Ecology must be part of tourism planning, UN travel envoy says

The mainland needs to embed ecological issues into tourism development at the planning stage to ensure the industry plays its part in creating a 'green economy', the deputy head of the United Nations' travel body told the Boao Forum.

Geoffrey Lipman, assistant secretary general of the World Tourism Organisation, said yesterday tourism had tremendous potential to contribute to economic recovery, but would need to adapt to meet tough new restrictions on carbon emissions and other measures to tackle climate change.

'We have no option but to be there and be in the leadership,' he said. 'So far we have only scratched the surface. How many hotels use solar energy? How much transport uses renewable energy? How much infrastructure truly reflects green building standards?'

He said China had experienced a dramatic growth in tourism over the past decade, before which the industry was 'virtually non-existent'. It now has the world's largest domestic tourism market and is predicted to become the biggest market for inbound and outbound travellers by 2020.

Mr Lipman praised the government's proactive approach to planning the development of domestic travel and did 'not know of another country which has handled ... as well as China' the dramatic growth in tourism. But he added there was a need to take green measures to a higher level. 'I'm talking about issues like laying down forestry to offset carbon emissions,' he said. 'I think Hainan in particular has a lot of potential for that.'

National Tourism Administration director Shao Qiwei said the government was committed to improving environmental standards in the industry. He hoped Hainan could become a model for tourist development for other mainland resorts as it establishes itself as an international tourist destination.