Flanders Region Kick off Event 2017 IYSTD
24/02/2017

Flanders Region Kick off Event 2017 IYSTD

"Take the opportunity of 2017 IYSTD, we do not know when we will have another international year on tourism!”  Marvio Favilla, Executive Director UNWTO

The Kick off Event on the 2017 IYSTD organized by the Region of Flanders aimed at discussing and exchanging on the Sustainable Tourism contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The 17 SDGs are framed under the Agenda 2030 of the United Nations and fall under the 5Ps: People, Planet, Profit, Peace and Partnership.

Local examples representing part of the tourism value chain showcased how sustainability is approached and developed within their organization. Innovative initiatives towards tourism were explained:

  • Bike to work challenge
  • 40 days without meat challenge
  • Own veggie garden
  • Calculation of the enterprise and workers CO2 footprint
  • Training staff on sustainability

A workshop session composed by 5 roundtables representing each of them one of the 5Ps took place, as to foster a discussion between the participants on how the organisations contribute to the SDGs, what are the barriers, what are the future actions to follow

The Nearly Zero Energy Hotels - neZEH EU Project - was named by Mr. Favilla as an example to reach resource efficiency and energy efficiency within tourism.