Tag Archives: sustainable tourism

At the recently concluded Travel Tech ME summit with TravTalkME as media partner, the focus was on the digital tourism strategies which could accelerate growth in the tourism ecosystem. Guest speaker Amro Al Zubair – Director of Digital Product & Digital Experience, Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia reiterated that a new unified platform to connect the tourism ecosystem, launch new services, and support investors and startups as some of the main criteria to work on. He further shared that strategy to embed digital practices across the tourism sector, upskill workforce, and attract investment coupled with digital transformation will help drive sustainable growth of the tourism ecosystem. In this digital age in travel and tourism where technology has become a catalyst in this industry. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been at the forefront of digitalisation for the past many years and today they continue with their plans to make the destination sustainable in all aspects.

Coral Beach Resort Sharjah, managed by Hospitality Management Holding (HMH), is reinforcing its commitment to sustainability and environmental conservation by launching an innovative onsite water bottling plant system. This initiation represents the first of its kind among hotels in the Northern Emirates, aiming to eliminate the use of plastic bottles, preventing approximately 300,672 plastic bottles from entering the environment annually. His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority graced the launch and commended the unwavering commitment to sustainability of Coral Beach Resort Sharjah.  He reiterated, “Let me congratulate Coral Beach Resort Sharjah for taking a leap in sustainability as a property in Sharjah. I would like to commend everyone in your team for believing in the importance of sustainability, its impact in our day today life in general. We are very glad that you started this and looking forward to having more companies to follow the initiative.” Plastic waste reduction has become a primary focus at Coral Beach Resort Sharjah, with plastic bottles constituting a significant portion of the property’s plastic waste, particularly in food & beverage outlets and guestrooms. By implementing this unique water bottling plant, the resort is on its way to eliminating single-use plastics, contributing to a cleaner and greener future. Iftikhar Hamdani, Area General Manager at Coral Beach Resort Sharjah, said, “We are dedicated to reducing our overall environmental footprint while maintaining exceptional guest experiences. Our water filtration system ensures the production of high-quality water, meticulously bottled in our onsite bottling plant room, and made available in hotel guestrooms and food & beverage outlets.” The plastic-free project is part of the resort’s ongoing sustainability efforts.  In March 2021, HMH …

Miral announced the launch of its robust Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy for the group, focused on creating positive impact across society. Inspired by its long-standing commitment to the people and communities it serves, the strategy will launch and implement over 80 economic, social and environment initiatives and programmes over the next two years, across the business and all the Group’s subsidiaries – Miral Experiences, Miral Destinations, Yas Asset Management. Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO, Miral, commented: “Miral has always been committed to creating world-leading experiences that not only accelerate the realization of the Emirate’s tourism growth and contribution to the industry’s ecosystem, but also to have a positive impact on the communities in which we operate. With the launch of this new group strategy and framework, we are underpinning our commitment, making it integral to how we operate and ensuring that we are taking crucial action across our entire business, to benefit three key groups – people, community, and the environment – helping to achieve our long-term goal of sustainable development. By aligning our focus areas with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, we can help establish and promote Abu Dhabi’s leading position as a global destination in eco-tourism and sustainable tourism.” In the last few years CSR has seen increasing relevance to businesses and stakeholders across the world. In the UAE, the CSR UAE Fund was formed in 2018 with the vision to establish the UAE as a global leader in Corporate Social Responsibility. As such, Miral has developed its group strategy to focus on contributing towards society and the environment through innovative and sustainable community interventions, closely aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and …

Following a dip in 2020, tourism globally is again on the rise and is expected to reach $17 trillion in size by 2027, compared to $11 trillion prior to Covid-19. Bain & Company’s new research study, ‘Sustainable Tourism: An Untapped Opportunity for Green Growth’, reveals that there is an increasing appetite for more sustainable tourism among leisure travelers across the globe, who will choose destinations and providers (airlines, hotels, restaurants, and tour companies) based on their sustainability records and are starting to pay a premium for it. On the other hand, research shows that some travelers feel that the travel and tourism sector is making little or no effort to be more sustainable, indicating that there is still much room for the sector to respond and make a difference. “The uptake in sustainable tourism is driven by an appetite to travel sustainably and make more responsible choices. Bain has developed a framework defining the components of a sustainable tourism experience around three pillars: environmental impact (e.g., eco-friendly transportation and accommodation options), social responsibility (e.g., DEI standards), and community engagement (e.g., contract with locals)” says Karim Henain, Partner at Bain & Company Middle East. There is a significant opportunity among the “sustainability enthusiasts” segment of travelers interested in visiting the MENA (Middle East and Northern Africa) region. The study’s aim is to better understand the behaviors and preferences of relevant travelers interested in MENA as a destination. The research covered consumers from six markets: Germany, Italy, France, the UK, Saudi Arabia, and China.   Overall, more than two-thirds of consumers surveyed in the selected markets consider sustainability aspects to be important or extremely important when traveling for leisure, and 73% expect …

