The climate crisis was under the spotlight during the opening session of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) on Monday, with tourism and economy figureheads from across the Middle East discussing travel industry action plans.
According to Sustainable Travel International, tourism is responsible for approximately eight per cent of global carbon emissions from transport, food and beverage, accommodation, and related goods and services. The opening session looked at the industry’s crucial role in climate change – a particularly pertinent topic as the UAE prepares to host COP28 later this year.
Tourism and economy figureheads from across the Middle East discuss travel industry action plans at the opening of ATM 2023
The session featured Sujit Mohanty, regional division for the Arab States, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR); Abed Al Razzaq Arabiyat, managing director, Jordan Tourism Board; and Walid Nassar, tourism minister for Lebanon, with CNN anchor and correspondent Eleni Giokos as moderator.
Building a picture of the current situation, Mohanty said: “Globally, in the last 20 years, there have been US$2.97 trillion in economic losses due to disasters. Climate change is leading to more frequent and severe climate-related hazards such as floods, heatwaves, cyclones and hurricanes. In turn, the tourism industry loses enormous amounts of money due to these hazards. Therefore, the return on investment is clear – invest now to help protect the future.”
The UNDRR works closely with governments, the private sector and stakeholders across the globe, including 22 Arab nations, to reduce disaster risk.
Jordan is one of the highest-ranking countries in the region on The Euromonitor Environmental Sustainability Index and responsible tourism is now a key focus for the nation.
“Educating both businesses and travellers on how they contribute to the carbon footprint is one of our key priorities. In parallel with education, we are offering incentives to hotels, businesses and other stakeholders to encourage sustainable practices,” said Arabiyat.
Despite political and economic challenges, Lebanon has attracted a significant number of tourists since 2022. In summer 2022, Lebanon welcomed two million tourists, a quarter of which were international. As a result of the growth in visitor numbers, rural tourism has seen a boost, an area of tourism which is more sustainable and, therefore, more favourable to the issue of climate change.
Speaking on the growth of rural tourism, minister Nassar said: “The guesthouse sector has grown in the last two to three years in Lebanon, which has been a welcome trend. We have now established a syndicate of over 150 guesthouses, encouraging tourism in more remote areas.”
Agreeing that the issue of climate change is urgent now, Danielle Curtis, exhibition director ME for Arabian Travel Market, said the opening session “provided the perfect launchpad for ATM 2023 as we explore the future of sustainable travel under the theme: Working towards net zero.”
The climate crisis was under the spotlight during the opening session of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) on Monday, with tourism and economy figureheads from across the Middle East discussing travel industry action plans.
According to Sustainable Travel International, tourism is responsible for approximately eight per cent of global carbon emissions from transport, food and beverage, accommodation, and related goods and services. The opening session looked at the industry’s crucial role in climate change – a particularly pertinent topic as the UAE prepares to host COP28 later this year.
The session featured Sujit Mohanty, regional division for the Arab States, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR); Abed Al Razzaq Arabiyat, managing director, Jordan Tourism Board; and Walid Nassar, tourism minister for Lebanon, with CNN anchor and correspondent Eleni Giokos as moderator.
Building a picture of the current situation, Mohanty said: “Globally, in the last 20 years, there have been US$2.97 trillion in economic losses due to disasters. Climate change is leading to more frequent and severe climate-related hazards such as floods, heatwaves, cyclones and hurricanes. In turn, the tourism industry loses enormous amounts of money due to these hazards. Therefore, the return on investment is clear – invest now to help protect the future.”
The UNDRR works closely with governments, the private sector and stakeholders across the globe, including 22 Arab nations, to reduce disaster risk.
Jordan is one of the highest-ranking countries in the region on The Euromonitor Environmental Sustainability Index and responsible tourism is now a key focus for the nation.
“Educating both businesses and travellers on how they contribute to the carbon footprint is one of our key priorities. In parallel with education, we are offering incentives to hotels, businesses and other stakeholders to encourage sustainable practices,” said Arabiyat.
Despite political and economic challenges, Lebanon has attracted a significant number of tourists since 2022. In summer 2022, Lebanon welcomed two million tourists, a quarter of which were international. As a result of the growth in visitor numbers, rural tourism has seen a boost, an area of tourism which is more sustainable and, therefore, more favourable to the issue of climate change.
Speaking on the growth of rural tourism, minister Nassar said: “The guesthouse sector has grown in the last two to three years in Lebanon, which has been a welcome trend. We have now established a syndicate of over 150 guesthouses, encouraging tourism in more remote areas.”
Agreeing that the issue of climate change is urgent now, Danielle Curtis, exhibition director ME for Arabian Travel Market, said the opening session “provided the perfect launchpad for ATM 2023 as we explore the future of sustainable travel under the theme: Working towards net zero.”