and restoring nature and its wildlife.
This collaboration follows the release of WTTC’s ‘Nature Positive Travel & Tourism’ report, which was created jointly with ANIMONDIAL, and focuses on halting and reversing damage to nature so the living world can recover from its current depleted state. This involves minimizing ongoing harm and taking positive action to restore nature to produce an overall benefit to biodiversity and help achieve Net Zero.
Almost 150 organizations have signed up to the vision so far including international hotel groups, tour operators, travel agents, destinations, and international wildlife charities.
Complementing the power of the private sector, UNWTO, as the voice of tourism at the global governance level, will work to bring governments and international organizations on board and announce the shared vision of tourism as a pillar of wildlife conservation and habitat protection.
Progress will also be guided by UNWTO’s trusted data and analysis, including the groundbreaking Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism (MST) initiative and its growing International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO).
The vision forecasts a future where governments implement policies that integrate biodiversity safeguards throughout their operations and the supply chain. The vision will also enable the sector to take action to avoid or minimize negative impacts on nature and play a proactive role in the protection and restoration of biodiversity.
Integral to this will be an enhanced recognition of the importance of clean oceans for the sector, with around 40% of the global ‘Blue Economy’ related to tourism, according to UNWTO data.
Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “Travel and nature are intrinsically linked. Millions of people travel to explore nature and feel a connection they cannot get through computer screens. Whether it is hiking to see the mountain gorillas in Rwanda or snorkeling at the Red Sea, people want to see the world’s most amazing wildlife firsthand. It restores the human soul.
“Wildlife tourism creates over $340BN USD each year and supports more than 21 million jobs around the world. Today’s collaboration between WTTC, UNWTO and the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, spearheading the sector’s vision to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030, shows our commitment to preserving the planet for future generations.”
Zoritsa Urosevic, Executive Director at UNWTO and Special Representative to the United Nations in Geneva said: “A people-centered agenda for biodiversity is the path towards more sustainable tourism. As part of the broad Alliance of stakeholders for ‘Nature Positive Travel & Tourism’, UNWTO shows its commitment to the Global Biodiversity Framework of COP15 – making tourism the Guardian of Nature.
“New governance and business models, enhanced capacity to monitor positive change, and scaling up green jobs are all part of the solution as we move ahead together.”
Glenn Mandziuk, CEO of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance said: “As an industry that relies on our natural world for everything from our buildings to attracting guests to outstanding locations across the globe, we recognize the immense importance of protecting our beautiful planet.
“Collaboration across sectors and across borders is essential to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. We are proud to partner with WTTC and UNWTO to help transition the industry’s relationship with nature and make Nature Positive Tourism a reality.”
The three bodies are calling on Travel & Tourism bodies to adopt the vision. Organizations can show their commitment here.
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Photo Source: wttc.org
- 1) Higher global temperatures causing Caretta turtles to lay eggs sooner in Greece
- 2) Islands Decarbonization Fund signing in Greek island of Naxos on May 27
- 3) 'Nature Positive' peport highlights new collaborative era in travel & tourism
- 4) Greek Climate Change Minister signs memorandum for Attica fire protection zones
17/05 01:25
Mayors of Athens and Rome discuss city challenges and cooperation
16/05 23:20
Tsakopoulos Collection & Hellenic Studies Program marked their 20th anniversary
16/05 21:17
Greek Culture Minister hosts Turkish counterpart for ‘Romeo and Juliet’ premiere
16/05 20:12
Greek Finance Minister advocates green transition and Recovery Fund II
16/05 15:27
Higher global temperatures causing Caretta turtles to lay eggs sooner in Greece
