ABTA is supporting the UN Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, which launched in Madrid this week.

ABTA is a member of the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organisation) Steering Committee, which is guiding and supporting the implementation of the International Year.

The UN Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development launched in Madrid at the Spanish Tourism Fair, FITUR. According to the UN, ‘well-designed and well-managed tourism’ can contribute to sustainable development, to job creation, to trade and to fostering better understanding amongst different cultures.

As part of the steering committee, ABTA will help shape the UNWTO Flagship Report “Tourism for Development”, which will explore the current and potential contribution of tourism towards development. Additionally, ABTA will be encouraging its Members and Partners to engage with its sustainable tourism programmes making tourism better for the environment, better for local places and better for local economies, all of which will ultimately benefit tourism’s long-term viability and profitability.

Nikki White, ABTA Director of Destinations and Sustainability, commented: “We are delighted to be supporting the UN Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. It is fantastic that the UN has put sustainable tourism right at the heart of the agenda. Tourism can be a powerful force for good and we look forward to working with our Members and the industry throughout this year and beyond. I would encourage all ABTA Members to visit our Better Places pages and drive their sustainability strategy forward.”