In June, a group of about 85 leaders from across the tourism industry convened for the Sustainable Tourism Summit, which took place as part of VERGE Hawaii. Together, the group represented the diverse ecosystem needed to advance sustainable tourism — from lodging and transportation companies to public officials and cultural ambassadors.
It’s a massive opportunity. As Heather Clancy recently reported, the industry generated roughly $7.6 trillion in revenue in 2016, or 10.2 percent of the world’s gross domestic product, and accounts for about 11 percent of the global workforce. Hawaii saw 8.9 million visitors in 2016 who spent a record $15.6 billion.
This is an excerpt from an article first published by Green Biz. Read the original article here: Sustainable tourism: A journey, not a destination.