Side event to the United Nations Ocean Conference, organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), taking place in Lisbon, at Altice Arena, on June 29th.
Tourism is the largest sector of ocean-based industries, accounting for around 40% of their total export value. Coastal and maritime tourism plays an important role, regarding the economic prosperity of island and coastal communities, bringing employment, investment and income. In addition to the benefits of tourism development, there are also challenges such as loss of biodiversity, pollution and the use of resources.
At the heart of the blue economy there is a decoupling between socio-economic development and the impacts on environment. This side event aims to analyze sustainable consumption and production as a key strategy to accelerate the action of ocean tourism. Policymakers and businesses have the opportunity to share knowledge, policies, strategies and solutions to accelerate tourism's contribution to a more circular and regenerative blue economy.
// Agenda
Opening
_ Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
_ Antonio Costa Silva, Minister of Economy and Maritime Affairs, Portugal
_ Najib Balala, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism & Wildlife, Kenya
Keynote speaker
_ Susan Gardner, Ecosystem Division Director, UN Environment Program (UNEP)
Round table
_ Moderated by: Zoritsa Urosevic, UNWTO Executive Director
Panel
_ Faiyaz Koya, Minister of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport of Fiji
_ Najib Balala, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism & Wildlife, Kenya
_ Luis Araujo, President, Turismo de Portugal
_ Catherine Haswell, UN Resident Coordinator, Maldives
_ Gloria Fluxá, CSO, Iberostar Group
_ Frédéric Dégret, CEO, NOAH Regen
_ Graeme Jackson, Head of Partnerships, Travel Foundation
