Green Tourism has launched a partnership with Visit Belfast and Belfast City Council to help the local tourism sector recover from the challenges of Covid-19 and focus on sustainability.
The new partnership will see Belfast businesses given support to gain the global Green Tourism industry accreditation.
Speaking at the Sustainable Belfast launch event, Andrea Nicholas, chief executive of Green Tourism, said: “Belfast’s commitment to greening their tourism businesses and destination is very forward-thinking and at a level I have not experienced before. It is truly to be commended and hopefully an example to other destinations looking to put sustainability standards at the top of the agenda and at the same time support their local businesses as they build back better from the impact of Covid-19.”
Lord Mayor of Belfast, councillor Kate Nicholl (pictured, left) said: “Covid-19 has changed how we think and feel about the world around us and it provided us with renewed opportunity and commitment to rebuild Belfast in a different way. We know that we must all play our part – individually, collectively and across society. Regardless of industry or sector, we all bear responsibility for stopping and reversing the effects of climate change on our planet.”
Belfast City Council declared a climate change emergency in October 2019 and unveiled the city’s first Climate Plan last year.
Visit Belfast’s three-year recovery plan, Rebuilding City Tourism 2021-24, focuses on supporting sustainable tourism recovery while moving to a greener and “more inclusive” tourism model.
Gerry Lennon, chief executive of Visit Belfast (pictured, right) said: “Even before Covid-19, visitors and policymakers were taking a more critical look at tourism and its potential impacts. Tourists and visitors are more culturally and environmentally aware, more health-conscious, and want to seek out unique, indigenous and sharable experiences in destinations that demonstrate support for its people, place and planet.”
As part of the launch the launch of this new initiative, Visit Belfast has also announced that it has received a bronze accreditation from Green Tourism.
Lennon added: “We have a bold ambition – to have 50% of our tourism and hospitality businesses committed to going for a Green Tourism Award in the next 12 months, supporting a green recovery and positioning Belfast as a sustainable destination.”