15/05 20:32
BoG urges progress on harmonizing national systems of bank deposit guarantees
15/05 19:22
Islands Decarbonization Fund signing in Greek island of Naxos on May 27
15/05 14:15
EU Commission forecasts Greece's growth rate at 2.2% in 2024 and 2.3% in 2025
14/05 22:27
Syracuse show on Mycenaean influence on Sicily includes golden cup of Dendra
14/05 20:34
Greek Health Minister attends World Health Congress in Abu Dhabi
14/05 19:23
Greece and Santorini clinch top honors at American Leisure Lifestyle Awards 2024
14/05 18:31
20th Thessaloniki International Book Fair opens from May 16-19 at Helexpo
13/05 20:16
Greek Prime Minister meets with Turkish President in Ankara (video)
13/05 20:11
Greek Council of State to mull relocation of Mt Parnas casino to Maroussi again
13/05 15:48
13/05 09:53
Discover Kerasia Petrified Forest in northern Evia near the Greek Capital
11/05 01:30
Greek Foreign Minister congratulated new Serbian counterpart on assumption of duties
10/05 22:45
The 52nd Oakland Greek Festival to take place this year on May 17-19
10/05 22:33
Thessaloniki Port pier extension expected to be given the green light in the fall
10/05 19:42
Hellenic President visits Greek community's premises and Cavafy's tomb in Alexandria
10/05 19:27
Greek and Swiss ministers meet in Athens on investments and cooperation
09/05 17:22
Red Arrows aerobatic team to perform in Athens suburb of Paleo Faliro on May 18
05/05 19:40
International Tourism | WTTC: Travel sector set to break all records during 2024
04/05 17:56
Minister launches dynamic plan to boost Greece's relations with other countries
04/05 17:44
Greece opens another five Aegean Islands to Turkish visitors fast-track visas
03/05 23:04
03/05 18:00
03/05 17:42
Aegean and Olympic Air to fly 'Holy Light' from Athens to the rest of Greece
03/05 17:39
Athens transportation schedules over 2024 Greek Easter holidays announced
03/05 01:26
01/05 11:45
Euro 2004 Legends play FootGolf at Porto Carras Pro-Am Aegean Mini Tour
30/04 22:36
Visa entry express now available on five more Greek islands for Turkish citizens
30/04 20:44
Hellenic Police launches 10201, a 24-hour hotline for protection of minors in Greece
30/04 19:42
Aegean Airlines to distribute dividend for the first time after four years
30/04 18:39
May Day strikes in Greece: Public transportation disruptions and Syntagma Metro station closure
30/04 18:31
Bank of Greece report: More than 30 million tourists visit the country during 2023
25/04 22:00
Greek FM talks with Kuwaiti counterpart on bilateral relations, regional cooperation
25/04 14:49
Prices of products in Easter Basket the same or lower in Greece than in 2023
25/04 13:57
25/04 12:44
Greece and China to ink cooperation protocols in the fisheries sector
25/04 09:53
Extended shop opening hours for Easter in Greece start on Thursday
25/04 02:19
Athens Airport voted as the best in marketing strategy at European awards in Denmark
25/04 02:10
President of Hellenic Republic visits La Chascona Museum in visit to Chile
24/04 21:31
Thirty-one Greek political parties to take part in European Parliament elections
24/04 21:25
Payment by bank cards now accepted on Athens Airport Express bus lines
24/04 14:12
Herculaneum papyri unveil more than location of Plato's tomb in Athens
23/04 23:52
Greece’s New Ambassador to the United States visits Queens in New York
23/04 21:49
Traffic regulations in Athens due to the Olympic Torch Relay on Thursday-Friday
23/04 20:59
President of Hellenic Republic wraps up visit to Uruguay at parliament
23/04 15:44
Greek government will pass legislation halving commission paid for POS transactions
23/04 15:03
Precise location of Plato's burial site unveiled by ancient papyrus
22/04 22:33
'Nature Positive' peport highlights new collaborative era in travel & tourism
22/04 21:25
22/04 20:37
Greek and Turkish delegations discuss Confidence Building Measures for 2024
22/04 18:29
Over 114,000 Greek Diaspora citizens register to vote by post in the European elections
22/04 13:40
19/04 01:29
Athens State Orchestra presents 'St. Matthew's Passion' by Bach on April 30th
18/04 21:49
Greek Climate Change Minister signs memorandum for Attica fire protection zones
18/04 20:32
'Easter Basket' and 'Godparents basket' to be put into effect next week in Greece
18/04 20:17
18/04 17:40
17/04 21:06
Thessaloniki Port: Performance growth for 2023 with record container throughput
17/04 20:57
Traffic regulations imposed in Athens for the 41st Peace Marathon on Sunday
17/04 20:52
17/04 18:15
