Nature-Positive Tourism: How local leadership can balance conservation and economic growth

Nature-based tourism, which accounts for over 50% of the tourism market, generates more than $600 billion annually, with wildlife tourism alone contributing $343 billion and supporting 21.8 million jobs globally (World Travel and Tourism Council). This tourism model provides essential resources for conservation efforts and protected areas, having the potential to drive sustainable development, empower local communities, and improve natural resource governance. To create a more sustainable and resilient sector, the travel industry must embrace a "Nature Positive" approach. This involves halting and reversing the damage to ecosystems, minimizing current negative impacts, and actively working to restore nature. By doing so, the tourism sector can generate a net positive impact on biodiversity.

How can cities take a nature positive approach when it comes to tourism? What aspects need to be considered while planning for this by local governments? How can we align the environmental benefits of nature conservation and economic benefits of tourism? 

This webinar shared valuable insights from global experts and cities in Asia.

Time: 9:00-10:00 CEST / 12:30-13:30 IST / 14:00-15:00 WIB / 15:00-16:00 CST  

Speakers​​​​​ included:

• Ingrid Coetzee, Director: Biodiversity, Nature and Health, ICLEI Africa (moderator)
• Wang Guilin, Director of the Ecological Education Department of Zhejiang Hangzhou Bay National Wetland Park, Ningbo City 
• David Tambunan, Tourism Agency of Bitung, Indonesia 
• Rebecca Whitehead, Sustainability Manager, World Travel and Tourism Council
• Dr. Thiago Beraldo Souza, Co-Chair of IUCN/WCPA Tourism and Protected Areas Specialist Group (TAPAS Group) 
• Svitlana Mikhalyeva, Coordinator One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme, UNEP 

This webinar was delivered with simultaneous interpretation in English, Mandarin Chinese and Bahasa Indonesia. The recordings are available in all three languages.