At the GTRCMC’s JICA function on commerce prospects, the minister of tourism from Jamaica speaks.
From being prepared for disasters and crisis risks to post-crisis recovery, the Japan International Cooperation Agency ( JICA ) Economic Development Department is developing a resilient tourism industry. The World Tourism Endurance &, Crisis Management Center ( GTRCMC) facilitates business continuity, world conservation, and economic development in the tourism eco-system by assisting tourism stakeholders in preparing for, managing and recovering from a crisis.
As the creator of GTRCMC, Hon. At this crucial function on Tourism Futures: Endurance, Sustainability, and Development, Bartlett shared his ideas and insights:
Constrained and perilous creation pathways for their populations have been created as a result of specific vulnerabilities that developing regions, including the Caribbean, face. These difficulties include a lack of resources, severe economic turbulence, small populations, poor markets, external dependence, susceptibility to exterior shocks, and normally small, undiversified economies. The combined weakening effects of events like globalization, climate change, neoliberalism, and the latest COVID-19 pandemic have also significantly exacerbated current vulnerabilities.
Developmental regions are being particularly urged to promote sustainable development in the face of powerful threats, emphasizing the necessity of harmonizing advancement approaches and aligning all facets of advancement. One of the main avenues for achieving the sustainable development goals of some developing areas, particularly Small Island Developing States, continues to be the tourism sector.
Commerce: A Foundation for Sustainable Growth
Because of its numerous connections that support the livelihoods of millions of people around the world, the tourism industry is typically seen as a solid foundation of sustainable development. The manufacturing, agriculture, transportation, attractions, gastronomy, services, and social and artistic industries are just a few of the other national economic segments that the tourism industry frequently integrates into its value chain.
In public areas like the promotion of equitable and sustainable economic growth, social inclusivity, employment and poverty reduction, tool efficiency, climate protection and climate change, historical values, diversity and heritage, mutual understanding, peace and security, tourism is also in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Tourism has been specifically aligned with the promotion of SDGs 8 ( decent work and economic growth ), 12 ( responsible consumption and production ), and 14 ( life below water ).
Tourism is even explicitly mentioned in SDG 8.9. ” By 2030, develop and implement policies to promote responsible tourism, which generates employment and promotes regional products and culture.”
SDG 12 follows suit. ” Develop and implement instruments to observe sustainable development impacts for ecological tourism that creates work and promotes native culture and products,” according to B.
Additionally, SDG 14.7 states that” by 2030, improve the financial benefits to Small Island Developing States and least developed countries from the responsible use of coastal resources, including through responsible management of fisheries, aquaculture, and tourism.”
Unfortunately, despite the fact that commerce is regarded as a catalyst for sustainable development, the tourism and travel sector has historically shown abnormal patterns of tool use, service delivery, and consumption, which have posed obstacles to the development of sustainable tourism. This industry is known for its emphasis on excellent hospitality, customer satisfaction and the creation of unique experiences. The international tourism industry must also deal with its own tough challenges and uncertainties.
The concept of sustainable tourism has emerged to reconcile the economic, social, and economic aspects of tourism as the emphasis on responsible development has grown.
What We Want for the Future
Due to its close ties to other industries, its capacity to produce respectable jobs, and its ability to generate trade opportunities, sustainable tourism was identified as a significant contributor to the three dimensions of sustainable development in the Rio+20 outcome document titled” The Future We Want.”
In order to improve the welfare and livelihoods of local communities by supporting their local economies and the human and natural atmosphere as a whole, it urged Member States to acknowledge the need to support sustainable tourism activities and pertinent capacity-building initiatives that promote climate awareness, preserve and protect the environment, regard wildlife, flora, biodiversity, ecosystems, and ethnic diversity.
Tourism endurance, or” the capacity of a place or hospitality system to cope with, react to, and recuperate from shocks and problems, such as natural disasters or pandemics,” and” climate change impacts,” is closely related to the idea of sustainable tourism.
The concept of tourism resilience has progressively taken center stage in the world discussion on responsible tourism in general as the frequency of destructive events linked to phenomena like climate change, natural disasters, habitat loss, political instability, financial downturns. In order to ensure their long-term economic survival, it emphasizes the need to develop the capacity for resilience in tourism destinations and among tourism1 ] dependent communities.
