The Glasgow Declaration: An urgent global call for commitment to a decade of climate action in tourism

All Regions
21 Sep 2021

In preparation for COP26, two information sessions were held today on the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism. The Declaration, developed by a collaborative group of leading organizations, is an urgent call for all stakeholders to commit to a decade of climate action in tourism.

The signatories of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism are committing to act now and accelerate climate action to cut global tourism emissions by at least a half over the next decade and reach Net Zero emissions as soon as possible before 2050. In particular, each signatory will commit to deliver a concrete climate action plan, or updated plan, within 12 months of signing. Plans will be aligned with the proposed pathways of measurement, decarbonisation, regeneration, collaboration and financing that will accelerate tourism’s ability to transform.

During the events, the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), VisitScotland, the Travel Foundation and Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency were joined by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, European Tourism Association, Inkaterra, Intrepid Group, Machu Picchu, Oregon Coast, Radisson Hotel Group, South Pacific Tourism Organization, The Long Run, andThe Travel Corporation (TTC). All were united in emphasizing the importance of defining a clear and consistent sector-wide message and approach to climate action in the coming decade, as well as encouraging organizations across all areas of tourism to demonstrate their public support for scaling up the sector’s response to the climate emergency by becoming signatories.

We need to work urgently together within a consistent sector-wide approach to accelerate change and therefore I encourage tourism stakeholders to subscribe the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism

The Declaration will be officially launched at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November. The text is available from 21st September. Interested signatories can express their wish to join as launch partners from the beginning of October.

As the declaration states: “A just transition to Net Zero before 2050 will only be possible if tourism’s recovery accelerates the adoption of sustainable consumption and production, and redefines our future success to consider not only economic value but rather the regeneration of ecosystems, biodiversity and communities.”

Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General UNWTO said: “We all recognise that tourism has an important role to play. It’s highly vulnerable to climate change and contributes to the emission of greenhouse gases, while being well placed to contribute to adaptation. But no one organisation can tackle this alone. That’s why we need to work urgently together within a consistent sector-wide approach to accelerate change and therefore I encourage tourism stakeholders to subscribe the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism.”

Jeremy Smith, Co-Founder, Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency: “Everyone in tourism has a role to play in addressing the climate emergency. It is time for major players across our sector to come together to accelerate climate action – whether that is airlines, hotels, cruise, ferry, train or car companies through to operators and agents, government and institutional agencies, associations, consortia, donors and financial institutions and academia. It is crucial we now all work together to transform tourism’s climate impact, competitiveness, sustainability and resilience.”

The need for a globally consistent approach for climate action in tourism has been made clear, notably through research into CO2 emissions carried out by UNWTO/ITF and released at the UNFCCC COP25 in December 2019. This showed that transport-related emissions from tourism were forecast to increase by 25% by 2030 from 2016 levels, against the current ambition scenario.

In 2020, the One Planet Vision for a responsible recovery of the tourism sector was adopted with the aim of emerging from the COVID-19 crisis both stronger and more sustainable. Climate action is a central element of the Vision, which calls for monitoring and reporting CO2 emissions from tourism, promoting the introduction of science-based targets, accelerating the decarbonization of tourism operations, and engaging the tourism sector in carbon removal.

The Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism brings together the latest research and global expertise to galvanise climate action. It will be hosted within the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme’s website, supported by Recommended Actions for tourism stakeholders across the world to consider as part of their action planning, alongside other resources.

#GlasgowDeclaration and #TourismAndClimate

UNWTO Press Office: comm@unwto.org
VisitScotland: Carolyn Churchill Tel: 44 (0)7835 491 872 Email: Carolyn.churchill@visitscotland.com Social: @visitscotnews
Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency: Jeremy Smith,
Email: jeremy@tourismdeclares.com Social: @tourismdeclares
Travel Foundation: Ben Lynam, Tel: 44 (0) 117 930 7176, Email: ben.lynam@thetravelfoundation.org.uk Social: @traveltf

AM NEWS VOL. 34 SEP 2021

All Regions
14 Sep 21
N PAG. 18

The bulletin of UNWTO’s Affiliate Members from the tourism sector

Dear Affiliate Members,

I am pleased to share with you the Vol. 34 of our AM News Bulletin.

After the summer break, we are now preparing for some very exciting months in which several important events and projects implemented by the Affiliate Members Department will take place.

