UfM joins regional efforts to promote Blue Tourism in the Mediterranean Region
The UfM Secretary General, Nasser Kamel, participated in the XV Conference of the Mediterranean Commission of the European League for Economic Cooperation (ELEC) under the title “Promoting Blue Tourism in the Mediterranean”, which took place in Palma de Mallorca (Spain) on 30-31 October 2019.
Palma de Mallorca, 30-31 October 2019. The Conference on “Promoting Blue Tourism in the Mediterranean” brought together over 80 stakeholders from the Tourism and Blue Economy Sectors on both sides of the Euro-Mediterranean Region, presenting an occasion for exchanging views, ideas, best practices and success stories in the field.
The discussions focused on the role of Tourism in boosting the Mediterranean Economy, the transformation of the Mediterranean Tourism Sector in the Digital Era, the impact of Climate Change, and the promotion of inclusive Tourism plans. Pilot projects and ongoing programmes were presented, along with experiences from different Mediterranean cities and regions.
During his speech, UfM SG Kamel stated that “the Mediterranean is one of the most affected regions in the world by climate change. A blue economy approach which focuses on sustainable tourism, is needed now more than ever, otherwise our livelihood is seriously endangered.” He also made reference to the recently presented report on environmental and climate change impacts in the Mediterranean Basin. The main conclusions of this first-ever scientific assessment report were presented earlier this month in Barcelona, in the framework of the 4th Union for the Mediterranean Regional Forum.
The Gross Marine Product (GMP) of the Mediterranean is estimated at 450 billion dollars annually, which constitutes 20% of the world’s GMP, even though the Mediterranean Sea itself represents only 1% of the world’s total water surface. Tourism remains to be the single largest Blue Economy Sector in terms of its contribution to the Mediterranean economies.
The Conference was organised by the European League for Economic Cooperation (ELEC) and the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed), in collaboration with the Euroregion Pyrenees Mediterranean. It was hosted by the Government of the Balearic Islands.
