Croatia and UN Tourism Forge Path with New Travel Research Centre for Sustainable Tourism

Friday, April 12, 2024

UN Tourism & Croatia launch a Travel Research Centre to pioneer sustainable tourism, setting a global benchmark for innovative solutions.

Croatia has been a member of the UN Tourism’s Committee on Tourism and Sustainability since its leadership role from 2019 to 2023. Coupled with its governmental efforts to advocate for sustainable and responsible tourism, Croatia is poised as the perfect host for a new platform aimed at fostering innovation and spearheading transformative changes in the tourism industry.

This pioneering center will bring together various stakeholders—including representatives from government, industry, academic circles, and civil society—to tackle major challenges in tourism, such as:

1. Minimizing Environmental Impact: The center will focus on reducing waste and plastic use to lessen the ecological footprint of tourism activities.
2. Promoting Renewable Energy and Efficiency: It will encourage the use of renewable energy and the implementation of energy-saving measures to decrease tourism-related carbon emissions.
3. Enhancing Climate Change Resilience: The center will develop strategies to address climate risks and improve the resilience of tourist destinations and their communities.
4. Supporting Social Sustainability and Local Communities: Efforts will be made to protect cultural heritage and improve the livelihoods of local populations through fair and responsible tourism.
5. Advancing Evidence-Based Policymaking: By conducting thorough research and analysis, the center will equip policymakers with the necessary data to craft policies that thoughtfully balance tourism growth with environmental and societal needs.
6. Facilitating Cutting-Edge Research: As a hub for innovative research and information sharing, the center will offer up-to-date insights and best practices for the sustainable advancement of tourism.

In Zagreb, Croatia’s Minister of Tourism and Sport, Nikolina Brnjac, along with UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, formalized their collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding to establish this state-of-the-art research facility.

Welcoming the collaboration, Secretary-General Pololikashvili said: “Croatia leads by example in growing tourism in a sustainable manner. The new research centre in Zagreb will contribute to UN Tourism’s commitment to data-driven policymaking at the regional, national and destination level, ensuring tourism grows responsibly and inclusively, for the benefit of communities everywhere.”   

Minister of Tourism and Sport of Croatia Nikolina Brnjac adds: “I am proud that UN Tourism, the most relevant tourism organization globally, has recognized our efforts in Croatian tourism management reform and our strong commitment to sustainable tourism and put forward the initiative to create the first UN Tourism Centre for sustainable tourism in Croatia together with the Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Republic of Croatia. With the University of Zagreb as a partner in the establishment of this Centre, I am convinced that this Centre will be successful and provide very relevant research for future sustainable development of tourism.” 

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