“Tourism and Sustainable Transformation”
is the theme of this year’s World Tourism Day, reminding us that building a better future means changing the way we live, travel, and grow in smarter and fairer ways.
Sustainable transformation stands on four pillars that work together:
💡
Innovation
To bring creative solutions
🌤️
Climate Action
To protect our planet
📚
Education
To empower people to make better choices
⚖️
Governance
To ensure fairness and responsibility in managing progress
When these pillars come together, tourism becomes more than just visiting places—it turns into meaningful tourism, where every journey respects local communities, protects culture and nature, and creates authentic connections. This is the essence of sustainable tourism: meeting today’s needs while safeguarding opportunities for the generations to come.
This year, each of these pillars will be highlighted through inspiring initiatives led by public and private organisations across the Asia Pacific region and beyond. From climate action projects that preserve fragile ecosystems to governance models that strengthen cooperation, these examples show how transformation is already taking shape in tourism.
Governance
“Challenges, Achievements, Strategies”
Good governance provides the structure for lasting change. Through fair policies, transparent leadership, and strong cooperation between governments, businesses, and communities, governance turns sustainability from an idea into reality. It guides decisions, balances growth with responsibility, and ensures that transformation benefits both people and the planet.
The Macao Government Tourism Office reaffirms their city’s commitment to climate action through coordinated governance and policy alignment, in line with China’s goals of peaking carbon emissions by 2030 and reaching near-zero emissions in key sectors by 2050.
The Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan—published in 2017 and reviewed in 2021 and 2025—serves as a governance blueprint, embedding the UNSDGs and fostering cooperation between public and private stakeholders to build a low-carbon, sustainable destination.
Through measures such as the Macao Green Hotel Award and carbon offsetting for major events, sustainability standards are promoted across the industry, covering carbon reduction, energy efficiency, waste management, and pollution control.
Moving forward, Macao will continue to strengthen its governance role, advancing low-carbon tourism and embedding sustainable practices to ensure a tourism-friendly, eco-conscious city for all.
Sarawak Tourism Board:
“Youth empowerment, Resilience, Technology”
Governance in Sarawak means making sure growth is balanced with inclusivity, so that rural communities are not sidelined in tourism development. After COVID-19, the Sarawak Tourism Board took the opportunity to reset, reframe, and reposition the destination with the “Gateway to Borneo” campaign, focusing strongly on community-based tourism. Through the EDGE strategy to elevate communities, diversify markets, grow tourism, and empower stakeholders, Sarawak has created a more meaningful tourism economy.
Achievements such as empowering youth through the RAYS initiative show how voices of future leaders are being strengthened. Looking ahead, the strategy is to focus on resilience, preparing stakeholders to face global uncertainties, and using technology and international collaboration to build knowledge and capacity.
Education
“Training Youth, Raising Awareness, Knowledge-Sharing”
Education is the foundation of lasting change, and it fosters a new mindset in the tourism sector. It provides training to youth to be leaders in sustainable tourism in the future, raises awareness among tourists and local communities on responsible practices, and sets up systems of knowledge transfer among stakeholders in the sector. By placing emphasis on education, we ensure that every individual is aware of his or her responsibility to conserve the environment and uphold local cultures, fostering a culture of responsibility that turns awareness into action.
Airbnb: Capacity Building & Digital Skilling
Airbnb Entrepreneurship Academy
UNESCO and Airbnb Partnership in Bali
“Education is one of the main cornerstones of our work at Airbnb.
In 2017, we launched the Airbnb Entrepreneurship Academy, a program where we partner with local organisations around the world to develop tailored programs that help participants learn how to become tourism entrepreneurs. In total, we have partnered with over 50 organisations, hosted more than 100 Academies, and helped more than 4,500 participants in 12 countries around the world.
Accompanying that is a suite of tools and resources equipping hosts and guests with tips and guidance from cultural heritage to summer safety, helping power the kind of travel that communities need most.
And we’re only just getting started. We believe tourism should be a force for good, and aim to continue expanding the program to help communities around the world benefit from it.”
Stay Summer Safe campaign in Australia
– Mich Goh, Director of Public Policy, Asia Pacific, Airbnb
Aseer Development Authority:
Targeted Training & Strengthening Awareness
Al-Qatt Al-Aseeri
Rijal Heritage Village
“At ASDA, sustainability is at the heart of our mission to drive responsible tourism in Aseer. Through targeted training programs for our teams and partners across the tourism sector, we have built the capacity to adopt practical green initiatives and embed them into daily operations. These programs cover areas such as energy efficiency, waste reduction, and eco-friendly hospitality standards, ensuring that sustainability is not just a concept but a daily practice.
By aligning education with action, ASDA has positioned Aseer as the first region in Saudi Arabia to implement sustainable tourism initiatives, creating a model for others to follow. Our approach empowers local businesses, strengthens community awareness, and inspires visitors to become part of the solution. As we look ahead to World Tourism Day, we remain committed to advancing responsible tourism, fostering meaningful collaborations, and contributing to the region’s long-term growth and resilience.”
– Hatim Al-Harbi, Chief Of Tourism Sector (DMMO), Aseer Development Authority
Wise Steps Group: Hands-on Training for Quality Tourism
“Using the power of responsible tourism to transform the industry, the traveler’s mind, and local livelihoods, Wise Steps enhances local capacity through hands-on training and education, collaborating with government, communities, industry, and academia. Our programs focus on sustainability, quality tourism, and the circular economy. We are turning ideas into practical action.
