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Side event highlights how sustainable tourism empowers women in fragile ecosystems

18.03.2022

“Sustainable tourism in fragile mountain and island ecosystems can strengthen traditional food systems, build communities’ resilience, empower women and youth, and raise visitors’ awareness of local biodiversity,” said Rosalaura Romeo, Mountain Partnership Secretariat, during a side event at the 66th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW66).

The tourism sector is a major factor of economic growth in most Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and a major source of employment and income for the populations, in particular for women. As in other SIDS, the tourism industry in Palau is particularly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This was the focus of the CSW66 side event co-organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Mountain Partnership (MP) and Slow Food, who are working in Palau together with Sustainable Travel International to improve the livelihoods and resilience of communities and ecosystems. They aim to make Palau the first carbon free destination while enhancing women’s productive initiatives in the sector.

The session discussed sustainable tourism and its contribution to women’s economic empowerment, with a special focus on local food production for income generation and job creation.

In her opening statement, Ambassador Ilana Seid, the Permanent Representative of Palau to the United Nations, addressed how gender bias and inequality continue to impede on the development of rural women in Palau, as women have less economic resources and decision-making power than men.

Ismahane Elouafi, FAO Chief Scientist, discussed women’s major contribution to the tourism sector: “Women are key to transform to more efficient and climate-resilient agrifood systems as they represent 52 percent of the agricultural labour force in SIDS.” She emphasized the importance of developing tourism sustainably to avoid adverse effects on cultures and fragile ecosystems.

Mountains and islands experience many of the same vulnerabilities, explained Rosalaura Romeo, including climate change, disasters, isolation and exposure to economic shocks. Sustainable agrifood products combined with sustainable tourism offer a pathway for the conservation of such fragile ecosystems. To reduce the carbon footprint of tourism in Palau, the Palau Sustainable Tourism Value Chain Programme is developing a carbon management programme for tourists, and aims to increase the proportion of food sourced from local producers and reduce the industry’s dependence on imports.

To follow, Michele Rumiz, Director of Slow Food Travel, discussed the programme’s strategy to connect small-scale producers with tourism service providers, promote high-quality mountain products, and allow visitors to support unique biodiversity while safeguarding local foods and ensuring that traditional farming practices are not abandoned.

The event highlighted how strategic partnerships involving governments, civil society and the private sector can promote innovations and sustainable initiatives to accelerate progress towards meeting various Sustainable Development Goals.

Watch the video about the Sustainable Tourism Value Chain Programme
Download the side event flyer
Read more

Photo: @FAO/Jesse Alpert