Workshop on Promoting Sustainable, Inclusive Tourism

The UNWTO defines sustainable tourism as tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social, and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and host communities. Inclusive tourism ensures equal opportunities for all social groups among visitors and host communities. Despite growing awareness, with three in four tourists prioritizing environmental concerns, the sector contributes over 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 10% of global energy consumption (WEF, 2025). Therefore, efforts to enhance the awareness and implementation of sustainable tourism should be continued.

The APO has promoted sustainable tourism for decades under GP initiatives, exposing member economies to best practices and successful case studies. Among members, Nepal exemplifies tourism as a driver of sustainable, inclusive development. Sharing part of the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot, its tourism industry contributes 6.7% to GDP. The workshop will explore practical strategies for the tourism industry in APO member economies to become more sustainable and inclusive.

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