Lifting Sustainable Tourism to its Rightful Place, for The Long Run

Workshop looks at the role of sustainable tourism in global development and policy.

London -18 September 2015 -The Zeitz Foundation Germany, Chamber of Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism of Costa Rica (CANAECO) and the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) are jointly organising a one-day workshop on October 2nd, 2015, in San Jose, Costa Rica, on The Role of Sustainable Tourism in Global Development and Policy.

In 2014, the tourism industry accounted for 9.8% of global GDP (US$7.6 trillion), 6% of total world trade and 277 million jobs representing 9.4% of world employment or 1 in 11 jobs worldwide.

Despite its global importance and wide-reaching socio-economic impacts, the tourism industry seldom receives the recognition it deserves matching its promise and potential and is barely heard in the global policy debates. UNWTO notes tourism still receives limited attention as a tool for development, even with its potential for implementing the proposed UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and growth forecast at 3.9% per annum over next ten years, outpacing the global economy’s 2.9%.

This workshop aims to take forward the dialogue on the role of tourism in global sustainable development and policy in the quest to explore ways and means for this economic powerhouse to better benefit the millions of people that depend on tourism dollars.

The workshop will feature keynotes from renowned leaders in sustainable tourism, panel discussions and case study presentations demonstrating how global policy impacts local actions and how realities on the ground must inevitably inform and shape global policy.

The workshop is presented by CANAECO, Ministry of Tourism and The Long Run initiative of the Zeitz Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation driving global sustainability through its nature-based tourism business.

A limited number of places remain available for the workshop. There is no registration fee. If you are interested in attending, please apply via email to [email protected].

About The Long Run

The Long Run is a not-for-profit organisation driving global sustainability through nature-based tourism business members. It is built around membership and supporters, its 4C framework and the Global Ecosphere Retreats® (GER) standard that has been called "the world’s best standards for privately protected areas" (Dr. Jeff A. Langholz).

The Long Run guides, connects and supports its members to achieve and exceed the highest standards of sustainability through a holistic balance of 4Cs- Conservation, Community, Culture, Commerce. 

In 2014, The Long Run’s members’ impacts included:

• Investment: More than USD 5 million in community development and nature conservation
• Supporting Lives: Half a million people in total; over 40,000 directly, from 54 cultures
• Employment & Empowerment: Supporting 2700 jobs, in 58 towns and villages
• Biodiversity Conservation: Supporting 12 million acres in total; 7.6 million directly
• Species: Over 18,000 species in total; 680 endangered

The Long Run developed as an international program of the Zeitz Foundation and became an independent not-for-profit organisation in 2015.

The Long Run retains Zeitz as chairman of the board, with other board members composed of elected Global Ecosphere Retreats^®, distinguished members of The Long Run community and philanthropists from around the world.

More about The Long Run efforts, its members’ case studies and impacts can be viewed on the website, www.thelongrun.com.

About The Zeitz Foundation

The Zeitz Foundation was founded in Germany in 2008 by the business entrepreneur Jochen Zeitz, with the mission to create and support sustainable, ecologically and socially responsible projects and destinations around the world to achieve long-lasting impact and sustainability in privately managed areas. The Zeitz Foundation delivers on its vision and mission through its Laikipia Programme in Kenya.

Jochen Zeitz is Director of Kering and Chairman of its board’s Sustainable Development Committee, and co-founder and co-chair with Sir Richard Branson of The B Team.

About CANAECO

CANAECO is a nonprofit and private organization that envisions tourism activity that upholds sustainability development principles, thus providing a sustainable tourism model for Costa Rica. CANAECO works on 3 lines of action: 1) Influencing public policies and strategic issues relevant to the private sector of tourism in order to actively contribute to the consolidation of sustainable development. 2) Divulging information and knowledge related to sustainability concepts that foster informational events, to strengthen the education of the various sectors in the field, through training and various communication tools. 3) Developing projects that enable the promotion of responsible tourism as a dynamic agent of socio-economic development and environmental conservation". For more information, please visit: www.canaeco.org

About Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT)

Established in 1955, the Costa Rica Tourism Board spearheads the vital task of regulating and promoting Costa Rica’s extensive tourism offerings. The ICT and its partners in the private sector work tirelessly to garner recognition, standardise practices, provide insightful research data and foster cultural development for the country’s coast to coast one-of-a-kind tourism products and resources.

About Costa Rica

Costa Rica is located in Central America, nestled between Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south; it is bordered on the east by the Caribbean Sea and the west by the Pacific Ocean. With an abundance of unique wildlife, landscapes and climates this small country proudly shelters approximately five percent of the known biodiversity in the world. In order to protect and preserve its wealth of natural resources Costa Rica has become a global leader in sustainable practices with protected areas comprising 26 percent of its land mass. With a peaceful spirit, emphasis on education and an economy based on tourism, technology and exportation, Costa Ricans and visitors alike enjoy one of the highest standards of living and organized tourism infrastructure in Latin America among a tropical paradise of lush rainforests, mystical volcanoes and cloud forests and beaches that meet mountains filled with monkeys and macaws. Offering a broad terrain of activities and accommodations, visitors to Costa Rica will find a range of hotel options ranging from small beachside bed & breakfasts, to authentic intimate boutique mountain lodges, to major international business hotel brands and everything in between; Costa Rica’s accommodations offer something appealing for everyone’s desires. The phrase "Pura Vida" can be heard echoing throughout Costa Rica from coast to coast. Used as a greeting or expression of happiness, the phrase literally translates to "pure life," however its true meaning is "full of life," which accurately describes the adventure and wonder that await visitors.