Travel and Tourism
Travel and tourism has a central role to play in the transition to a nature-positive world – as a growing sector, and as an agent of positive change in making sure both nature and local economies thrive. The sector currently provides 1 in 11 jobs globally and contributes more than 9% of the world’s GDP with international tourism revenue reaching $1 trillion in 2022. Beyond driving global economic growth and development, the sector often galvanizes governments to better protect their cultural and natural heritage.
The sector is intrinsically linked to nature. More than 80% of the value of its goods and services are dependent on nature’s resources and ecosystems. Exploration of nature accounts for over half of all tours, with nature-based tourism growing in popularity and predicted to generate $665 billion by 2030.
The sector actions serve as a guide to transform business practices and value chains and ensure the travel and tourism sector plays its part in halting and reversing nature loss by 2030 – the mission at the heart of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
The overview and report were led by ANIMONDIAL with the endorsement of the World Travel & Tourism Council and the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance.
Scroll down to access additional resources, including the sector overview in Spanish.
Impacts on nature
Travel and tourism companies should direct their efforts towards addressing the most significant impacts on nature in their operations and value chains, namely:
Land and sea use change
Ecosystem disturbance and wildlife exploitation
Natural resources use
Greenhouse gas emissions
Pollution
Invasive alien species
Dependencies on nature
The travel and tourism sector is dependent on a number of ecosystem assets, flows and services to function and grow. Businesses rely heavily on:
Terrestrial and marine ecosystems
Freshwater
Natural resources
Energy
Climate regulation
