The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has taken significant strides towards achieving its vision of becoming a sustainable tourism destination. In collaboration with industry partners, DCT Abu Dhabi has unveiled a series of new initiatives to promote sustainability within the tourism sector and encourage adopting eco-friendly practices.

As a cornerstone of Abu Dhabi’s economic success, sustainability is crucial in enhancing residents’ and visitors’ quality of life. DCT Abu Dhabi recognizes the importance of incorporating sustainable practices in the tourism industry to protect the emirate’s resources, cultural assets, and environment for future generations.

DCT Abu Dhabi Cooperates with Industry Partners to Progress Sustainable Tourism

One key initiative DCT Abu Dhabi introduced is the launch of sector-specific Sustainable Tourism Guidelines. Announced at the prestigious Arabian Travel Market 2023, these guidelines provide valuable resources and recommendations for stakeholders across various sectors of the tourism industry. From culture and heritage sites to hotels, travel agents, and tour operators, the guidelines aim to increase awareness and knowledge about sustainable practices while encouraging their implementation.

To tackle the issue of carbon emissions, DCT Abu Dhabi is developing a groundbreaking Carbon Calculator. This tool will estimate the carbon footprint baseline of all hotels in the emirate, enabling DCT to establish a comprehensive industry benchmark for carbon emissions. By analyzing sources of carbon emissions, DCT Abu Dhabi will be able to identify the most sustainable hotels while also providing support and guidance to those with room for improvement. The data collected will also serve as a basis for setting reduction targets, fostering progress and creating a more sustainable future for tourism in Abu Dhabi.

Furthermore, DCT Abu Dhabi is facilitating an energy-saving audit for all hotels in the emirate. Through this initiative, the department aims to identify effective energy-saving solutions that will positively impact the environment. The audit findings will provide hotels with personalized recommendations to reduce their carbon footprint and optimize energy consumption.

H.E. Saeed Ali Obaid Al Fazari, Executive Director, Strategy Sector at DCT Abu Dhabi, emphasized the significance of these initiatives in achieving a sustainable future. He stated, “By collaborating with our hospitality and event partners, we can pave the way for a more sustainable future. As we mark the Year of Sustainability, we are proud to launch these initiatives that reflect our commitment to protecting Abu Dhabi’s resources, cultural assets, and environment for future generations. Through these efforts, we aim to ensure that people can continue to experience the emirate’s unique cultural and tourism offerings for years to come.”

DCT Abu Dhabi’s sustainability framework for the tourism industry aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s Vision for 2030. This framework provides a clear roadmap for travel agents, tour operators, and other entities to achieve a more sustainable and inclusive business, addressing global travellers’ concerns about the environment and their interest in sustainable travel.

As the world looks ahead to the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai this November, DCT Abu Dhabi aims to share the progress and findings of both the Carbon Calculator and the hotel audit initiatives. These initiatives contribute to the local tourism industry and serve as inspiration and examples for the global tourism community.

For more information and to download the Sustainable Tourism Guidelines, please visit the official DCT Abu Dhabi website: www.dctabudhabi.ae.

Written by: Stephen Morton

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