New kind of sustainable tourism can protect cultural heritage

H.E. Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary General of the Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi (left) and Shaikh Abdul Aziz Bin Ali Al Nuaimi, known as the ‘Green Shaikh’, at The World Green Tourism Conference and Exhibition in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

Conference told that tourism and hospitality sector can play crucial role

The World Green Tourism conference and exhibition opened in Abu Dhabi last Monday with a declaration that a new kind of sustainable tourism can help protect the UAE’s cultural heritage.

H.E. Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary General of the Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi (EAD), told an audience of global experts and travel trade professionals that the tourism and hospitality sector has a crucial role to play in reducing the nation’s footprint and combating climate change.

H.E. Al Mubarak said: “Abu Dhabi has a fantastic natural heritage with a real mix of geology, habitats and species, on land and in the sea. Several million birds each year pass through Abu Dhabi on their migration from the heart of Asia southwards to Africa, or eastwards to India or beyond.

“In addition to the biodiversity value, the natural environment of the UAE is closely associated with the cultural heritage of the Emirati people. 

“Given these natural assets and their importance to the cultural identity of the UAE, there is a world of opportunity for a new kind of tourism in Abu Dhabi that not only raises awareness on the unique biodiversity of the Emirate, but can also play a role in celebrating and safeguarding the cultural heritage of its people. 

She added: “It is vitally important that as Abu Dhabi seeks to diversify its economy and to encourage the tourism sector to grow and contribute more to the economy, that we do so in an environmentally responsible manner. Creating jobs and building capacity amongst locals to manage our natural assets so that we can see not just a growth in tourism but in sustainable eco-tourism is equally important.”

Shaikh Abdul Aziz Bin Ali Al Nuaimi — known as the Green Sheikh (twitter @greensheikh) — in his keynote speech highlighted his personal experience of a sustainable lifestyle.

He said if people, especially youngsters, do not adopt sustainable practices in daily life, a peaceful world cannot be achieved.

The opening of the conference then saw the presentation of the inaugural World Green Tourism Award to the Honourable Maurice F. Strong, Senior Advisor to the 2012 Rio+20 Summit, in recognition of his pivotal role in shaping the global sustainable development agenda.

Sponsored by Etihad Airways, in partnership with the International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP), the award acknowledged Strong’s outstanding efforts to encourage thought leadership and action for green initiatives in travel and tourism.

Among his many public and private sector appointments, Strong has served as Secretary General of the 1972 Stockholm Environment Conference, and as the First Head of the UN Environment Programme. In 1992, he was Secretary General of the Rio Earth Summit, the United Nations conference on environment and development.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), World Green Tourism is designed to inspire the Middle East travel industry to place a bigger emphasis on sustainability.

The conference is organised by Streamline Marketing Group and is the first commercial conference and exhibition specifically for the sustainable tourism sector. It is hosted by ADTA and the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.

Valere Tjolle
Valere is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite 2011 Get your copy at a special offer price: HERE