UN Tourism, in collaboration with the University of Oxford’s SDG Impact Lab, has developed an ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Framework tailored for tourism businesses. This initiative seeks to provide enterprises within the sector with the tools needed to consistently measure and report on their sustainability efforts. In a significant development, UN Tourism has now partnered with the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance to test, refine, and promote the use of this framework.
The partnership comes at a time when tourism businesses are under increasing scrutiny to disclose their ESG practices and impacts. The ESG Framework, rooted in the Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism (SF-MST) and endorsed by all 193 UN Member States, aims to align data from both private and public sectors more effectively.
Zoritsa Urosevic, Executive Director of UN Tourism, expressed confidence in the transformative potential of the new framework. “The ESG Framework for Tourism Businesses is set to transform the tourism sector by establishing harmonised and essential standards for companies to assess and report their sustainability efforts,” she said. “The collaboration between UN Tourism and the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance highlights how commitment and strategic partnerships can drive alignment and significant progress in ESG.”
“Collaborating with UN Tourism on the development of a harmonised ESG Framework represents a significant milestone for the global tourism industry,” similarly remarked Glenn Mandziuk, CEO of the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance. “This partnership not only underscores our commitment to sustainability but also highlights the collective power of our industry to drive meaningful change. By establishing standardised metrics and fostering greater alignment between the private and public sectors, we are paving the way for a more sustainable and resilient future for tourism worldwide.”
In parallel, the Alliance’s Net Positive Hospitality Pathway and Framework seeks to standardise key performance indicators (KPIs) and streamline reporting processes within the hospitality industry, further enhancing sustainability efforts across the board. This collaborative effort is set to pave the way for a more sustainable and resilient future in the tourism sector, providing businesses with the necessary tools and guidance to navigate the increasingly complex ESG landscape.
Photo by UN Tourism
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