WTTC Tells How Travel & Tourism Can Reverse Destruction of Nature

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) on Thursday released a new report that shows how Travel & Tourism can play a critical role in halting and reversing the destruction of nature.

Aimed to help businesses understand and manage their impact on biodiversity, the report is launched ahead of the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in December, where global governments will finalise actions to transform society’s relationship with nature, offers new hope for global nature conservation.

‘Nature Positive Travel & Tourism’, created jointly with ANIMONDIAL, a key advisor to global Travel & Tourism on animal and nature protection, and in collaboration with global businesses within the sector, has also been endorsed by Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD).

According to the WTTC, the report will help businesses act on the very real and urgent need to better protect biodiversity and nature.

Travel & Tourism businesses are uniquely placed to take positive actions to restore nature and, through nature-based solutions and decarbonisation, achieve Net Zero.

With nature tourism representing 20 percent of global tourism, the report shows just how crucial nature is for destinations around the world.

Wildlife, a primary motivator for nature tourism, contributes U.S.$343 billion to the global economy every year, and supports nearly 22 million jobs around the world.

“Human activity has resulted in a devastating loss of natural habitat and biodiversity, with one in four species now facing extinction,” Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said, adding that addressing the loss of biodiversity is not only crucial for the Travel & Tourism sector and its resilience, but also for the global economy and society.

The WTTC’s report offers a roadmap based on a four-phase framework with practical steps to guide the sector in adopting a Nature Positive approach: assessing operational impact, setting out a strategy, identifying essential actions, rolling out and reviewing the programme, and harnessing communication opportunities.

The report also offers four actions businesses can achieve in the short term: reconnecting people and nature, supporting sustainable value chains, protecting animals and their welfare, and investing in nature.

The WTTC highlights that both the private and public sectors have different roles to play in reversing nature loss.

“But meaningful change can and will only be achieved if the two work together to better protect animals and nature.”

To read the report in full, click here.

The WTTC represents the global private sector of Travel & Tourism.