Sustainability Leaders United’s Post

In the frame of the ECOTOURS project, a fundamental pillar of sustainability is responsible and sustainable tourism. How? 🤔 By enhancing local resources, we can preserve cultural tangible and intangible heritage and contribute to more sustainable tourism. From the last study visits in Bastia (Corsica) and Szeged (Hungary), in May 2024, we discovered how ecosystem renewal programs will combine new experiential tourism with sustainability issues. The benefits of this approach are numerous: reducing environmental impact, promoting biodiversity, enhancing local traditions, and supporting local economies. Tangible expected results will include increased environmental awareness, greater sustainability of agricultural and industrial practices (and the local food), and the creation of green and human-based travel experiences for all. In ECOTOURS 🌱, we strongly believe that sustainability must be integrated into various sectors, creating value for local communities and offering meaningful experiences to tourists. The path to a sustainable future is clear, and the involvement of all stakeholders in ECOTOURS is essential to achieving long-term sustainability goals. Do you want to join our network? Visit: https://lnkd.in/dqFjZvuZ and register on “JOIN US” #sustainability #responsibletourism #circulareconomy #localheritage

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is leading in promoting sustainable tourism practices globally. Their goal is to encourage the adoption of universally accepted sustainable tourism principles and boost demand for eco-friendly travel. The GSTC criteria, considered the gold standard, focus on four key areas. First, sustainable management practices ensure efficient resource use with minimal environmental impact. Second, they maximize social and economic benefits for local communities while minimizing adverse effects. Third, they protect and promote cultural heritage and local traditions. Lastly, they enhance the natural environment, reducing negative impacts on ecosystems and wildlife. By adhering to the GSTC criteria, tourism businesses can operate sustainably, benefiting destinations and communities while offering a richer experience for travelers. The GSTC is driving positive change and promoting a sustainable future for travel. #SustainableTourism #EcoFriendlyTravel #GSTCCriteria #ResponsibleTravel

#Travel #Sustainability #Innovation: A New Era Key Takeaways: - Ecotourism and high-end experiences are driving conservation efforts. - Sustainable practices can significantly reduce single-use plastics in hospitality. - Involving local communities is key to sustainable tourism success. Further Insights 1. Ecotourism: Rwanda's ecotourism, centered on mountain gorillas, showcases the positive impact of high-end, conservation-focused tourism on both wildlife preservation and local communities. 2. Sustainability Practices: Six Senses Hotels demonstrate how luxury hospitality can innovate in eliminating single-use plastics, proving sustainability's feasibility across the sector. 3. Community Involvement: Rwanda's tourism model exemplifies the essential role of local community involvement in ecotourism, showcasing a sustainable development model that benefits both conservation and community welfare. 4. Global Trends: The travel and tourism sector's rebound post-pandemic emphasizes the necessity of sustainable practices to cater to increased demand while mitigating negative impacts. 5. Data Utilization: The use of big data to manage tourist flows can alleviate pressure on popular attractions, improving the visitor experience and the preservation of natural and cultural sites. Closing Thoughts: As the sector evolves, how can we ensure that sustainability becomes a core principle rather than a luxury add-on, accessible to all levels of global travel and tourism?

The Tourism Management Institute (TMI) is hosting their annual online ‘Hot Topic’ event called 'A Greener Future' - Developing Sustainable and Inclusive Destinations’ on Tuesday 21 May 10am-2pm. TMI are kindly offering Tourism Society members the chance to book this event at the TMI members rate! The event is the opportunity to pick up ideas on how to promote sustainable initiatives across destinations and top tips on how to champion inclusive tourism. It will focus on developmental case studies, sustainable approaches and destination strategies, digital accessibility, and inclusivity. Visit England's sustainable lead, Ross Calladine is one of the speakers and will be talking about Visit England’s new Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Toolkits, and Rachel McCaffery will talk through Visit England’s framework and approach to sustainable tourism and give an overview of some of the tools and initiatives underway. Andrea Nicholas, CEO Green Business UK Ltd, will provide expert insights, plus there will be opportunity to hear about successful case studies along with some of the challenges and initiatives destinations face in the sustainable panel discussion. For more information on the event, the speakers and how to book visit: https://buff.ly/3QC7QA1 #TMIevent #TourismManagementInstitute #TourismSociety #Sustainability #inclusivity

