Opportunities and challenges of a large migration

The tourism industry represents one of the main sectors in the global economy, often referred to as the world’s largest single industry. Harnessing the opportunities and dealing with the challenges of the largest ongoing migration of people in history is of utmost importance, and is particularly significant for developing countries. Tourism development and biodiversity are intrinsically linked. Although the relationship is complex, it is guided today by two trends, both of particular interest to the CBD:

Tourism has a large and growing environmental footprint…

Tourism’s footprint can be significantly reduced by cleaner production and sustainable consumption patterns. If planned and managed properly, tourism development can be one of the least impacting economic activities associated with the use of biological resources and related ecosystem services, while directly benefiting the people and communities who become stewards and custodians of biodiversity.

… biodiversity is a vital asset to the tourism industry.

Travelers, tourism operators, investors and professionals all have an inherent interest in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity resources; it is, after all, one of the industry’s main assets. Sustainable planning and management are in the industry’s long-term interest. In fact, not only can tourism directly help finance the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, but it has also proven to be one of the most effective public awareness raising tools for environmental protection.

The Secretariat’s tourism activities provide bridges and links between various thematic programmes to ultimately facilitate the implementation of the Convention. These programmes, such as island biodiversity, marine and coastal biodiversity, forests, and invasive species, are crucial to a complementary approach to tourism issues.

"The powerful forces that shape the essence of tourism, including the human urge to see and experience the natural world, must continue to be harnessed to support the achievement of the goals of the Convention".

Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity (2007)