TBM Staff - Mumbai The Nature Positive Tourism Partnership (NPTP), formed by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the World Tourism Organisation (UN Tourism), and the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, is set to address COP16 in Cali, Colombia. This summit aims to drive global efforts to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 through collaborations with key players in tourism, hospitality, and government. Launched at COP15, the NPTP calls on governments to work strategically with the Travel & Tourism sector to achieve the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) targets.
At a side event, supported by Colombia’s Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism, the NPTP presented successful initiatives and policies where tourism contributes to biodiversity conservation. This session highlighted efforts from private sector leaders, aiming to inspire net positive commitments across the industry. The NPTP underscored tourism’s role as an agent of positive change in biodiversity efforts, showcasing examples of the sector’s active conservation contributions.
The NPTP also plans to participate in COP16’s final plenary, urging broader recognition of tourism’s role in achieving GBF goals. The partnership emphasises the importance of public-private initiatives, which are essential for advancing nature-positive policies and a sustainable tourism industry. Prominent industry voices, such as Iberostar’s Gloria Fluxà and WTTC President Julia Simpson, are set to highlight the sector’s crucial role in biodiversity conservation.
WTTC’s Julia Simpson stressed the urgency of the NPTP’s mission, pointing to tourism’s reliance on nature and its potential for inspiring environmental stewardship. Similarly, UN Tourism SG Zurab Pololikashvili described tourism’s “catalytic abilities” in generating positive ecological change, while Glenn Mandziuk of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance emphasised the need for sharing global best practices.
Through its actions at COP16, the NPTP aims to position the tourism sector as a leader in biodiversity conservation, fostering policies and partnerships that advance sustainable travel and preserve nature for future generations.