As part of our ongoing commitment to the sustainability of our region, Sandy participated in the recent Ecotourism Australia's 2024 Global Sustainable Tourism Summit. The event's theme was People, Planet, Place, and Purpose. 🌏🌿🌳 The summit gathered over 280 passionate sustainable tourism operators and featured 62 speakers, including representatives from businesses, destinations, government departments, national park agencies, solution providers, researchers, and conservation advocates. Held in Meeanjin/Brisbane, it brought together participants from every Australian state and territory, and five international countries, to discuss common industry challenges and collaborative solutions. One of the key insights was that sustainability is not about achieving perfection, but about commitment—a journey that we can all begin. It is imperative we do, as consumers desire clear sustainable options. For a more detailed overview of the Summit, check out the Key Takeaways article: 👇🏻 https://lnkd.in/gDZEPq-r Video credit: Mad Panda Media

Vietnam is leading the way in net-zero ecotourism with innovative initiatives like Net Zero Passports and promoting carbon-neutral travel experiences. Their approach includes precise carbon footprint tracking and sustainable practices that transform tourism into a more eco-conscious industry. In contrast, New Orleans is still in the early stages of planning to achieve net zero by 2050, with significant work ahead to integrate similar strategies into its tourism and hospitality sectors. Should New Orleans take inspiration from Vietnam's model of net-zero tourism to accelerate its sustainability efforts? What do you think would make the biggest impact in transforming New Orleans tourism? https://lnkd.in/dz5dYttn

🌍 Exploring the Unseen Beauty of Sustainable Tourism 🌿 As a final year Tourism Management student, I am constantly inspired by the transformative power of sustainable tourism. Today, let's delve into the concept of ecotourism and its positive impact on both the environment and local communities. 🌿 Embracing Ecotourism: Ecotourism goes beyond traditional travel experiences by promoting conservation efforts, supporting local economies, and fostering cultural exchange. By choosing eco-friendly accommodations, engaging in responsible wildlife encounters, and supporting community-based tourism initiatives, we can contribute to a more sustainable future for our planet. 🌍 Hidden Gems Await: From pristine rainforests to vibrant coral reefs, the world is filled with hidden gems waiting to be explored. By treading lightly and respecting the natural and cultural heritage of destinations, we can ensure that future generations can also experience the beauty of our planet. 🌱 Join the Movement: Let's be conscious travelers and advocates for sustainable tourism practices. Together, we can make a difference by choosing ethical travel options, minimizing our environmental footprint, and supporting initiatives that prioritize the well-being of both people and the planet. 🌟 Share Your Thoughts: What sustainable tourism practices resonate with you the most? How do you incorporate eco-friendly choices into your travel experiences? Let's spark a conversation and inspire positive change in the way we explore the world! #SustainableTourism #Ecotourism #ResponsibleTravel #ExploreWithPurpose

Pakistan is known for adventure tourism and ecotourism will thrive here, owing to the regions including forests, mountain ranges, all inclusive of attractions from brown bear safaris to markhor sighting. Many of these places are a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 'The magnitude of the ecotourism industry has been addressed by the International Ecotourism Society (TIES 2006), which claims that since 1990 ecotourism has experienced annual growth rates of 20–34 per cent; a number which has easily outpaced the tourism industry on the whole. By the year 2024, ecotourism holidays will have grown three times faster than conventional trips, representing 5 per cent of the global market (Starmer-Smith 2004)'. As these trends gain momentum, it would be useful for the tourism departments to empower local residents in order to facilitate a sustainable growth. There are going to be implications for both, the visitor and the host, and it will only thrive and benefit the country if citizens are educated, empowered, work for economic benefit and keep environment preservation as their top priority. #responsibletourism #ecotourism

A vision for sustainable tourism in Australia The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park attended the Austrade Sustainability Dialogue for the Visitor Economy event in Canberra recently. According to @australian-trade-commission, governments are working with industry to make the Australian visitor economy more sustainable and ensure its future success. Reef Authority General Manager of Strategic Policy and Partnerships, Fred Nucifora and Ms Elissa Keenan, MPA Board member and CEO @Ecotourism-Australia represented the Reef Authority. The primary focus for the day was how Australia can accelerate action within the #THRIVE2030 strategy while at the same time build towards the National Sustainability Framework for the Visitor Economy which sets out a common understanding and vision for sustainable tourism in Australia. A major take away from the event was how global market drivers for climate action will strongly influence the market and competitive advantage of Australian tourism. “It will be extremely useful for the Tourism Reef Advisory Committee to be further informed by Austrade to gain an understanding of global market drivers from a climate perspective.” said Fred Nucifora. “This would enable discussion on the emerging supply chain challenges that the marine tourism industry will face and allow us to have these top-of-mind when planning future tourism related work." said Fred. Learn more about our programs and projects here: https://lnkd.in/g2SNZtzv