Home > Sectors > Tourism and Travel

Sectors

Tourism and Travel

About this sector

Based on its contribution to global gross domestic product, the number of people it employs, and the number of clients it serves, tourism has been described as the world’s largest industry. In 2008 these figures were 9.5% of global GDP, over 200 million jobs – one in 13 of all jobs worldwide – 924 million international travellers in 2008, and perhaps 10 times the number of domestic travellers.
The industry forms one of the top five export earners in 150 countries, and is particularly important for developing countries. For the world’s 40 poorest countries, tourism is second to oil as a source of foreign exchange.

Impacts

  • Tourism facilities and infrastructure can threaten natural and important habitats.
  • Excessive use of natural resources, such as fresh water, energy and food can threaten supplies and lead to pollution through waste.
  • Tourist behaviour can threaten species and ecosystems (introduction of invasive alien species, harvesting of wild species for souvenirs).

Opportunities/Risks

  • The rise in demand for nature-based and eco-tourism creates business opportunities that can be tied with wildlife conservation.
  • Consumer awareness of ethical and environmental issues creates markets for responsible tourism.
  • Environmental impacts can limit access to capital insurance and incur legal risks.
  • Brand and reputation are strongly influenced by a company’s environmental performance.

Case Studies


Back to top
African magic mixed with cutting edge green technology

African magic mixed with cutting edge green technology

Elizabeth Dlamini, herbalist and skincare adviser to a whole of local women, has skin that glows. She beams as she explains why. “Here in the Royal Kingdom of Swaziland we proud of our plants that we use in our traditional beauty regimes. Our grandmothers taught us how to prepare cosmetics from the oil of the Marula nut”. Now, Ubuntu Natural is bringing Swaziland’s best-kept beauty secret to the international cosmetics market.

Biodiversity and Access to Affordable medicines

Biodiversity and Access to Affordable medicines

Recognizing the importance of medicinal plants offers a unique opportunity to link biodiversity, health and sustainable development. Biodiversity is the source of primary health care for the majority of the world’s population. The research and development of medicinal plants is thus a way to safeguard and advance health care, which is essential for much of the population. Moreover, the ethical sourcing of medicinal plants can play an important role in the conservation and sustainable use of these species and their ecosystems, as well as provide a significant avenue for local sustainable development.

Building local plant nurseries for the rehabilitation of quarries

Building local plant nurseries for the rehabilitation of quarries

As part of its quarry rehabilitation process, Lafarge has developed local plant nurseries that respect indigenous species and are adapted to the local environment. This initiative is part of broader methodologies and best practices 
developed by the company to optimize its quarry reclamation, with the final objective of strengthening the acceptability of its operations in the long run.

Implementing “zero impact” invoices

Implementing “zero impact” invoices

Committed to neutralize the environmental impacts associated with its paper invoicing process, EDP has engaged in a compensation program based on (1) life cycle assessment and (2) externalities compensation through agroforestry good practices that restore the ecosystem service originally impacted by invoicing activities.

Setting private natural heritage reserves

Setting private natural heritage reserves

Owning large natural reserves as part of its forestry activities in Brazil, Fibria has chosen to register its most biodiverse lands as part of the Brazilian-specific Private Natural Heritage Reserves scheme. Recognition of Fibria’s conservation efforts is expected to further increase public and stakeholder awareness on company conservation activities.


Tools and Mechanisms


Back to top
Canadian Business and Biodiversity Council

Canadian Business and Biodiversity Council

http://www.businessbiodiversity.ca/

The Council aims to help Canada achieve its biodiversity conservation objectives by assisting Canadian businesses that are prepared to show leadership in biodiversity conservation through managing their facilities and activities in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner.
HoB: Green Business Network (GBN)

HoB: Green Business Network (GBN)

http://wwf.panda.org/borneo/greenbusinessnetwork

The Green Business Network aims to provide tools and support to businesses willing to work towards a sustainable future for the Heart of Borneo. It also aims to develop and communicate a range of solutions to sustainable and profitable business development in the HoB, and is aimed in particular at three key business sectors: forestry, palm oil and mining.
Chain-wide Learning for Inclusive Agrifood Market Development: A guide to multi-stakeholder processes for linking small-scale producers to modern markets.

Chain-wide Learning for Inclusive Agrifood Market Development: A guide to multi-stakeholder processes for linking small-scale producers to modern markets.

http://www.regoverningmarkets.org/en/filemanager/a...

As modern markets replace traditional markets, outlets for small-scale producesr are reduced, risking increasing poverty for producers and entire rural communities. However, with the right kind of support, small-scale producers can be efficient and reliable providers of quality produce; in other words good business partners. This guide provides practical ways to enhance opportunities for small-scale producers in modern agrifood markets. Users may be market actors interested in creating direct links with small-scale suppliers, government policy-makers tasked with rural development, producer organisations working for their members, NGOs working for the rural poor, or researchers working to understand and support processes aimed at greater inclusion of small-scale producers.
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

http://www.un.org/Depts/los/index.htm

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service Work Stream

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service Work Stream

http://www.unepfi.org/work_streams/biodiversity/in...

UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI) is a global partnership between UNEP and the financial sector. Over 180 institutions, including banks, insurers and fund managers, work with UNEP to understand the impacts of environmental and social considerations on financial performance. The objective of the ambitious UNEP FI Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service Work Stream is to assist the financial services sector in addressing the challenges arising from the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services. Currently the group consists over 20 members.

Choose another sector


Tourism & Travel

Case studies
Tools and Mechanisms