A landmark environmental impact research initiative, covering 185 countries, has been jointly released by the Sustainable Tourism Global Centre (STGC), pioneered by the Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).
The collaborative effort, which began at last year’s WTTC Global Summit in Riyadh, has now culminated in the disclosure of the most exhaustive environmental data ever compiled for the Travel & Tourism sector, including precise measurements of greenhouse gas emissions.
H.E. Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, lauded the initiative, stating, “We welcome this joint report initiated by the Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, and WTTC, as an invaluable resource for decision-makers around the world. It provides vital insights and unique impactful environmental research into how Travel & Tourism has both an influence on climate change and how it is affected by it.”
He further highlighted the sector’s progress in environmental efficiency, “Our research underscores the consistent decline of emissions intensity of Travel & Tourism over the last decade. Whilst the sector’s GDP growth averaged 4.3% annually, emissions grew by only 2.5% annually between 2010-2019. Nonetheless, the continuous commitment to achieving net-zero emissions for the Travel and Tourism sector is of paramount importance.”
The research not only reflects the sector’s direct impact but also the influence of its supply chains, both domestically and internationally. This comprehensive approach underlines the depth of Travel & Tourism’s global reach and Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role in steering the industry towards a sustainable future.
Julia Simpson, President & CEO of WTTC, spoke of the significance of this new data, “Today marks a pivotal moment for the global Travel & Tourism sector. Through this data, we are underscoring the sector’s multi-dimensional impact — economically, environmentally, and societally. We are envisioning a future that extends beyond tourism and embraces its sustainable potential.”
H.E. Gloria Guevara, Chief Special Advisor to the Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, conveyed pride in the Kingdom’s contributions, “There is no doubt that this joint report between the Saudi Ministry of Tourism’s STGC and WTTC represents a major milestone for the global Travel & Tourism sector. We are proud that Saudi Arabia has emerged as part of the solution.”
She outlined the ambitious objectives of the STGC, “The STGC will unite the sector to accelerate the transition to a net-zero world while protecting nature and supporting communities. Our mission is to be the pre-eminent global centre for sustainable Travel & Tourism, delivering impact-driven research, stakeholder-centric services, and tangible solutions from end to end.”
Arnold Donald, Chairman of WTTC, acknowledged the report’s importance and commended Saudi Arabia’s leadership, “This report, the first of its kind and depth, is a significant contribution to ensuring the inclusive, sustainable growth of the sector. It’s yet another example of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s leadership in advancing global Travel and Tourism.”
The report delineates the intricate relationship between the economic activities of Travel & Tourism and their environmental and social repercussions. It draws attention to the sector’s success in lessening its environmental impact in relation to economic growth, with notable achievements in reducing water usage intensity, greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, and material extraction.
For a thorough exploration of the findings and to access the complete reports, the WTTC invites industry stakeholders and interested observers to delve into the data available on their dedicated research hub.
Key takeaways:
• The Travel & Tourism sector demonstrates an impressive trend of decoupling its environmental footprint from its GDP growth.
• Key achievements include reductions in the intensity of water usage, greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, and material extraction.
• Travel & Tourism’s share of global energy consumption amounted to 10.6% in 2019
• The sector represented 0.9% of total global water consumption in 2019
• Travel & Tourism’s material footprint accounts for 5-8% of global material extraction
• The report’s monitoring extends to pollutants such as particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ammonia, and nitrogen oxides, among others.
…
Read also: WTTC EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH SAUDI ARABIA
…
Image – top of page – WTTC President & CEO Julia Simpson announcing the new studies at the WTTC Global Summit in Kigali, Rwanda – copyright 2023 SAFE.
