UN Tourism and Croatia to work on sustainablity

UN Tourism is to work with the Government of Croatia and the University of Zagreb (above) to establish a research and development centre focused on sustainable tourism.

Croatia currently serves on UN Tourism’s Committee on Tourism and Sustainability, having chaired it between 2019 and 2023.

Alongside the Government’s record of promoting responsible and sustainable tourism practices, its support for UN Tourism’s core values make it the ideal location to host a collaborative platform to drive innovation and catalyse positive change in the tourism sector, the organisation said in a statement.
.
"Croatia leads by example in growing tourism in a sustainable manner," UN Tourism said.

"This landmark centre will engage stakeholders from the public and private sectors, academia, and civil society to will address some of the most critical challenges facing tourism, including reducing the environmental impact of tourism.

" The centre will prioritize initiatives to minimize waste generation and plastic usage, thereby mitigating the environmental footprint of tourism activities.

"By promoting the adoption of renewable energy sources and implementing energy-efficient practices, the centre aims to reduce carbon emissions associated with tourism operations".

Recognizing "the urgent need to address climate-related risks", the centre will support adaptation strategies to enhance the resilience of tourism destinations and communities.

"The centre will also work to safeguard the cultural heritage and livelihoods of local communities by promoting responsible tourism practices and equitable distribution of benefits and "through rigorous research and data analysis", the centre will provide policymakers with the evidence needed to formulate effective policies that balance tourism development with environmental and social considerations."

It will also serve as a hub for "cutting-edge research and knowledge exchange, delivering timely insights and best practices for the sustainable development of tourism".

In Zagreb, the Minister of Tourism and Sport of Croatia, Nikolina Brnjac, and UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create the research facility.

“Croatia leads by example in growing tourism in a sustainable manner," Pololikashvili said:. "The new research centre in Zagreb will contribute to UN Tourism’s commitment to data-driven policymaking at the regional, national and destination level, ensuring tourism grows responsibly and inclusively, for the benefit of communities everywhere.”

The University of Zagreb was founded in 1669 and is the oldest and biggest university in south-eastern Europe.