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Costa Rica Hosts the nineteenth Assembly of the UN Committee on Tourism and Sustainability, Emphasizing International Management in Sustainable Tourism Practices
Thursday, September 19, 2024
On September 9 and 10, 2024, Costa Rica took middle stage within the world tourism sector by internet hosting the nineteenth Assembly of the Committee on Tourism and Sustainability (CTS) of the United Nations World Tourism Group (UNWTO). Held within the capital metropolis of San José, this pivotal occasion introduced collectively worldwide specialists, key authorities officers, and representatives from six member nations, together with Croatia, Fiji, Portugal, Uruguay, and Zimbabwe, to debate the way forward for sustainable tourism.
Costa Rica’s function as each the host and chair of the Committee on Tourism and Sustainability till 2027 underscores the nation’s long-standing dedication to selling sustainable tourism. This high-profile occasion highlighted Costa Rica’s management in growing methods that guarantee tourism advantages each the atmosphere and native communities. It additionally provided the nation a platform to showcase its ongoing efforts towards addressing the challenges posed by tourism’s fast progress and its environmental and social affect.
The nineteenth CTS assembly was designed to foster a world dialogue on easy methods to handle tourism progress with out compromising pure ecosystems, cultural heritage, and the well-being of native communities. 5 key themes dominated the discussions over the two-day convention: the way forward for tourism, managing tourism’s environmental affect, nature-positive tourism, local weather motion, and the function of inexperienced certifications in selling sustainability.
Costa Rica’s Management in Sustainable Tourism
Because the host and chair of the CTS, Costa Rica used the platform to reaffirm its world management in sustainable tourism practices. The nation has constantly been acknowledged as a pioneer within the subject of eco-tourism, and its dedication to preserving its wealthy biodiversity whereas fostering tourism has made it a mannequin for different nations searching for to steadiness financial progress with environmental conservation.
William Rodríguez, Costa Rica’s Minister of Tourism, spoke in regards to the significance of the assembly, saying, “Costa Rica is honored to lead discussions on issues critical to the environmental, social, and economic future of global tourism.” He emphasised that Costa Rica’s dedication to sustainability is deeply intertwined with its nationwide identification, and this convention offered a chance to share its finest practices with the worldwide neighborhood.
Rodríguez highlighted that Costa Rica’s use of the Social Progress Index (SPI) to measure the actual affect of tourism on native well-being was a important element of the nation’s technique. The SPI permits Costa Rica to evaluate the social and environmental penalties of tourism past financial metrics, guaranteeing that tourism contributes to the nation’s general social improvement whereas sustaining environmental sustainability.
Key Themes and Discussions on the nineteenth CTS Assembly
The convention explored a variety of subjects centered on sustainable tourism, with worldwide specialists sharing insights and methods to handle the sector’s most urgent challenges. 5 essential themes fashioned the core of the discussions:
1. The Way forward for Tourism
The discussions round the way forward for tourism targeted on how the business can evolve in a approach that promotes social and environmental well-being. Specialists addressed the necessity for accountable tourism progress and examined Costa Rica’s progressive use of the Social Progress Index to evaluate tourism’s broader affect on the nation’s socio-economic improvement. The SPI measures key areas akin to entry to schooling, healthcare, and environmental high quality, providing a extra complete view of tourism’s affect on a nation’s well-being.
2. Managing Tourism’s Environmental Impression
A important theme of the assembly was discovering methods to steadiness tourism progress with environmental sustainability. As tourism continues to broaden globally, many countries face the problem of managing its affect on fragile ecosystems. The instance of Iceland was mentioned, because the nation has applied strict insurance policies to handle the overwhelming inflow of vacationers whereas safeguarding its pure landscapes. Costa Rica, too, has confronted comparable challenges, given its recognition as a worldwide eco-tourism vacation spot. The nation’s methods for limiting environmental degradation whereas selling tourism have been a central a part of this dialogue.
3. Nature-Constructive Tourism
Nature-positive tourism, which emphasizes biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration, was one other main focus of the occasion. Individuals underscored the significance of designing tourism initiatives that actively contribute to environmental safety somewhat than merely minimizing harm. Costa Rica’s nationwide parks, wildlife reserves, and sustainable tourism tasks have been cited as exemplary fashions of nature-positive tourism. These efforts be certain that tourism not solely helps the nation’s financial system but in addition contributes to the preservation of its wealthy biodiversity.
4. Local weather Motion and Circularity
With local weather change posing an growing risk to world tourism, the necessity for local weather motion was on the forefront of the discussions. The assembly explored how tourism can adapt to and mitigate the results of local weather change. Costa Rica’s management in local weather motion, notably its contribution to the upcoming COP29 agenda, was highlighted. The nation’s efforts to advertise round financial system rules—lowering waste, reusing supplies, and selling renewable vitality—have been introduced as important methods for making a extra sustainable tourism business. This dedication to local weather motion has additional cemented Costa Rica’s function as a worldwide chief in eco-tourism.
5. Inexperienced Certifications and Claims
The convention additionally examined the function of inexperienced certifications in guaranteeing that tourism advantages native communities and economies whereas minimizing its environmental affect. Worldwide pointers have been reviewed to assist be certain that tourism operators adhere to sustainable practices. Costa Rica has lengthy been a proponent of inexperienced certifications, and its Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) program was highlighted as a benchmark for different nations. The CST program encourages motels, tour operators, and different tourism companies to undertake practices that promote environmental sustainability, social duty, and financial fairness.
Costa Rica’s Dedication to the Way forward for Sustainable Tourism
Costa Rica’s internet hosting of the nineteenth Assembly of the Committee on Tourism and Sustainability underscored its management in world sustainable tourism initiatives. Adriana Acosta, Model Director of Important Costa Rica, highlighted the importance of the occasion, stating, “Without a doubt, Costa Rica hosting a high-level event such as the meeting of the UN Committee on Tourism and Sustainability reaffirms our country’s leadership in the matter. In addition, it is an opportunity to show the world our commitment to the fight against climate change, which we are addressing through the 2035 Strategy of the Country Brand.”
Because the chair of the CTS till 2027, Costa Rica has positioned itself as a central participant within the world dialog on sustainable tourism. Its efforts to steadiness tourism improvement with environmental preservation and social well-being function a mannequin for the remainder of the world. The insights and finest practices shared throughout this assembly will undoubtedly information future world efforts to create a tourism business that isn’t solely worthwhile but in addition sustainable and socially accountable.
The outcomes of this assembly will play a vital function in shaping world tourism insurance policies within the coming years, serving to to make sure that the business contributes positively to each the financial system and the atmosphere. Costa Rica’s management on this regard reaffirms its place as a beacon of sustainable tourism on the world stage.