Increasing Tourism’s Socio-Economic Endurance
Socio-economic endurance, which entails maximizing the commerce industry’s capacity to promote social inclusion, monetary expansion, and society engagement in hospitality development, is a crucial component of tourism resilience. Responsible tourism should help to lessen inequality and marginalization while also reducing poverty, social cohesion, and local community well-being.
Promoting local ownership and control of hospitality tools, facilitating community-based commerce activities, offering training and power creating opportunities for local communities, and fostering cultural preservation and heritage protection are some ways to increase socio-economic resilience in holiday destinations.
Climate resilience is another important component of commerce resilience. This initiative acknowledges the connection between commerce and ecological resilience because the conservation of tourist destinations is greatly influenced by the health and preservation of ecosystems and natural resources. Therefore, the tourism industry must promote protecting the natural environment and reducing the negative effects of hospitality on ecosystems and biodiversity in order to ensure its own long-term viability.
Effects of climate change
The climate phenomenon of climate change has important ramifications for the hospitality industry. The effects of climate change on commerce are varied and intricate, ranging from strong effects on natural sources and attractions to unintended consequences on travel, lodging, and visitor behavior. Existing risks in tourist locations, such as those related to hunger, injustice, and poor infrastructure, can also be made worse by climate change.
The decline or decay of natural resources and destinations that are important for tourism actions, such as beaches, coral reefs, forests, and wildlife habitats is one of the most significant immediate effects of climate change on tourism.
For instance, beach erosion, coastal flooding, and infrastructure destruction brought on by rising sea levels and more numerous, severe storms can all have a negative effect on coastal tourist places. Similar to this, marine washing brought on by warmer ocean temperatures can make coral reef locations less appealing for snorkeling and diving, which can be bad for regional economies that depend on marine tourism.
Filling in the Gaps
Collective action is urgently needed to maximize the commerce industry’s ability to foster equitable and sustainable development in light of the provided context. At the conclusion of the United Nations Climate Change Conference ( COP26 ), which was held in Glasgow in 2021, tourism was acknowledged as a well-established component of UN agenda and acknowledged for its capacity to support all Sustainable Development Goals.
The UNWTO next pledged to bridge the gap between governments and the private business in order to guarantee that commerce fulfills its obligations to combat climate change. The Glasgow Declaration, which received more than 150 signatories from all sectors and sizes, in particular, reflected the industry’s steadfast commitment to hastening the transition to net-zero emissions.
Nevertheless, it was also acknowledged that if the desired goals are to be accomplished, the efforts of business participants must be supported by broader support. This stage emphasizes the necessity of cooperation, decisive action, and political and financial support for the change of tourism toward greater inclusivity and sustainability.
Collaboration and coordination may indicate a comprehensive social approach that takes into account both internal and external stakeholders, such as authorities, corporations, regional communities, NGOs, think tanks, academia, and tourists. By implementing sustainable practices, funding alternative equipment, promoting responsible tourism behaviors, and increasing traveler awareness, this creative approach aims to ensure that the tourism industry is crucial to reducing climate change.
To create climate-resilient infrastructure, promote nature-based solutions, and incorporate climate risk assessments into hospitality planning and management, more particularly, meaningful cooperation and partnerships are needed. Increased cash and investment are urgently required to advance infrastructure and sustainable tourism methods. This includes spending money on solar energy, environmentally friendly transportation, eco-friendly lodging, and waste management systems that lower carbon emissions, lessen economic effects, encourage the use of green resources.
Greater research and innovation is also required to create and use new technologies, options, and best practices that can assist the commerce sector in adapting to climate change and reducing its carbon footprint. This includes improvements in public transportation systems, water conservation, waste management, and green transport alternatives like electric cars.
Finally, there is a need for improved traveler education and knowledge of the effects of climate change on tourism and the significance of environmentally friendly travel options.
What Stakeholders and Travelers You Do
Guests may be urged to pick eco-friendly places, lodgings, and activities. This can be accomplished by promoting sustainable tourism practices through education campaigns, accreditation programs, and labeling programs.
In closing, the Jamaica Tourism Minister reaffirmed the importance of responsible tourism infrastructure, practices, and policies for reducing the effects of climate change on holiday destinations, safeguarding natural resources, preserving cultural heritage, as well as ensuring the long-term ecology of the tourism sector. Hence, it is essential that all parties involved in the hospitality industry work together to combat climate change and ensure that tourism has a sustainable future. Jamaica’s tourism secretary speaks at the GTRCMC-JICA event on tourism future, according to eTurboNews (eTN).
