UN Tourism Leads Global Push for Ocean-Positive Travel at UNOC3

Tourism has taken centre stage in the global effort to protect oceans and coastal communities, as UN Tourism led a high-level dialogue at the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Madrid. The event marked a major step towards building a sustainable and resilient blue economy.

Held under the theme Blue Tourism: Advancing Sustainable and Resilient Ocean Economies, the conference brought together ministers, private sector leaders, financial institutions, and environmental experts. Organised by UN Tourism and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the session explored how tourism—responsible for 33 per cent of the blue economy—can shift from environmental impact to regeneration.

Zoritsa Urosevic, Executive Director of UN Tourism, said, “Tourism accounts for 33 per cent of the blue economy, ahead of maritime transport at 22 per cent and fisheries at just 5 per cent. This gives us not only influence - but responsibility. Our shared goal is to decouple tourism growth from environmental harm towards a regenerative model - placing science at the core - and ensure the communities who depend on healthy oceans are not left behind.”

Key announcements included the release of the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative’s 2024 Report, showcasing sector-wide progress in tackling plastic pollution at its source. UNEP’s Jorge Laguna-Celis stressed the urgency, calling tourism both an economic driver and a contributor to marine pollution.

In a significant financial move, UN Tourism joined the co-design of the One Ocean Finance Facility, a multi-agency effort to redirect capital into sustainable blue solutions. Backed by UNCDF, UNEP and UNDP, it aims to support innovation and resilience in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

The conference also saw the launch of the Ocean Tourism Pact, facilitated by the French Government and supported by top hospitality brands like Accor, Club Med, and MSC Cruises. This global pact sets up a working group to accelerate climate action and sustainability within coastal tourism.

Tourism’s inclusion in side events by WWF, Red Sea Global, and others reflects a growing movement towards responsible, regenerative tourism that benefits both people and planet.