Tourism has become one of the most dynamic economic sectors in the world, making a significant contribution to national income, job creation, and infrastructure development.

However, behind its economic benefits, the industry leaves a considerable environmental footprint. Tourism-related activities—ranging from transportation and accommodation to tourist attractions—directly and indirectly contribute to the global climate crisis.

Tourism activities generate substantial greenhouse gas emissions, particularly from air and land transportation. Luxury hotels and resorts consume large amounts of energy and water, while inadequate waste management further exacerbates environmental degradation. In many regions, tourism infrastructure development has also led to land conversion, deforestation, and the degradation of coastal ecosystems. All of these factors contribute to greenhouse gas accumulation, rising global temperatures, climate change, and increased vulnerability of local environments to disasters.

At the same time, the tourism sector is among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Extreme weather events, droughts, and rising sea levels threaten the attractiveness of tourist destinations and the sustainability of tourism-based economies. Therefore, it is essential for tourism businesses to transition toward low-carbon and sustainable tourism models. Collaboration among governments, business actors, and local communities is key to creating a tourism industry that is not only economically profitable but also environmentally responsible.

In this context, synergy between tourism businesses and local communities becomes a crucial element in responding to the climate crisis in an inclusive and sustainable manner. Such collaboration is relevant not only for mitigating environmental impacts but also for ensuring that tourism development does not compromise environmental conservation or the socio-cultural well-being of communities. In principle, tourism businesses can contribute positively through their capital and access, including the use of renewable energy, integrated waste management, water conservation, and the promotion of low-carbon tourism. On the other hand, local communities possess traditional wisdom in environmental stewardship and play a vital role in managing natural resources sustainably.

When both parties work together—such as in community-based ecotourism development, green space conservation, or environmental awareness campaigns for tourists—a tourism model emerges that is not only environmentally friendly but also equitable, rooted in local values, and capable of building a sustainable economy.

This synergy also has the potential to enhance community resilience to climate change impacts, strengthen local cultural identity, and create inclusive green economic opportunities. Therefore, building partnerships between the business sector and local communities is not merely an adaptation strategy, but a pathway toward a sustainable, resilient, and ecologically responsible transformation of tourism.

The purpose of the activity “Synergy Between the Tourism Business Sector and Communities in Addressing the Climate Crisis” is to:

1. Build mutually beneficial cooperation between business actors and local communities in addressing the threats posed by the climate crisis.

2. Align the economic interests of the tourism sector with environmental conservation and community capacity building.

The objectives include:

1. Environmental Impact Mitigation
   Reducing carbon footprints, waste, and natural resource exploitation through green tourism practices that actively involve community participation.

2. Climate Change Adaptation
   Enhancing the resilience of local communities to climate-related disasters by strengthening their role in the sustainable management of tourism areas.

3. Local Economic Empowerment
   Encouraging community involvement in environmentally friendly tourism value chains such as ecotourism, organic agriculture, and recycled crafts.

4. Preservation of Culture and Local Wisdom
   Integrating traditional knowledge into environmental conservation and positioning it as a unique and sustainable tourism value.

5. Climate Education and Awareness
   Increasing awareness among tourists and business actors of the importance of acting ecologically and ethically toward local environments.

This synergy is not merely programmatic collaboration, but a long-term commitment to shaping tourism as a force for positive change in addressing the climate crisis—one that directly impacts quality of life and the sustainability of future generations.