PR92546

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/--

HRH Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman announces multi-country, multi-stakeholder

coalition  

- Sustainable Tourism Global Center will support millions of stakeholders,

including SMEs,  travelers, governments, academia, NGOs and the private sector

on the transition to net zero

The Saudi Arabian Government has launched the Sustainable Tourism Global Centre

(STGC), a multi-country, multi-stakeholder coalition that will accelerate the

tourism sector's transition to net zero emissions, as well as drive action to

protect nature and support communities.  

Launched today by HRH Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, the Sustainable Tourism

Global Center will support travelers, governments, and the private sector, to

ensure that tourism enables growth and creates jobs, while playing its part to

achieve the climate goals laid out in the Paris Agreement, including

contributing to keeping the world to under 1.5-degrees Celsius warming.  

With the global travel and tourism sector responsible for 8% of global

greenhouse gas emissions, Saudi Arabia has prioritized urgent action to support

this important sector in its transition to net zero.

The Global Center will be the platform to bring all the knowledge and

expertise; it aims to be the "north star" for the tourism sector as it recovers

from the COVID-19 pandemic and transitions toward a sustainable future.

Globally, tourism supports more than 330 million livelihoods – and

pre-pandemic, it was responsible for creating one in four new jobs globally.  

Details of this coalition and the services it will provide will be formally

announced during COP26.

HE Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia said: "The tourism

sector contributes to 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions – and this is

expected to grow if we don't act now. Tourism is also a highly fragmented

sector. 80% of businesses in tourism are small and medium sized enterprises who

rely on guidance and support from sector leadership. The sector must be part of

the solution.

Saudi Arabia, following the vision and leadership of His Royal Highness the

Crown Prince, is answering this vital call by working with partners - that

prioritize tourism, SMEs and climate - to create a multi-country,

multi-stakeholder coalition, that will lead, accelerate, and track the tourism

industry’s transition to net zero emissions.

"By working together and delivering a strong joint platform, the tourism sector

will have the support it needs. The STGC will facilitate growth while making

tourism better for the climate, nature, and communities."

HE Gloria Guevara, Chief Special Advisor to the Minister of Tourism said: "For

years and years, multiple players across the tourism sector have been working

on different initiatives to accelerate the race to zero – but we have been

working in silos. The impact of the global pandemic on the tourism sector

highlighted the vital importance of multi-country, multi-stakeholder

collaboration. And now, Saudi Arabia is stepping up to bring stakeholders

together to make tourism part of the solution to climate change."

Infographic -

https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1668358/Sustainable_Tourism_Infographic.jpg

Source: Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia