TOURISM & NATURE

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN TOURISM & NATURE IS HARD TO OVERSTATE

Travel & Tourism is one of only six economic sectors with more than 80% of the value of its goods and services highly dependent on nature1. Over 50% of its market share is driven by nature tourism, which is predicted to generate US$ 665 billion a year by 20302,3. Wildlife tourism – a component of nature tourism – contributes millions of dollars a year to protected areas: capturing value for wildlife, strengthening conservation efforts and encouraging local environmental stewardship. For every dollar spent on protected areas and nature-based tourism, the rate of return is at least six times the original investment4,5.

DEPENDENCIES ON NATURE

Like many sectors, Travel & Tourism depends on nature in many ways, direct and indirect6. In particular, the sector relies heavily on:

  • Ecosystems and wildlife: Tourism demands intact ecosystems such as savannahs, forests, coral reefs, and countless other natural landscapes and attractions. 
  • Freshwater: Used directly in cleaning, cooking and hospitality, and swimming pools, and indirectly in the production of materials and products as well as for growing tourists’ food. 
  • Natural resources: Travel & Tourism relies on many natural materials, ranging from the paper used in brochures to the concrete and metals vital for building hotels. 
  • Energy: Travel & Tourism uses fuel in many ways including air, road, rail and marine travel. Also, the fuel needs of accommodation, including heating, cooling and lighting. 
  • Climate regulation: A stable climate is critical for Travel & Tourism, both for attracting visitors and avoiding travel disruption.

BIODIVERSITY LOSS

Biodiversity refers to the variety of living things on Earth, including plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi. It is fundamental to the stability and resilience of ecosystems, which ensure our fresh air, clean water, food and security, as well as the uniqueness it provides global destinations. Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse is considered one of the top threats humanity will face in the next ten years7,8.

Destruction and degradation of natural habitats, overexploitation of wildlife and natural resources and global warming are driving these declines.

IMPACTS ON NATURE

  • Land and sea use change: Hotels, resorts, marinas and roads may disturb land and coastal ecosystems, leading to habitat fragmentation and degradation and biodiversity loss.
  • Depletion of nature: tourism can harm animals and plants, and degrade natural habitats. Intense hunting and fishing, either for eating, souvenirs or entertainment, leads to species loss. 
  • Intensive use of materials: The sector has a significant material footprint, accounting for between 5% and 8% of global extraction. Its water footprint is equivalent to 5.8% of global freshwater use. 
  • Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions: The sector is responsible for 8.1% of global GHG emissions, largely the result of transport, which accounts for 5% of total global emissions. Energy consumption in accommodation is also a significant factor9.
  • Pollution: Tourism produces many forms of pollution, including pesticides, waste, noise and light – all of which harm natural habitats and wildlife. 
  • Invasive alien species: Introducing non-native species, intentionally or otherwise, disrupts ecosystems and causes biodiversity loss, often with substantial economic repercussions.
“Efforts by tourism businesses to mitigate impacts on nature tend to focus on high-profile issues like climate change and single-use plastics. But this approach often overlooks critical impacts – from water and land use to pollution to unsustainable consumption. Every business will have different impacts, and different opportunities to mitigate and compensate for them. Understanding individual impacts and opportunities is at the heart of the Nature Positive Tourism approach.”
– Daniel Turner, Director of ANIMONDIAL

NATURE POSITIVE TOURISM

Nature Positive Tourism Partnership Press Conference at COP15 – c. ANIMONDIAL

At the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 15), the Travel & Tourism sector was singled out for its ability to lead a wider transition to a nature positive world. Soon after, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) and the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (the Alliance) established the Nature Positive Tourism Partnership to help the sector meet its obligations under the UN Biodiversity Plan10.

The “Nature Positive Tourism” approach,11,12 devised in collaboration with ANIMONDIAL, sets out a four-phase framework to guide sector transformation by integrating biodiversity values, minimising harms on nature and investing in nature restoration in destinations.

Given the many ways tourism depends on the natural world, it is undeniable that Nature Positive Tourism is not only a moral imperative but a commercial one. When nature suffers, so does tourism. Looking ahead, mutual dependency must evolve into mutual support and care. If this is not ensured, the planet, society and tourism will suffer.

TRANSFORM TOURISM BY TRAVELLING RESPONSIBLY

The Nature Positive Tourism Partnership is focused on inspiring a global movement towards more sustainable and resilient tourism. It aims to harness the potential of Nature Positive Tourism, and to innovate, expand and deepen sector contributions to nature, to ensure that Travel & Tourism remains a driving force for conservation.

ANIMONDIAL is also determined in advancing the Nature Positive Tourism Initiative and to guide travel & tourism towards a nature positive future through identifying opportunities within destinations and at a global scale. Through a collaboration with the IUCN WCPA Tourism and Protected Areas Specialist Group (TAPAS Group), and other leaders in conservation, opportunities are being explored in how tourism can actively contribute to biodiversity conservation and help to enhance and support protected areas.

Viewing elephants in Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka c. ANIMONDIAL

1 World Economic Forum. “Nature Risk Rising: Why the Crisis Engulfing Nature Matters for Business and the Economy” New Nature Economy series (2020). January 9, 2022. weforum.org

2 World Travel and Tourism Council. “The Economic Impact of Global Wildlife Tourism. The World Travel & Tourism” (2019). Accessed January 11, 2022. wttc.org

3 Grand View Research. “Ecotourism Market Size, Share & Growth 2022-2030” (2020). grandviewresearch.com

4 Inter-American Development Bank. “Fostering Sustainable Tourism Across Latin America and the Caribbean”.

5 World Bank. “Banking on Protected Areas: Promoting sustainable nature-based tourism to benefit local communities” (2021).

Business for Nature & ANIMONDIAL. “Travel and Tourism” (2023). businessfornature.org

7 World Economic Forum. “The Global Risks Report 2024. 19th Edition” (2024). Accessed in July 31, 2024.

8 IUCN. “IUCN Red List of Threatened Species” Version 2021-3 (2021). Accessed July 31, 2024. iucnredlist.org

9 World Travel & Tourism Council. “Environmental Impact of Travel & Tourism” (2023). researchhub.wttc.org

10 UN Convention on Biological Diversity. “Biodiversity Plan for Life on Earth” (2022).

11 ANIMONDIAL & World Travel & Tourism Council. “Nature Positive Travel & Tourism” (2022).

12 ANIMONDIALl & the Nature Positive Tourism Partnership. “Nature Positive Travel & Tourism in Action” (2024). sustainablehospitalityalliance.org

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