We authored the BGCE (Blue-Green-Circular Economy) in Tourism guidance and run workshops with universities and training institutes. In partnership with InJourney, the biggest Tourism Ecosystem State-owned enterprise in Asia, we design community-focused capacity programs that reach hundreds of practitioners and local leaders. By combining engaging classroom sessions, games, discussions, and co-created action plans and case studies, we make learning translate into measurable and sustained outcomes for communities.
– Mochamad Nalendra, CEO & Founder, Wise Steps Consulting
Innovation
“Digital Solutions, New Business Models, Eco-Startups”
Innovation is the engine of sustainable transformation, providing the tools and technologies necessary to make sustainability a reality. It is more than just simple, quick fixes, encouraging innovative solutions that redefine how tourism operates. This involves embracing forward-thinking concepts and supporting new approaches that enhance efficiency and reduce environmental impact. Through encouraging an atmosphere where new ideas can flourish, innovation allows the industry to adapt, evolve, and build a more resilient future.
Candela: Hydrofoil Technology for Sustainable Marine Tourism
Candela P-12, the world’s first electric commuter vessel with long range at high-speed.
“At Candela, our purpose is clear: to speed up the transition to fossil fuel-free lakes and oceans. We are pioneering high-speed, zero-emission electric hydrofoiling boats and ferries that prove sustainable travel on water can be both efficient and enjoyable.
Our hydrofoil technology reduces energy consumption by up to 80% compared to conventional vessels, making long-range electric journeys viable for the first time. By eliminating noise, wake, and exhaust fumes, Candela vessels protect fragile marine ecosystems while creating cleaner, quieter waterways for communities and tourists alike.
For the tourism sector, this transformation is especially powerful. Visitors can experience pristine natural environments without contributing to their degradation, while operators gain a competitive edge through innovation and sustainability. (Read Candela’s Whitepaper for Phuket’s Intergration Project >)
Ultimately, Candela is more than a boat builder. We are shaping a new standard for waterborne mobility, showing how technology can drive systemic change and ensure tourism supports, rather than threatens, our planet.”
– Marcel Fuhrer, APAC Business Development Manager, Candela
Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB): Carbon Management for Eco-conscious Event Planning
Real-Time Carbon Footprint Tracking Dashboard
Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) is accelerating the country’s sustainable transformation in the MICE industry through a groundbreaking innovation: the Real-Time Carbon Emission Platform. Developed by AltoTech Global under TCEB’s MICE Winnovation program, this smart dashboard empowers event organizers to monitor carbon emissions from energy, food, packaging, and travel instantly. Piloted at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) and Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC), the platform marks a leap toward data-driven, eco-conscious event planning. The collected data provides insights that allow organizers to analyze, plan, and manage emissions with precision, marking a significant milestone towards achieving Carbon Neutral Events.
TCEB MICE Winnovation: Introducing Innovation for Sustainable Events
TRAFS-Asean Retail-Pub Bar
TCEB also complements this initiative with a Basic Carbon Avoidance Calculator for Events and carbon footprint calculator application, helping organizers estimate and reduce emissions. By championing real-time tracking, actionable insights and measurable results, TCEB is not just supporting events — it’s shaping a credible future for MICE industry where innovation is instrumental in achieving environmental responsibility.” (Learn more about TCEB’s MICE Winnovation program >)
– Supawan Teerarat, President, TCEB
Climate Action
“Renewable Energy, Resilience Projects, Approach”
Climate action is not just about protecting nature, it’s about transforming the way we grow. By cutting carbon emissions, reducing plastic waste, and safeguarding ecosystems, we create healthier environments where communities and tourism can thrive together.
Tourist Board of Sarajevo Canton:
Sustainable Mobility, Green Partnerships, Awareness & Education
“The Tourist Board of Sarajevo Canton recognizes that tourism must actively contribute to environmental protection and climate action. Our approach is based on three pillars:
Sustainable Mobility – We encourage visitors to use public transport, walking tours, and cycling routes, while also promoting eco-friendly transfer services to reduce carbon emissions.
Green Partnerships – We work closely with local stakeholders to support eco-certified accommodations, responsible tour operators, and community projects that preserve Sarajevo’s natural and cultural heritage.
Awareness & Education – Through campaigns and events, we inform both visitors and residents about responsible tourism practices, waste reduction, and energy efficiency.
Our long-term vision is to position Sarajevo as a climate-conscious destination, where every guest experience aligns with principles of sustainability, care for nature, and respect for future generations.”
Risklayer: Risk Analytics to Climate Resilience
Hotel Resilient Hazard Map
Risklayer Explorer
Tourism Resilience Dashboard
At Risklayer, our approach to climate action is grounded in science and focused on impact. We saw a gap: while climate risk data is abundant, practitioners were lacking the knowledge and tools to implement climate actions. Our mission is to transform analytics into actionable insights that empower businesses and communities to strengthen resilience. We begin with the tourism sector, where climate change and disasters pose increasing risks. We work with destinations, hotels, and tour operators to identify vulnerabilities and integrate risk reduction into operations and planning.
Through analytical dashboards, resilience assessments and training, we transform complex climate information into clear, practical strategies. Our Risklayer Explorer offers global disaster and climate risk analytics, while our Hotel Resilient platform offers practical tools for hoteliers and tour operators to implement resilience solutions. For us, climate action means more than reducing emissions. It’s about building adaptive systems that allow tourism and communities to thrive despite disruption, fostering a future that is safer, more sustainable, and resilient to climate change.
– Dr. Trevor Girard, Chief Resilience Officer, Risklayer
