Sustainable Tourism Working Group Eco-Certification in Hospitality Sector

Date: April 3, 2024

Time: 14:00 – 17:30 Bishkek (GMT+6), 09:00 – 12:30 CET

Hybrid: 

In person: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Hotel «Ambassador» (Orozbekov str., 32).

Online: please, follow the link to register for the event https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0pcu-tqD8sH9YwI7sIjdl_g6A0dQkhXvFe

Background

The tourism industry is ranked third in the world as to the height of its turnover. Not only has it become the most dynamically developing industry, but it is also one of the key factors in the development of regions. It appears to be an important contribution, especially for the development and employment in the regions where there is a lack of other economic activities. While growing, it is tasked with observing sustainability to preserve the environment and, by doing so, make tourist destinations more attractive. In this regard, sustainable tourism is seen as important through prioritizing actions to tackle plastic pollution and food waste, reduce its impact on the environment to better conserve and protect wildlife and landscapes, and promote nature's best solutions in textiles. Eco-certification is seen as instrumental in allowing environmentally sustainable practices by providers of tourist services.

Developing ecotourism service certification in Central Asia remains urgent nowadays. The study of available best practices gave significant impetus to the development of ecotourism service certification in the region as part of the desk assessment on unified eco-certification standards in the region. The desk assessment revealed the willingness of five Central Asian countries to pursue a unified concept of sustainable tourism for environmental and social performance based on equally accepted standards. Public authorities, hospitality sector companies, and local experts expressed a willingness to join efforts to introduce regional eco-certification standards both at the legislative and institutional levels that will become applicable in the whole region.  

The Working Group meeting will provide a platform for the representatives of government agencies, the hotel sector, small businesses, civil society, and international organizations to review the desk assessment recommendations and brainstorm on the course of action for introducing regional unified eco-certification standards. The activity is part of UNEP-supported sustainable tourism activities in Central Asia and the Caucasus, implemented by NGO “ESG Central Asia” in partnership with relevant Central Asian public authorities and private sector organizations.

The activity corresponds to the UNEP flagship initiatives of the 10YFP One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme and the Global Opportunities for Sustainable Development Goals (GO4SDGs).

Objectives

The main objective of the Working Group meeting is to present the main conclusions and results of the desk assessment, held with a focus on unified eco-certification standards in the region of Central Asia.

It is expected that the activity will lead to the elaboration of a joint vision on the next steps, needed to develop subregional requirements for sustainable tourism facilities and launch relevant policy development frameworks at the national level in five Central Asian countries.

Participants

Representatives of government agencies, hospitality sector organizations, including hotels and guest houses, as well as civil tourist organizations, society representatives from the Central Asian countries, and international organizations.