China’s SEPA signs up to Green Globe

Thursday, 24 Oct, 2002 0

Green Globe, the international sustainability system for tourist destinations, accommodation and attractions, has signed an agreement with the People’s Republic of China, State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA).

Yang Chafei, Head of the Department of Nature and Ecology Conservation formalised this agreement, which will roll out the Green Globe Sustainable Tourism System across China.

The signing ceremony was held at the Beijing Continental Grand Hotel and was overseen by PR China’s Minister for Environment, Xie Zhenhua, Vice Minister Zhu Guangyao with Green Globe Chairman, Mr Geoffrey Lipman and Director of Green Globe Asia Pacific Terry de Lacey.

Commenting on the agreement, Green Globe Chairman, Geoffrey Lipman said: “China’s State Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) is keenly aware of the importance of sustaining the beauty and richness of its unique tourist destinations for the enjoyment of its huge domestic tourist market as well as the great number of international visitors. It is exciting and also very rewarding to have our Green Globe Sustainable Tourism System adopted by the Chinese Government as its scheme for improving and preserving China’s world renowned tourist attractions”.

Mr Lipman continued: “SEPA has clearly seen the benefits of the Green Globe system, and for Green Globe to be able roll out its system throughout China it is vital for us to have the Government’s commitment and formal agreement to support our venture. It’s a timely initiative following hard on the heels of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and Green Globe, which was a formed after the Rio Summit, is committed to working with our Chinese partners to implement the Johannesburg Tourism Agenda over the next decade”.

Green Globe has established a representative office in Chengdu and the first Green Globe Training Course will be conducted with businesses, government agencies, universities & research institutions in Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province during 28–31 October 2002.

The office in Chengdu is managed by the Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Tourism (CRC). The CRC is an Australian government initiative to undertake high quality research to improve the sustainability of tourism.

The CRC and Chinese partners are working together on a number of research, training and ecotourism development projects in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Anhui provinces. CRC and Green Globe China manager Dr Zhuge Ren said: “(Green Globe) is a wonderful opportunity for the tourism industry to improve its environmental performance while at the same time attracting more visitors who are increasingly concerned to be environmentally friendly in their choice of tourism activities”.