The initiative seeks to strengthen local supply chains, reduce the environmental footprint, and increase the participation of small businesses and communities in the tourism industry
SANTO DOMINGO – The sustainability of tourism no longer depends solely on the practices implemented within hotels. The way the industry interacts with suppliers, local producers, and communities is becoming increasingly important, a vision that has led public, academic, and business institutions to promote a new collaborative platform to advance toward a more responsible tourism model.
According to information released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), during the National Forum on Inclusive and Resilient Value Chains for Sustainable Tourism, the creation of a community of practice on responsible tourism was announced, initially made up of public and private entities linked to the sector.
The initiative brings together the Ministries of Environment, Tourism and Agriculture, as well as the National Business Support Network for Environmental Protection (ECORED), the Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic (Asonahores), the Pontifical Catholic University Madre y Maestra (PUCMM), the UNDP and Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, with the aim of sharing experiences, tools and knowledge that will accelerate the transition to business models with lower carbon emissions.
Tourism beyond hotels
According to the UNDP, the transformation of the sector depends not only on the operations of hotel complexes, but also on how supply chains are built, waste is managed, and local suppliers and small businesses are integrated into the tourism activity.
During the meeting, the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Paino Henríquez, stated that the country needs more local, inclusive and resilient supply chains, capable of generating opportunities for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, reducing the environmental footprint and strengthening national production.
Decarbonization as one of the challenges
The international organization indicated that Iberostar Hotels & Resorts presented its responsible tourism strategy and the actions it is developing to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
Luz Valentina Lantigua, the Destination Stewardship Manager for the hotel chain in the Dominican Republic, pointed out that the sustainability of tourist destinations depends on a collective effort and highlighted the need to move towards more circular and inclusive supply chains.
More space for SMEs and communities
According to the organizing entities, one of the main challenges is to expand the participation of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises within the tourism industry, allowing more local producers and ventures to integrate into the sector's value chains.
The forum brought together representatives from hotels, supplier companies, public and academic institutions, who agreed that the future of Dominican tourism will depend both on the quality of the hotel offer and on its ability to preserve natural resources and strengthen local economies.
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