Dubai: To cut carbon emissions produced by the tourism sector, Dubai Tourism is enlisting the expertise of four major entities to help the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Initiative (DSTI) to green the environment.
Announced on Sunday, Dubai Tourism said it has signed agreements with Etihad ESCO, Dubai Carbon, Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) and Emirates Wildlife Society-WWF to “significantly reduce the carbon footprint”.
Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) said the new iniative is designed not only to help decarbonise the emirate but to position Dubai as one of the world’s leading sustainable tourism destinations.
The agreements allow each partner entity to impart their specialised skills, expertise and technical know-how into the tourism and hospitality sector.
As part of the DSTI roadmap mandate, various training workshops will be run for the benefit of hotels to enhance the sustainability management methods by sharing best practices with all stakeholders in the tourism industry.
Ahmad Khalifa Al Falasi, CEO, Corporate Services and Investments, Dubai Tourism, said, “Dubai Tourism is proud to have pioneered this local initiative to encourage our stakeholders in the hospitality sector to contribute towards environmental sustainability and, ultimately, a flourishing green economy that will help ensure a healthy emirate for future generations.”
Waleed Salman, chairman of Dubai Carbon, said: “In line with the DSTI, Dubai Carbon’s green assessment tool will allow government entities and businesses to track their operational efficiency, especially in the tourism and hospitality sector, thus ensuring that Dubai’s tourism sector remains not just green but, more importantly, sustainable.”
Ali Al Jasem, CEO, Etihad ESCO, said: “Etihad ESCO has developed vast expertise helping its clients save energy in their buildings ... we are pleased and excited to be able to contribute to the initiative by helping Dubai hotels save electricity and water to make them more sustainable and efficient.”
Habiba Al Marashi, chairperson, Emirates Environmental Group, said: “We are delighted with this collaboration with the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing on Dubai’s Sustainable Tourism Initiative to help strengthen the sustainability agenda in the tourism sector within Dubai.”
Laila Abdul Latif, deputy director-general, EWS-WWF, said: “The Dubai Sustainable Tourism Initiative is a good example of how public-private partnerships can unite to progress the sustainability agenda in the UAE and deliver tangible results within a key sector.”