His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Head of the Emirates Tourism Council, emphasised the UAE’s commitment, under the guidance and vision of its wise leadership, to actively support global endeavors in promoting sustainable tourism. HE further highlighted the UAE’s dedication to contributing to initiatives that foster the formulation of sustainable tourism policies, facilitating the growth of international tourism. HE Bin Touq made these remarks during his participation in the G20 Tourism Ministers’ Meeting 2023, which was attended by over 20 decision-makers in the global tourism industry recently in Goa, India. HE asserted the significance of collaborative endeavors and proactive measures to propel the regional and global tourism sector in a way that supports achieving comprehensive economic and social development in line with the United Nations’ sustainable development goals. The G20 Tourism Ministers’ Meeting discussed several tourism topics and agendas related to tourism. One significant focus was on promoting sustainability in the tourism industry and harnessing the possibilities presented by digital transformation and smart applications, especially in the realm of tourism services. Additionally, the meeting addressed strategies for enhancing the tourism sector and making it appealing to global talent, especially through the development of innovative tourism products. The participants emphasised the necessity of fostering a supportive environment that embraces small and medium enterprises (SMEs) within the tourism sector. In his speech at the meeting, HE Bin Touq said: “In the present era, the development of the tourism sector heavily relies on sustainability, given the prevailing environmental and social circumstances. It has become crucial to raise awareness about the significance of sustainable tourism through the implementation of legislation and policies that safeguard natural resources, cultural heritage, and …

Red Sea Global (RSG), the developer behind two of the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism projects, has announced that its flagship destination, The Red Sea, has been accepted into Virtouso’s ® exclusive portfolio of luxury travel partners, comprising over 2,300 preferred suppliers in 100 countries. Set to welcome its first guests in 2023, The Red Sea will join Virtuoso’s elite network of the world’s finest hotels, resorts, cruise lines, tour operators and other travel entities worldwide. These prestigious partners are recognized for not only delivering world-class services and experiences but also for providing superior offerings and rare opportunities to clientele. “Set among desert canyons, dormant volcanoes and unexplored islands, we are pioneering a unique relationship between luxury tourism and the natural environment at The Red Sea. By committing to putting people and planet first, we are enriching the surrounding environment and giving new meaning to the concept of responsible development. Working with Virtuoso, we’ll showcase the distinct benefits of regenerative tourism, while bringing our unparalleled guest experiences to travelers from all over the world,” said John Pagano, Group CEO of Red Sea Global. Located on the west coast of Saudi Arabia across 28,000 square kilometers of pristine lands and waters, The Red Sea will be home to a host of prestigious luxury brands, including Ritz Carlton Reserve and Miraval resorts – the first to operate in the Middle East. While staying at some of the world’s most iconic hotels, visitors to The Red Sea can enjoy diverse activities across the full spectrum of retail, sport, entertainment, health and wellness – from desert safaris and spa days to sailing and diving. A key attribute of the new partnership is The Red …

Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) will showcase the diversity of Dubai’s destination offering, shine a light on the city’s sustainability platforms and highlight new initiatives designed to further strengthen the tourism industry during the milestone 30th edition of Arabian Travel Market. This year’s ATM, from 1 – 4 May 2023 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, will focus on responsible tourism during the UAE’s Year of Sustainability with the event hosted under the theme ‘Working towards Net Zero’. During the event, DET will highlight how the city’s tourism industry is supporting the journey towards achieving the UAE’s Net Zero 2050, a strategic initiative with the ultimate goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050, whilst further stimulating the positive tourism growth trajectory. More than 122 partners and representatives from government entities, hotels, destination management companies and tour operators will join DET at an expanded Dubai stand at ATM 2023 to welcome and interact with visitors to the region’s leading travel event. The Dubai stand will also be home to key government bodies and representatives of major industry stakeholders including Dubai Culture, General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (DGRFA), Dubai Health Authority, in addition to Museum of the Future, Expo City Dubai and Majid al Futtaim. His Excellency, Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, commented: “This year’s ATM marks a turning point in terms of bringing sustainability to the forefront of the global tourism industry. Since the inception of ATM, Dubai has made extraordinary progress under the guidance of our visionary leadership in building the city’s global reputation as a leading tourism destination, offering an authentic, diverse and sustainable tourism proposition.  During the event …

