Iberostar Group outlined a five-point roadmap for marine and coastal ecosystem recovery at all destinations where it operates at the 2022 United Nations Ocean Conference in Lisbon. The Coastal Health Roadmap, which is part of the company’s 2030 Agenda, is based on strengthening tourism and showing how the private sector can help speed up the recovery of these ecosystems by generating local income.
The five objectives are:
- Iberostar will invest in blue carbon to help the meet its carbon neutrality goal by 2030.
- Take advantage of natural ecosystems’ potential and implement nature-based solutions to reduce risk from climate impacts
- Work to regenerate and improve coastal and marine tourism products, namely beaches and water
- Go green at all Iberostar hotels
- Foster equitable tourism by promoting community-based tourism and alternative livelihoods
Speaking at the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy at the conference, Gloria Fluxa, Iberostar’s vice chairman and chief sustainability officer, said that “the health of the ocean and coasts is intrinsic to any coastal or ocean-based tourism. People travel to enjoy the beach, the ocean and the experiences they can have there. Tourism needs to move forward with respect for local residents and present itself as an opportunity for their communities to generate income.”
Through environmental initiatives like Waves of Change, Iberostar has established itself as a leader in responsible tourism. Programs already in place to help the company achieve its environmental goals include: implementing projects aimed at protecting coral reefs, mangroves, dunes and seagrasses where it operates; collaborating with local stakeholders; taking steps to mitigate the effects of climate change; capturing 500,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions; raising awareness among travelers of the importance of healthy beaches through various initiatives; and making sure that green areas constitute at least 25 percent of all space at its hotels.
Iberostar became the first global hotel chain in the world to go plastic free in 2020, and plans to become waste-free by 2025 and carbon neutral by 2030.
For more information, visit iberostar.com.
