(TAN): UNWTO centred the discussions on tourism in a special Tourism Ocean Action side event of the UN Ocean Conference, held recently in Lisbon.
Organized alongside the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme and in collaboration with the governments of Portugal and Kenya, the discussions highlighted the strong incentive that tourism provides for ocean conservation.
Addressing the conference, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “Our wellbeing depends on a healthy ocean. As part of its responsible recovery, tourism needs to play a more active role in protecting coastal and marine environments. That’s why we are taking steps to shift to a more circular and resilient tourism model, and the benefits of this will be felt far beyond the sector itself.”
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High level representatives from Portugal, Kenya and the Republic of Fiji took part in the event. The UN Resident Coordinator for the Maldives and UNEP’s Ecosystem Division Director also took part in the side event.
“As we implement the sustainable tourism action plan 2020 – 2023, we are promoting changes in consumption behaviour, looking at the circularity of materials and at the efficiency in the use of resources, while supporting tourism companies adopt ESG and connecting marine protected areas with tourism” said Antonio Costa Silva, minister of economy and maritime affairs of Portugal.
