WCPA TAPAS Group at UN Tourism meeting in Costa Rica
The IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) Tourism and Protected Areas Specialist Group (TAPAS) participated in the 19th Meeting of the UN Tourism Committee on Tourism and Sustainability (CTS) in Costa Rica, held from January 9-11, 2024. TAPAS continues its efforts to enhance tourism’s role in biodiversity conservation, moving beyond minimizing negative impacts to fostering positive outcomes for nature.
The 19th Meeting of the Committee on Tourism and Sustainability (CTS) brought together ministers, international experts, and key stakeholders for rich discussions on advancing sustainable and resilient tourism development.
Enabling engagement between tourism and conservation
The participation of the IUCN WCPA Tourism and Protected Areas Specialist Group (TAPAS) as part of this gathering, aimed to promote dialogue between tourism professionals and conservationists, strengthening tourism’s contribution to biodiversity conservation and community resilience.
Thiago Beraldo, Chair of TAPAS, participated in a panel on Nature Positive Tourism, alongside Christopher Imbsen, Vice President of Research & Sustainability at the World Travel and Tourism Council, and Glenn Mandziuk, Director of Programmes at the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance. In this session, they discussed how sustainable tourism can achieve a net positive impact on biodiversity. The tourism and hospitality sectors are encouraged to not only halt but also reverse negative impacts on nature, fostering conditions where biodiversity can thrive.
By engaging in these high-level discussions, TAPAS has the opportunity to influence global tourism strategies, advocating for the integration of sustainability principles that support long-term conservation while promoting responsible tourism in protected areas.
This dialogue between tourism and conservation is crucial for building alliances that ensure sustainable tourism in protected areas, promoting biodiversity conservation and community resilience, said Thiago Beraldo.
About TAPAS
TAPAS mission is to provide a platform for protected area practitioners and others, where expertise and knowledge are shared, sustainability awareness is enhanced, collaboration and dialogue are facilitated, leadership is developed, and innovative solutions are fostered, in order to support the oversight of sustainable tourism in protected area systems.
Find more information about TAPAS Group here.