The travel industry’s commitment to fighting climate change will be reinforced at a major conference next week.
The message came from the Global Travel Association Coalition (GTAC) ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP 21, in Paris.
Speaking as chairman of GTAC, David Scowsill, president and chief executive of the World Travel & Tourism Council, said: “The travel and tourism sector expresses its hope for a successful outcome to the talks in Paris and reiterates that our organisations, working together as the Global Travel Association Coalition, are committed to make a meaningful and long term contribution to fighting climate change.
“Travel and tourism contributes nearly 10% of the world’s GDP and supports one in 11 of all jobs on the planet.
“Over one billion people cross international borders each year, a number expected to reach 1.8 billion by 2030.
“This growth will bring about enormous social and economic development across the world, particularly for least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing states.
“We have a serious responsibility to ensure that we decouple the growth of the sector from its impact on our environment to ensure that tourism can continue to contribute to socio-economic inclusiveness and development in the long term.”