UNEP report focuses on how sustainable procurement can play a strategic role in improving resource efficiency throughout the tourism value chain.
Globally, the tourism industry already accounts for an average of 9% of nations’ GDP, and its importance is bound to increase even more. The World Tourism Organization projects international tourist arrivals to increase from 1.1 billion in 2014 to 1.8 billion in 2030. This scale of economic activity has major impacts on the environment. While tourism contributes about 8 % of global GHG emissions, it is projected that these, as well as water and energy consumption, will double by 2050.
Sustainable procurement can play a strategic role in improving resource efficiency throughout the tourism value chain.
UNEP has released a new report, entitled Transforming tourism through sustainable procurement, which intends to inform dialogues on how best to incorporate circularity and sustainability in procurement practices of tourism businesses. Through a series of 16 case studies, the report illustrates some of the best examples of tourism organisations that have already successfully done so. It is addressed to corporate buyers and business leaders in the tourism sector as well as policymakers.
The document has been created as a contribution to the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme and the IKI-funded project ‘Transforming tourism value chains in developing countries and Small Island Developing States to accelerate more resource efficient, low carbon development’, with the financial support of France and Germany.
