Fiji Times, 18th June 2018
CHALLENGES faces by the Pacific region regarding sustainable tourism development and climate change will be at the forefront of discussions at a regional seminar currently underway in Nadi.
The UNWTO (World Tourism Organization) Commission for South Asia (29th CAP-CSA) and UNWTO Regional Seminar on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Tourism Development was opened this morning by Fiji’s Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism Faiyaz Koya.
Reiterating the need to engage and actively support sustainable tourism development in the Pacific region, Mr Koya said the regional seminar should come up with tangible outcomes and recommendations that could be taken up at other international forums.
“Tourism in Fiji and the Pacific is a vital contributor to the GDP and employs a large number of Pacific citizens. In Fiji’s case, the tourism sector contributes at least 30 percent to the GDP and employs 1 in 3 persons in the workforce,” Mr Koya said.
“And it is this very livelihood that is being adversely affected by climate change caused by unsustainable practices around the world.
“The Pacific region is the smallest contributors to global warming. However, we are the ones that are affected the most by climate change – raising sea level that not only affects sectors such as tourism but also affects arable land.”