Saudi Tourism Minister Says We are Working on Ensuring Sustainable Practices to Protect Environment

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and the Sustainable Tourism Global Center (STGC) supported by the Ministry of Tourism released the latest industry-shaping Environmental Impact Research data.

The report was issued in collaboration between the two organizations during the WTTC Global Summit that took place in Riyadh last year to reveal positive results for the sector regarding preserving water, managing resources, and reducing emissions.

The initial report’s findings cover the sector’s greenhouse-gas emissions for the first time ever. This aims to accelerate the travel and tourism sector’s transition to climate neutrality and minimize waste of resources including water while protecting nature and supporting local communities.

“The Ministry of Tourism welcomes this joint report initiated by the ministry in partnership with the World Travel and Tourism Council with the aim of empowering and supporting the travel and tourism sector in adopting environmental solutions and supporting prosperity,” Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb said.

He also commended the efforts of the STGC as a comprehensive center for reliable research, contributing to overcoming the challenges faced by the travel and tourism sector and working towards enabling stakeholders in the sector to take actions aimed at transitioning to sustainable practices.

The report highlights the continuous reduction in emissions in the travel and tourism sector over the past decade in more than 185 countries around the world, the minister said.

Despite the sector’s average annual GDP growth rate of 4.3%, emissions have only grown by 2.5% annually between 2010 and 2019, the minister said, adding that this reflects the joint efforts towards achieving net-zero emissions in the sector.

Meanwhile, Al-Khateeb emphasized the continuous efforts of the Kingdom to offer various solutions to the travel and tourism sector.

“We firmly believe in the importance of the travel and tourism sector as part of the solution to achieving climate neutrality,” the minister said.

Hence, Saudi Arabia has played a “leading role in accelerating and monitoring this change to enhance sustainability across different sectors, protect nature, and support local communities,” he added.

WTTC President and CEO Julia Simpson said the research marks a “pivotal moment for the global travel and tourism sector,” highlighting the sector’s multi-dimensional impact — economically, environmentally, and societally toward a sustainable future.

“Through this data, we are not only thinking about where we stand now but also clearly charting our path towards gradually reducing the sector’s environmental harm and enhancing its social impact,” Simpson added.

Chief Special Advisor to the Minister of Tourism Gloria Guevara said this joint report is a “major milestone” for the global travel and tourism sector. “We are proud that Saudi Arabia has intensified its efforts to become an integral part of the solution,” she noted.

Guevara added that the Ministry of Tourism aims to be the leading global center for sustainable travel and tourism, supporting impact-driven research, stakeholder-focused services, and tangible end-to-end solutions for sector development.

She added that the growth in the tourism sector and reduction in its environmental impact shown by the research contribute to shaping the sector’s plans towards a carbon-neutral future.

WTTC Chairman Arnold Donald praised the report’s results, saying they align with the Kingdom’s work to promote the growth and sustainability of the travel and tourism sector.

The report also highlights the importance of collaboration in exploring different solutions to accelerate the sector’s transition to climate neutrality, he added.

The global research center launched in October by the STGC and supported by the Ministry of Tourism aims to ensure best practices to meet the needs of the entire sector.