ATM 2016
seminar session highlights benefits for travel and tourism related organisations in the region in adopting
international best practice standards; underlines DCTCM’s Green Tourism
Initiatives as emirate looks to lead pursuit environmentally
sustainable tourism
BSI, the
world-leading business standards company and respected international
certification body, provided a compelling case for organisations in the region to
adopt international best practice standards and certifications during an
interactive seminar session on day one of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2016, as Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce
Marketing (DCTCM) ups its focus on encouraging hotels and hotel apartments in
the Arabian Gulf to take part in green tourism initiatives and awareness
programmes.
The seminar, which took place under the theme ‘Environmental
and Organisational Sustainability Through Standards’, saw Omar Rashid, General
Manager, Training and Professional Services, BSI, draw on his extensive
experience to highlight effective ways for organisations to become more
sustainable and resilient by adopting standards.
Rashid raised a number of important points about how management
systems and the procedures and processes involved with implementation can lead
to improved efficiency and cost savings, as well as increased employee
engagement; and provide a tool for attracting the growing number of eco
tourists from around the world.
“Airlines
and hotels are becoming much more conscious about being environmentally
friendly,” he said. “This is being driven by the rise of the eco tourist and a
desire to cater to them by showcasing eco credentials, such as how you deal
with waste and how you recycle and manage your carbon footprint, for instance.
Customers are increasingly asking tour operators in the region, particularly in
Africa, how operators are complying to international standards.”
Rashid
ran through the various standards that can help organisations gain a
competitive edge, including Carbon Footprint Verification (CFV), ISO 50001
Energy Management System and ISO 20121 Sustainable Event Management, which was
inspired by the London 2012 Summer Olympics.
ISO
14001 Environmental Management (EMS) was also highlighted as one of the most
high profile international standards to adopt. “This is an effective management
tool to demonstrate how you have cut costs. It sets out the requirements for an
environmental management system, giving any company a competitive advantage,”
said Rashid.
“It
also lays the groundwork for compliance with future statutory and regulatory
requirements and inspires increased leadership involvement and employee
engagement. Benefits of those who have adopted this standard include a 57%
waste reduction, 52% increase in competitive edge and 53% reducing business
risk. It is applicable to any organisation of any size and can take from six to
12 months to implement, depending on the size of the organisation,” he added.
The focus on eco tourism mirrors
Dubai’s pursuit of environmentally sustainable tourism, which is in line with
the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice
President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
“Sustainable tourism is a
key theme at this year’s Arabian Travel Market,” said Nadege Noblet-Segers,
Exhibition Manager, Arabian Travel Market. “The BSI seminar provided a valuable
insight into the benefits of adopting these standards for those aspiring to be
more sustainable, to build resilience and attract a slice of this valuable
market.”
Major aims of DCTCM’s Green Tourism
Initiatives, which support Dubai’s vision, are to encourage the hotel sector to
be more conscious about the use of natural resources and energy conservation,
to implement systems that reduce the emissions of CO2, to spread environmental
awareness and social responsibility throughout the tourism sector and create a
statistical environmental model for hotels that illustrates the scale of energy
consumption and improvements.
For more information on Arabian Travel Market 2016,
please visit the website at www.arabiantravelmarket.com