Red Sea Global (RSG), the developer behind two of the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism projects, The Red Sea and AMAALA, has announced new partnerships with The Ocean Race (TOR) for the next two editions of the Race, and with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) who will amplify their stories around the world. The Ocean Race has provided the ultimate test for sailing teams since 1973. Known as ‘sailing’s greatest round-the-world challenge’, it is widely recognized as the pinnacle of achievement for sailors across the world, and has created legends of the sport throughout the years. Beyond the race itself, The Ocean Race acts as a global platform to raise awareness of the environmental challenges facing the world’s marine environment and drive positive change. Over the years, it has brought together like-minded partner organizations from across the globe with a shared vision of protecting and enhancing our oceans, seeking to mobilize policymakers and industries in host countries to take action on an international scale. “We are proud to become the Regenerative Project Partner of The Ocean Race. Sustainability sits at the very heart of our work at Red Sea Global, so The Ocean Race – and its impressive ambitions when it comes to ocean health – makes them a natural fit as a partner,” said John Pagano, Group CEO of Red Sea Global. “The sea has always been an important part of Saudi Arabia’s history and heritage – dating back to the ancient spice trade routes, and creating thriving communities along its coasts. Through this partnership, we hope to support the efforts of The Ocean Race to raise awareness of the challenges facing our oceans globally today, and protect the outstanding …

The Dubai College of Tourism (DCT) and Dubai Sustainable Tourism (DST), both part of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) have upgraded their much-sought after ‘Dubai Sustainable Tourism’ course that is available on DCT’s innovative learning platform, Dubai Way. The enhanced course on sustainability is launched, as the UAE prepares to host the COP28 (Conference of the Parties) Climate Change Conference, at Expo City Dubai in 2023, which will further address climate change to create a more sustainable and progressive economic future. With a range of new modules including educational segments focused on water and energy saving, how to implement a Green Team and effective procurement, the DCT course will empower participants with the knowledge on how to abide by and operate with sustainable principles across the travel and hospitality sectors. Dubai Way is a world-class training platform offering a broad range of educational and awareness programmes for people employed in tourist-facing roles across the tourism ecosystem. Supporting those who interact with visitors on a day-to-day basis, Dubai Way offers specialist training focused on history, culture and heritage and customer service, all of which are critical to delivering exceptional experiences for visitors to Dubai. Since the launch of the sustainability course in 2019, it has contributed significantly towards boosting the city’s sustainability credentials, within the wider DST initiative to position Dubai as tourism destination focused on and implementing sustainable practices. For example, a number of hotels have developed water bottling plants, installed solar panels and implemented water saving initiatives.  In recent years, the tourism sector has also witnessed a proliferation of on-site farms, generating locally sourced greens as well as hotels supporting local suppliers of fresh produce, poultry, seafood …

Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group) signed a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) with OQ to explore potential opportunities in the areas of research, training, exchange of expertise and knowledge, human resource development and to discover various initiatives aimed at encouraging sustainable practices, as well as promoting activities related to In-Country Value and empowering SMEs in the tourism sector. The agreement was signed by Hashil bin Obaid al Mahrouqi, CEO of OMRAN Group, and Ashraf bin Hamad Al Mamari, Chief Executive People, Technology & Culture in OQ, in the presence of several officials from both parties at OCEC. The MoC covers exploring collaboration opportunities in training and capacity building through knowledge and experience transfer between parties. It aims to boost sustainability through social, economic, environmental, and cultural initiatives‏. The MoC also covers cooperation in research development and the exchange of expertise in projects. Furthermore, the MoC focuses on social investment projects, local community development activities, boosting ICV and sponsoring SME development programs. Commenting on the MoC, Hashil Al-Mahrouqi said, “The OMRAN Group seeks to implement the principles of sustainability and enhance ICV through strategic initiatives and partnerships as well as empower national competencies and SMEs. We believe that a collaborative approach such as this plays an effective role in achieving national development; therefore, we are keen to leverage it to achieve our goals in line with the National Tourism Strategy and Oman Vision 2040.” Ashraf Al Mamari, Chief Exec. People, Technology & Culture in OQ, said, “The OQ Group seeks to cooperate with the OMRAN Group in key research and development areas within the OQ Group to establish initiatives that boost economic diversification and sustainable practices.” He added, “We strongly believe …