Educating the industry
For now, Al Muhairi says the biggest challenge in terms of tackling the issue of green tourism is educating the industry about why it is so important to be sustainable.

“We are aware that many people associate environmental responsibility with additional capital cost,” he says. “That is not always the case and through education, workshops and seminars we are gradually getting the message across.”

ADTA’s Tourism Standards department has been actively involved with hotel engineers to help in the roll out of their EHSMS, and Al Muhairi notes: “we have noticed a considerable shift in attitude from an initial skepticism to growing enthusiasm.”

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Al Muhairi hopes that the World Green Tourism event will be a major step towards influencing the integration of eco-tourism principles into the operations and policies of local tourism industry players.

“The event has huge synergies with the authority’s overall vision of becoming an outstanding, globally recognised and sustainable destination of distinction,” says Al Muhairi.

“The speaker line-up is really powerful and we will learn much from their experiences so I would urge all involved in the industry to attend.”

World Green Tourism Abu Dhabi
World Green Tourism Abu Dhabi will give tourism leaders a chance to gain insight into sustainability in the tourism sector and help translate that knowledge into positive business improvements.

Visitors will hear the opinions of sustainability leaders from around the world including Luigi Cabrini, director of sustainable development at the UNWTO and Bruce Poon Tip, founder of GAP Adventures.

Q&A : Event director, Rick Theobold
ATN: What is the aim of the event?
World Green Tourism Abu Dhabi will be the first dedicated eco-tourism event in the Middle East and is set to shape the future of sustainable tourism.

With an impressive line- up of speakers already confirmed it is shaping up to be a must-attend event for tourism leaders and investors seeking greater insights into sustainability.

The programme will also look at fundamental issues such as the importance of green design and the challenges of ‘greening’ existing tourism facilities.

ATN: Why are you holding it in Abu Dhabi ?
Choosing Abu Dhabi is due to its full commitment to sustainable tourism. ADTA is the headline sponsor and its chairman, His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, will deliver the opening address.

Sheikh Sultan said: “In Abu Dhabi we are building an industry to make a difference on a number of levels – economically, to our social fabric and to the preservation of our cultural heritage and natural assets – in short, we are working not just for immediate benefits, but for the future.”

He will set the tone for an event which we believe will have a tangible impact on the way tourism-related functions are managed in this region.

ATN: Who is on the line-up at the event?
A wide range of speakers from companies committed to sustainable tourism, including Arnfinn Oines, Six Senses Resorts and Spas; Gopinath Parayil, CEO, The Blue Yonder, India; Niels Eirik Nertun, director, Environment and Sustainability, SAS Group, and Stephen Ferrant, director, International Tourism Partnership.

ATN: Who should attend the event and why?
Sustainable tourism is the responsibility for everyone in the industry. The conference will bring together developers, owners, national and local government representatives, airlines, hoteliers, green tourism advocates and tour operators.

There will also be an exhibition which will showcase a wide range of products, services and technologies related to green travel and tourism and existing or planned developments and projects that contribute towards a more sustainable approach to travel and tourism.