Greek Foreign Minister addresses the 9th Our Ocean Conference in Athens
17/04 17:12
16/04 21:02
NHM hosts the Trial of Pericles at the Harris Theater in Chicago on April 17
16/04 20:17
Greece will invest $830 million to protect marine biodiversity
16/04 01:46
New York Greek Independence Parade honors 1821 and solemn Cyprus Anniversary
16/04 01:35
Olympic Games Paris 2024: Olympic Flame to be lit at Ancient Olympia in Greece
16/04 00:29
European Committee of Regions and UN release study on Rural Tourism
15/04 20:41
15/04 19:58
Minister: Greece is transforming into a hub for exporting quality agri-food products
15/04 18:51
Greek Environment Minister meets Chinese Deputy Minister of Natural Resources
13/04 00:13
UN Tourism and Croatia to launch Research Centre for Sustainable Tourism
12/04 00:03
2024 marks a critical year in the enduring strength of Greek-German relations
12/04 00:00
11/04 22:07
Ambassador: US committed to upgrade of Greek military and support NATO's SE flank
11/04 19:40
Hellenic Pride on display at rainy Chicago Greek Independence Day Parade
11/04 02:06
Delphi Economic Forum IX: Energy collaboration a 'key' in Greek-Bulgarian relations
11/04 01:58
UN Tourism launches investment guidelines for Albania sector
10/04 19:01
Greek FinMin: New package of economic measures in 2025 to lower taxes, raise pensions
10/04 18:25
Greek city of Nafplion hosts Mediterranean Yacht Show for ninth year running
09/04 23:57
Greek PM on Tilos: Innovative projects for a cyclical economy are of key significance
09/04 23:55
UN Tourism members promote agenda for Europe as region leads global recovery
09/04 23:46
HFS presents 1968, Rousing Docudrama about Greece’s First European Cup April 21
09/04 22:48
Stolen 7th-century BC oenochoe returned to Greece by Hanover museum, municipality
09/04 22:42
Greek civil servants confederation ADEDY to strike on May 21
09/04 21:55
Greek Migration Minister meets Senior US Coordinator for Lawful Migration
08/04 23:48
08/04 23:41
Elliniko-Argyroupoli Mayor marches in Greek Independence Philadelphia Parade
08/04 21:53
Project Voria casino complex in Maroussi moving ahead after environmental report
08/04 21:36
Minister: Up to 120 delegations to take part in 9th Our Ocean Conference in Athens
08/04 19:22
Direct flight from Shanghai to Athens offers access to key tourism market for Greece
08/04 18:31
AI conference to attract distinguished speakers to Thessaloniki on April 25-27
04/04 23:28
City of San Jose marks March 25 with 16th Annual Greek Flag Raising Event
04/04 22:16
Urban plans published for seven townships in Thessaloniki and Attica of Greece
04/04 17:24
FinMin: The new EU economic and fiscal framework is good for Greece
04/04 15:30
Greek PM meets with the chiefs of the international pharmaceutical manufacturers
04/04 00:15
Deputy Minister for Macedonia-Thrace meets US Embassy Deputy Mission Chief
Greek Culture Minister hosts Turkish counterpart for ‘Romeo and Juliet’ premiere
Greek Finance Minister advocates green transition and Recovery Fund II
Mayors of Athens and Rome discuss city challenges and cooperation
Higher global temperatures causing Caretta turtles to lay eggs sooner in Greece
Tsakopoulos Collection & Hellenic Studies Program marked their 20th anniversary
EU Commission forecasts Greece's growth rate at 2.2% in 2024 and 2.3% in 2025
Islands Decarbonization Fund signing in Greek island of Naxos on May 27
Greek Health Minister attends World Health Congress in Abu Dhabi
BoG urges progress on harmonizing national systems of bank deposit guarantees
Syracuse show on Mycenaean influence on Sicily includes golden cup of Dendra
Greek Council of State to mull relocation of Mt Parnas casino to Maroussi again
Greece and Santorini clinch top honors at American Leisure Lifestyle Awards 2024
20th Thessaloniki International Book Fair opens from May 16-19 at Helexpo
Greek Prime Minister meets with Turkish President in Ankara (video)
Greek Foreign Minister congratulated new Serbian counterpart on assumption of duties
Greek city of Nafplion hosts Mediterranean Yacht Show for ninth year running
May Day strikes in Greece: Public transportation disruptions and Syntagma Metro station closure
Greece will invest $830 million to protect marine biodiversity
Bank of Greece report: More than 30 million tourists visit the country during 2023
Greek Deputy Transport Minister flies in first test seaplane flight from Lavrio port
Delphi Economic Forum IX: Energy collaboration a 'key' in Greek-Bulgarian relations
FinMin: The new EU economic and fiscal framework is good for Greece