The high-level event “Blue Tourism: Achieving Sustainable and Resilient Ocean Economy for People and Planet” convened jointly by UN Tourism and UN Environment Programme (UNEP), under the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme. The session brought together ministers, multilateral institutions, private sector leaders, and civil society to discuss how circular approaches, climate action and regenerative investment can transform tourism’s relationship with the ocean – in line with the strategic pathways of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism
Zoritsa Urosevic is the Executive Director of UN Tourism, Tourism accounts for 33%, followed by maritime transport (22%), and fishing (5%). This gives us not only influence – but responsibility. Our shared goal is to decouple tourism growth from environmental harm towards a regenerative model – placing science at the core – and ensure the communities who depend on healthy oceans are not left behind.”
Speakers included Ambassador Peter Thomson, Ministers from Costa Rica, France, and Uzbekistan of Tourism, Environment, and Transport, UNCDF, World Bank, International Trade Centre, IDDRI, and global leader Accor. You can access the program here
The launch also marked the official release of the 2024 Annual Report. Global Tourism Plastics Initiative The One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme (GTPI) is a flagship initiative of the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme that aims to promote circular solutions and reduce pollution at its source. You can access the report by clicking here
Jorge Laguna-Celis, Head of the One Planet Network at UNEP, said: “While tourism plays a vital role in many coastal economies, it is also a major contributor to plastic pollution – a pressing environmental challenge that threatens the health of fragile marine ecosystems. This report highlights ongoing efforts by our signatories to combat problematic plastics within the sector, and therefore contribute to the resilience of coastal tourist economies.
