Dubai Tourism steps up sustainability education efforts
As part of efforts to encourage companies outside the hospitality sector to play a role in promoting sustainable tourism in Dubai, Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) is taking its 'Hospitality Sustainability Board Game' to a wider segment within the private sector.
Hussain Hassan Mohamed Khansaheb, director, international cooperation department, Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, said: “The UAE aims to transform its national economy into a low-carbon green economy based on its development of knowledge and innovation. Carbon capture and storage technology adopted by the UAE is considered one of the most promising and important technologies in the field of carbon emission mitigation in industrial projects.”
“MOCCAE encourages innovative and technological initiatives in the environment and climate change sector that are in line with the global direction, urging private companies to adopt corporate social responsibility programs that aim at reducing carbon emissions,” he added.
The game is utilised as an educational tool and is a key component of the Dubai Sustainable Tourism (DST) initiative launched by Dubai Tourism to position the city as a world-class tourism destination by helping hotels in the emirate adopt more eco-friendly practices and efficiently manage resources. More than 300 industry professionals from 75 hotels have played the game so far during events organised by Dubai Tourism.
With the aim of encouraging other companies to contribute towards the success of DST, Dubai Tourism organised a game session in collaboration with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment at Sofitel Dubai The Palm Resort & Spa.
The event was attended by senior officials of the tourism development and investments department at Dubai Tourism including executive director, Yousuf Lootah and senior project manager, Solaiman Al Rifai, as well as Hussain Hassan Mohamed Khansaheb, director, international cooperation department, Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and Tanzeed Alam, climate and energy director, Emirates Wildlife Society-World Wildlife Fund.
In his presentation at the event, Al Rifai, tourism development and investments senior project manager at Dubai Tourism, gave an overview of DST, the mechanics of playing the game and also highlighted the ways in which the private sector could play an even more active role in supporting DST.
The workshop was attended by hotel industry professionals including those who had participated in the previous two game sessions, to help the new players obtain a better understanding of how their establishments could benefit through sustainable practices. The participants in the latest session represented companies in sectors including hospitality, travel, environment, real estate and property.
The game was developed jointly with Emirates Wildlife Society-WWF, one of four key partners of DST. The other three entities that are supporting DST are Etihad ESCO, Dubai Carbon and Emirates Environmental Group.