Tourism as a Vehicle for Green Growth

Tourism as a Vehicle for
Green Growth under the
Current Economic Crisis

Dr Paul Rogers
UNWTO Special Session
Korea Tourism Conference, Changwon, 2009

Presentation Overview
Climate Change
Economic Crisis
Tourism as Green Business
Moving Forward in the Tourism Sector
– what will you do ?

Climate Change
๏ IPCC & UNFCCC carrying agenda forward
- Dec 2008 Poznan; Dec 2009 Copenhagen

๏ Stern Report (UK Government 2006)
- Serious impacts on growth & development

- Costs to stabilise climate – or greater costs later….

- Strong deliberate policy action required: emissions trading; technology
cooperation; reduce deforestation; adaptation

- March 2009: “underestimated risks”; COP 15 “most important meeting since WWII”

๏ Climate change sceptics – largest gathering in NY March 2009

Climate Change

Business as usual is dead -
green growth is the answer
to both our climate and economic problems
Anders Fogh Rasmussen
Danish Prime Minister
March 2009

We have to save the planet
from environmentalists
Vaclav Klaus
Czech President
March 2009

Current Economic Crisis

How big is the problem…..

…….wait and see……..

Business & Climate Change
๏2007 study by Accenture of 500 major global firms revealed:
- 1 in 10 companies regard global warming as a priority

- 8 out of 10 companies want government to take climate change lead

-"Businesses … are reluctant to make big investments in climate change-related
initiatives until the scope of future regulation becomes clearer”

- “… carbon pricing mechanisms are not yet strong enough for businesses to
incorporate climate change risks and opportunities…”

- As the economy deteriorates big business will concentrate less
on climate change

2008: significant slowdown
International Tourist Arrivals 20.0

18.0

ear (%)
16.0

15.3

variation over previous y
14.0

12.0

11.3
10.5 10.0

8.5 8.0

6.9
6.0
5.2
4.9 4.0
4.6
3.6
1.8 2.0
2007 2008
1.6
2007
World
0.1
2008
2007 2008 0
2007 2008
Europe 2007
Asia and the Paciﬁc 2008
Americas 2007 2008
Africa
Middle East
2007 2008

Source: World Tourism Organization

2008: sharp reversal of trend
International Tourist Arrivals
20

ear (%)
18
17.8
16

variation over previous y
14

12

10

8

5.4 6.3 6.8 6

3.4 5.4 4
5.2
4.0
2
-1.3
-2.5 1.1
-2.8 0

World
Europe -2

Jan-June Asia and the Pacific
Americas -4
July-Dec. Africa

Middle East


Asia and the
Pacific Performance 2008
Monthly evolution of international tourist arrivals
15.00
% change over same month previous year

11.25

7.50

3.75

0

Jan-June +6%
-3.75
+2%
July-Dec. -3%
-7.50
2005 2006 2007 2008*


Impact on Air Transport
Air Trafﬁc (RPK)

10.0

% change over same month previous year
7.5

5.0

2.5

0

-2.5

-5.0

-7.5

2006
-10.0
2007
2008*

IATA - Global International 2009

AAPA - International Asia Airlines
Source: IATA; AAPA

Why go Green in Tourism?

๏Being environmentally friendly is step towards sustainable
tourism: consistent with national and international policy
๏A growing tide of tourists favour green products
๏It makes good business sense to “go green”

Tourism as Green Business
๏Adopting sustainability as a core individual
and organizational philosophy and approach
๏Promoting carbon neutral flights and air-travel
๏Reducing energy consumption (and making energy consumption
carbon neutral)
๏Reducing water consumption
๏Recycling and reducing waste
๏Sourcing goods and services from local suppliers

Airlines Challenges
๏What actions can individual airlines take away from the session?
- Make any voluntary offsetting programme part of the normal booking process to encourage
easy adoption by consumers (e.g. Jetstar/Virgin Blue)

- Provide consumers with the ability to redeem points/miles for offsetting programmes

- Consider offsetting corporate travel and ground transport costs

- Development of 3rd generation biofuel technology is achievable

๏What were the key collaborative actions to emerge from the session?
- Airlines and airports can partner to improve efficiency of aircraft movements (e.g. fuel-saving
descent strategies, one-engine taxiing, etc.)

- Biofuel research involves partnership with airlines, manufacturers and fuel suppliers

๏What support would organisations need to facilitate these actions?
- Trade associations can engage stakeholders and facilitate collaboration

Aviation has Made Steady,
Significant Progress

BUT - Improvements in carbon efficiency
offset by growth in air-traffic

Carbon Neutral Air-Travel
๏Aviation sector committed to, & signed declaration on, CC –
Aviation and Environment Summit March / April 2009
๏Improvements in carbon efficiency offset by growth in air-traffic
๏Will airlines act decisively to off-set carbon emissions?
๏Governments and UN (with ICAO/ATB) must urgently legislate for
compulsory carbon off-setting across all airlines
๏Is there another realistic alternative?

Green Tourism:
tackling energy, water & waste
๏Engage board, management team (green team!)
๏Engage & encourage employees to generate ideas
๏Create ownership within the company
๏Create a compelling vision
๏Conduct an environmental audit
๏Focus on small initiatives with large collective impact (e.g. air
conditioners linked to key cards)

Green Tourism Examples

Accommodation sector

www.sixsenses.com


Accommodation sector


Tour Operator

www.intrepidtravel.com


Tour Operator


www.earthlung.org

Moving Forward in
the Tourism Sector
– what will you do ?

Green Certification &
Accreditation

๏Hotels
๏Tour companies
๏Transport providers
๏Attractions
๏Destinations

Certification / Accreditation Issues

Positives Negatives

๏Good learning process ๏Too many certifiers
๏Improved management ๏Tourists confused?
๏Product development ๏Certifiers unable to
๏Communicate green deliver market
information to tourists expectations

๏Provides marketing ๏Companies learn how to
advantage be green – and leave !

Good Example: www.green-business.co.uk

To increase our green credentials…

✓ What should I do today?
✓ What is stopping my organization from doing more?
✓ What information do I need to take more decisive action?
✓ Who should I be working with to achieve greater results?
✓ Where should governments, businesses, the media and
tourists be taking a stronger lead?

THANK YOU
감사합니다
Paul Rogers (PhD) Consulting
progers02@gmail.com
paul@pacificasiatourism.org

Tourism as a Vehicle for Green Growth

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