Mexico has secured final GEF approval for the iCOAST initiative, paving the way for sustainable tourism projects.

SECTUR is advancing the iCOAST initiative to reshape coastal tourism through sustainability and inclusion.

La Secretaría de Turismo (Sectur) celebró la aprobación del proyecto “Enfoques Colaborativos para un Turismo Sostenible (iCOAST)” por parte del Fondo para el Medio Ambiente Mundial (GEF), iniciativa q...

La iniciativa beneficiará a más de 877 mil personas y busca proteger ecosistemas marinos, fortalecer comunidades locales y promover un modelo turístico más responsable.

Hurricane season starts again this June. Do you know what...

Mexico teams with the U.N.-sponsored iCOAST project to further its quest for a sustainable, inclusive tourism model.

Less than five years after the pandemic brought global tourism to a grinding halt, the sector has roared back to health. While this resurgence has been a boon for the economies of destination countries, it has brought with it renewed...

La secretaria de Turismo del Gobierno de México, Josefina Rodríguez Zamora, anunció avances del proyecto iCOAST México, una iniciativa que forma parte del Programa Global iCOAST financiado por el Fond...

Tourism makes up about 10% of the global economy, but sustainable practices are key to protecting destinations and communities and boosting resilience. Credit: UNDP Maldives | Ashwa Faheem 
 
The UN commemorates Global World Tourism Day on Feb 17 By Francine Pickup
UNITED NATIONS, Feb 13 2025 (IPS) Tourism is back – and stronger than ever. With 1.4 billion international tourist arrivals recorded globally in 2024, the sector has bounced back to pre-pandemic levels, signalling a recovery from its worst crisis. But in a world facing climate shocks, resource depletion, and many conflicts and crises, recovery is not enough. Tourism must not only bounce back; it must drive sustainability and build resilience. The Cost of Unchecked Tourism Tourism drives economies, cultures, and connections, making up about 10% of the global economy and creating one in four new jobs. However, the rising number of tourists is pushing popular destinations to their limits. From overcrowding on Mount Everest to water shortages in Spain’s tourist hotspots, overtourism is increasingly problematic, exposing the environmental impact of tourism: • • Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Hotels, resorts, and restaurants rely on unsustainable energy and inefficient equipment, with cooling systems significantly contributing to emissions.
• Water Overconsumption: Tourists use about 300 liters of water (guest per night), stressing water-scarce regions. • Waste and Pollution: Tourism generates excessive waste, overwhelming local systems. For example, 85% of wastewater in the Caribbean is untreated, harming marine ecosystems. • Biodiversity Loss: Poorly planned tourism developments cause habitat destruction, deforestation, and coastal erosion, threatening ecosystems that attract visitors. • Unsustainable Supply Chains: Tourism supply chains often rely on harmful chemicals and unsustainable practices, such as excessive pesticide use in food production, which damages the environment. To ensure a sustainable future, tourism must shift from depleting resources to regenerating and protecting them. Why Resilience Matters The tourism industry is highly vulnerable to disruptions like climate change, disasters, pandemics, and economic downturns, particularly in developing countries and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), where tourism often accounts for over 20% of GDP. These nations face rising sea levels, stronger storms, coral bleaching, and biodiversity loss, threatening their tourism industries and survival. Heavy reliance on imports and small economies increases vulnerability and recovery challenges. To address these challenges, destinations must build more resilient and sustainable business models: • • Diversification: Relying on a single source of visitors or narrow products increases risk. Expanding markets and experiences can create buffers against disruptions. For example, Malaysia’s Sustainable Tourism Recovery project strengthens nature-based tourism, boosting resilience and diversifying the economy. • Regenerative Practices: Sustainability is essential. Eco-friendly initiatives, local supply chains, and energy efficiency help minimize impacts. In Türkiye, the Cool Up initiative reduces energy consumption and emissions in tourism through natural refrigerant cooling systems. • Local Empowerment: Engaging local communities strengthens resilience. In Ecuador, Indigenous communities use eco-tourism to preserve culture and the Amazon rainforest while benefiting from tourism. • Crisis Preparedness: Governments, businesses, and communities must collaborate on contingency plans to adapt to climate change and reduce disaster risk. In the Caribbean, coral reef restoration protects marine life, boosts resilience to hurricanes, and supports tourism. A New Era of Resilient and Sustainable Tourism The tourism sector must evolve to become a champion for sustainability and build resilience against future disruptions. That means embracing solutions that ensure tourism supports – not depletes – the ecosystems and communities it depends on. Working towards this transformation, UNDP has been supporting countries and communities around the globe to balance economic growth with environmental protection and community well-being. This year, a new initiative is kicking off to drive systemic change across the tourism sector in 14 countries, including seven small island nations. Funded by the Global Environment Facility, the Integrated Collaborative Approaches to Sustainable Tourism (iCOAST) initiative is set to play a critical role in enhancing sustainable and resilient tourism by addressing key areas such as cooling, chemicals and waste, electronics, construction, food systems, and plastics. With a vision to make tourism nature-based, low emission, zero-waste, and resilient, iCOAST will implement four core strategies: • Strengthening Policy and Regulation: Supporting governments in crafting cohesive policies and regulatory frameworks for sustainable tourism. • Increasing Access to Finance: Unlocking commercial and private sector funding to help businesses transition to sustainable practices. • Cleaning Up Supply Chains: Removing harmful chemicals, reducing waste, and optimizing the use of natural resources across tourism-related industries. • Fostering Global Knowledge Exchange: Creating a platform for transformative partnerships and cross-sector collaboration. The Road Ahead A resilient tourism sector not only survives crises but emerges stronger. By learning from past disruptions, prioritizing sustainability, and empowering local communities, we can build a more resilient, equitable, and enriching tourism industry. Initiatives like iCOAST ensure tourism remains a cultural bridge while protecting ecosystems and communities. But resilience requires action. Governments, businesses, and travelers must recommit to tourism model that respects the planet and empowers people. Together, we can make sustainable, resilient tourism the standard. (The iCOAST is funded by the Global Environment Facility and will be implemented across Belize, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Maldives, Mexico, Morocco, Seychelles, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Türkiye, and Vanuatu, by the following partners: UNDP, UNEP, WWF, UNIDO, FAO, IDB, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, in cooperation with UN Tourism). Francine Pickup is Deputy Director, UNDP Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, New York IPS UN Bureau   Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau   

Notícia | Novo projeto combina ciência e participação cidadã para proteger as populações costeiras face à erosão e às alterações climáticas.

Mexico has secured final GEF approval for the iCOAST initiative, paving the way for sustainable tourism projects.

SECTUR is advancing the iCOAST initiative to reshape coastal tourism through sustainability and inclusion.

Mexico's Secretary of Tourism Josefina Rodríguez Zamora has announced that Mexico will join iCOAST, the Integrated Collaborative Approaches for Sustainable Tourism project, an international program funded by multilateral environmental organizations of the UN. iCOAST aims to consolidate a new tourism model that places environmental sustainability, social inclusion and Shared Prosperity as strategic axes of the development of the sector. It includes actions to strengthen regulatory frameworks, mobilize sustainable financing, introduce clean technologies, promote circular economy practices and consolidate institutional capacities.