The tourism industry finally rebounded in 2022. According to the World Tourism Organization, global tourist arrivals had recovered to half of pre-pandemic levels by May 2022. However, just as we were looking forward to returning to the days of free international travel, tourist attractions around the world have experienced extreme weather conditions due to climate change.
Glasgow Tourism Manifesto
To address the impact of climate change on the tourism industry and the environmental impacts of declining tourist numbers, over 300 tourism industry players signed the Glasgow Tourism Climate Action Declaration on the eve of the 2021 Glasgow Climate Change Conference (COP26). To date, over 500 companies have signed on. The declaration outlines a blueprint to halve tourism carbon emissions over the next decade and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The declaration also outlines several principles for tourism industry players to adhere to when implementing their respective climate action plans:
1. Inventory and disclose all tourism-related carbon emissions to promote carbon reduction goals.
Second, remove any carbon emissions that may occur during travel, such as transportation, accommodation, beverages, and food. The second principle emphasizes that decarbonization is the primary carbon reduction tool, with carbon capture and removal only serving as auxiliary tools to achieve net zero carbon emissions.
Third, restore and protect ecosystems to allow nature's carbon removal capabilities to take effect and ensure the integrity of biodiversity. Furthermore, since most tourist attractions are located in areas vulnerable to climate change, their adaptation and restoration capabilities need to be strengthened to achieve a balance between tourists, owners, and the ecosystem.
4. Share climate risks and solutions with all stakeholders (including national and local governments, civil society, businesses) and tourists, strengthen collaborative partnerships, and jointly coordinate and emphasize climate action capabilities.
5. Ensure organizational resources and capabilities to achieve these shared goals, including training, research, and implementation of effective financial tools and funding to accelerate transformation.
On Earth Day this year, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) announced that tourism giant Booking Holding, which owns Booking.com, the world's largest hotel booking website, had signed the Glasgow Climate Action Declaration for Tourism.
In terms of action, according to Booking.com's official website, they have designed a "Sustainable Tourism Label". If the hotel industry meets five indicators, including waste reduction, energy conservation and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and support for local communities, it can obtain the Sustainable Tourism Label. Travelers can also filter out hotels with this label through search, increasing the exposure of sustainable hotels.
In addition, Booking.com has partnered with experts to provide a "Sustainable Accommodation Guide" on its website, offering guidance on sustainable transformation for the hospitality industry, from reducing plastic consumption to protecting animal welfare. This approach allows various stakeholders in the tourism industry to contribute to and benefit from sustainable development, achieving mutually beneficial outcomes and becoming a successful example of sustainable action in the tourism industry.
Source: Environmental Information Centre (https://e-info.org.tw/node/234918)
