THE Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) will be a strategic partner for the second edition of World Green Tourism Conference and Exhibition and will spotlight its major green tourism initiatives during the three-day event in Abu Dhabi, UAE, this month.
One of the key initiatives is the Green Tourism Award, which the government organisation launched in 2009 for the hospitality industry, with the objective of reducing hotel carbon emissions by 20 per cent.
The first year of the awards programme attracted 79 submissions, and included seminars and workshops attended by 450 delegates from the hospitality industry. Hotels that participated in the awards saved 10 per cent in electricity consumption and 17 per cent in water consumption, leading to significant savings in power and water bills. This year, 104 submissions have been submitted, with 570 delegates expected to attend the award ceremony and industry seminars. DTCM aims to reduce electricity consumption in hotels by 12 per cent and water consumption by 20 per cent.
Majid Al Marri, director of hotel classification and deputy chairman of the award, said: “Tourism is one of the most important industries in the UAE. The country has taken significant steps towards the improvement and protection of the environment with particular focus on biodiversity, renewable energy, water conservation, recycling and waste management.”
DTCM will also bring a high profile delegation to World Green Tourism, headed by Eyad Ali Abdul Rahman, executive director of media relations and business development at DTCM, who will participate in the Tourism Leaders Roundtable on DTCM’s role in positioning Dubai as a sustainable tourism destination.