I refer in particular to the launch and presentation of the Global Report on Cultural Affinity and Screen Tourism, that will be organized within the framework of the Iberoseries Platino Industry in Madrid the 1st of October. The report is the result of the close collaboration developed in the last months between our department and Netflix and its launch will be followed by a Panel of Experts to further explore the topics discussed in the report.

Furthermore, we are making good progress in the organization of the World Sports Tourism Congress, one of the main events organized by our department in collaboration with the Catalan Tourism Board on 25-26 November. Last month the official webpage of the event was launched and shortly we will open the registry for all the Affiliate Members and other organizations who want to participate.

Even more importantly, I would like to remind you that the final dates of the 24th UNWTO General Assembly, that will be held in Marrakech, were announced. The most important statutory event of the UNWTO will take place on 30 November – 3 December. Within the framework of the GA, our department will make its best efforts to organize a successful Plenary Session of the Affiliate Members. In addition to that, the text of the new Legal Framework of the UNWTO Affiliate Membership, as approved by the Working Group for the Reform (WG-AMLR), will be presented for approval during the GA.

As you can see, many relevant activities will soon take place, and I hope to count with the support and participation of all of you.

As always, I am at your disposal and look forward to hearing any comments you might have.

Yours sincerely,
Ion Vilcu

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Innovation and Partnerships to Make Wine Tourism Driver Rural Development

All Regions
10 Sep 2021

Innovation, partnerships and enhanced coordination are essential for making wine tourism a driver of rural development. That was the takeaway message from the 5th UNWTO Global Conference on Wine Tourism, held this week in Alentejo, Portugal, around the theme “Wine Tourism – a driver for rural development.”

Aligning with the central focus of World Tourism Day 2021, due to be celebrated 27 September, the Conference brough public and private sector stakeholders together to identify ways to maximise the sector’s potential contributions to inclusive growth. Also on the agenda was advancing digital transformation, marketing and promotion and the conservation of nature through a thriving wine tourism sector. Around 150 people attended the conference in person, with many more joining virtually to hear from a wide range of experts, from wine producers and distributors to tour operators, destinations and media.

Connecting tourists to territories

Wine tourism and its connection with the territory, local products and traditions opens new opportunities to advance jobs and inclusiveness in rural areas

Opening the event, UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili: “The pandemic has strengthened the role of tourism in advancing rural development. Wine tourism and its connection with the territory, local products and traditions opens new opportunities to advance jobs and inclusiveness in rural areas”.

Joining Secretary-General Pololikashvili for high-level panel discussions were Rita Marques, Secretary of State of Tourism of Portugal, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, State Secretary to the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Sofia Zaharaki, Deputy Minister of Tourism of Greece and Mariam Kvrivishvili, Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia.

The Minister of State, Economy and Digital Transition for Portugal, Pedro Siza Vieira, affirmed: “Wine tourism is at the forefront of our National Plan for Tourism. Its mission is to reach more visitors, from more countries, around the year, all over Portugal.” He also announced the launch of the Portuguese Wine Tourism website and a first Wine & Travel Week to be held in Porto, in February 2022.

Growing demand for authentic experiences

Wine tourism is in increasing demand as consumers look for more open-air experiences in rural areas in the post-pandemic era. The conference stressed the importance of developing the whole tourism value chain to complement the activities at the wineries as a means to create more jobs and businesses, promote local products and improve the visitor experience.

Mayor of Reguengos de Monsaraz, José Calixto added: "Local Authorities play a decisive role in enhancing the built and intangible heritage of winegrowing territories. For Reguengos de Monsaraz, this conference was the most important moment of the Vine and Wine history in the largest wine-producing regions in Portugal and will provide a further boost to rural development."

The Conference was held on 8-10 September 2021, in the village of Monsaraz in the Alentejo region, in collaboration with the Government of Portugal, Turismo de Portugal and the Municipality of Reguengos de Monsaraz. The Italian village of Alba in Region Piemonte will host the 2022 edition of the UNWTO Global Conference on Wine Tourism.

The Minister of Tourism of Italy, Massimo Garavaglia, said “The wine and food sector is increasingly proving to be a fundamental lever for Italian tourism. And it will be even more so in the future. For these reasons, the appointment next year in Italy of the sixth edition of the World Conference of Wine Tourism is doubly important.”