Enabling instruments to create Circular Economy opportunities in the Tourism Sector — SwitchMed

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Enabling instruments to create Circular Economy opportunities in the Tourism Sector

 

Could challenges overcome by pilot policy projects show the way forward for the whole region?

 

This session, organised by SCP/RAC, aimed to capitalise the efforts made at the country level with the development of pilot projects supported by SwitchMed programme in Tunisia, Jordan and Palestine and to share the experiences with other countries. Particularly, the projects aimed to reveal main challenges they have faced during the implementation and suggest further enabling policy conditions to guarantee a more sustainable tourism in the region.

The session focussed both upon promotion of nature-based tourism and improving environmental performance of businesses. Participants reflected about the improvement needed in the policy framework to further support the development of sustainable and eco-tourism in the Mediterranean region.

 

Can policy conditions guarantee a more sustainable tourism in the region?

 

The session was opened by the moderators Lucille Guiheneuf, Communication Manager of SCP/RAC and Annette Harzbecher, Green Economy Consultant. The moderators gave a short presentation of the speakers, presented the main objective of the session and gave an overall view on Ecotourism in the Region.

 

Next, the floor was given to the speakers who presented policy pilot projects:

 

  • Ms. Noor Esoh, Solid Waste Management Expert, presented the project: “Solid waste management in hotel industry in the city of Aqabaâ€?

In the tourism sector, five and four-star hotels in the city of Aqaba institutionalized solid waste management concepts and practices to reduce the amounts of waste generated while adopting sustainable solid waste management practices, and to build the capacity of the relevant hotel staff.

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“When a government tries to steer hotels towards sustainability, they must introduce strict regulations. But regulations alone will not achieve expected results; they must be accompanied by incentives to encourage industry to be creative and economical in complying with new regulatory requirements�, Noor Esoh

 

The pilot project from Jordan has suggested some specific recommendations that included, among others, sorting the solid waste at source, introducing a waste recording system, focusing on organic waste and enhancing regulations, as the current regulatory framework that governs the solid waste management fees for the hotels doesn’t promote waste reduction. 

 

-       Mr. Skander Zeribi  presented the project “Circular Economy adapted to the needs and characteristics of an eco-tourism lodge in Tunisia�.

 

The project has advised the eco-lodge Dar Zaghouan in terms of reducing waste/water/energy footprint in their newly built eco-chalet, which is now in the process of applying for the Green Key Eco-label. Promoted nationally as a model for circular economy, it was the venue of the final National Workshop on Ecotourism with more than 50 relevant stakeholders active in the sector.

 

 

-       Mr. Aymen Louhichi, Co-founder of Tunisia Ecotourism presented the pilot projects: “Promoting Eco-trails and Consolidation of the commercial model and development of the capacities of an ecotourism operator in Tunisia�

 

The business’s capacity of this company was built in developing new innovative eco-tours and building partnerships in Europe. As a result, 5 new innovative eco-tours were created, 24 new green jobs are maintained (16 women, 8 men), 2 eco-tours already being sold in France and an online platform has been created for the sale of traditional art and craft.

 

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From left to right: Mr. Nabil Hamdi, Mr. Skander Zeribi and Mr. Robert Hamwey

 

-       Imadeddin Al-Baba, Environment Quality Authority Palestine presented “Promoting the concept of eco-tourism in Palestine� project that resulted in the (i) development of an Eco-trail/sites methodology and guidelines with various coordination meetings held and (ii) report on assessment/shortlist of existing trails/sites based on new methodology /guidelines and the rehabilitation of 5 pilot trails which is ongoing.

 

As summary, the wrapping- up of the main challenges and their solutions was conducted by Ms. Lucille Guiheneuf and all the above-mentioned speakers.

 

In the second part of the session Mr. Nabil Hamdi, Programme Director from the Ministry of Local Affairs and the Environment of Tunisia presented the case of the Tunisian SCP NAP – Policy priorities to further promote sustainable tourism in Tunisia, followed by Mr. Robert Hamwey, Senior Economic Affairs Officer at UNCTAD who spoke about UNCTAD’s experience related sustainable development and ecotourism in Jordan.

 

“Ecotourism provides a unique opportunity to export, not only the ecotourism product, but a range of services including financial, communications, transportation and recreational services. Moreover, tourists buy things to take home, so many local producers of artisanal food, clothing and home products can sell directly to tourists and this is the easiest way they can export their goods�, Robert Hamwey, UNCTAD

 

Finally, the moderators Lucille Guiheneuf and Annette Harzbecher concluded on the capitalisation workshop of the ecotourism projects of Tunisia.

 

You can see and download the presentations used in this session here. Â