UNWTO sets up observatory on sustainable tourism in Chengdu

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) set up an observatory on sustainable tourism in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, to monitor the environmental and socio-economic impact of to

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) set up an observatory on sustainable tourism in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, to monitor the environmental and socio-economic impact of tourism.

The observatory’s unveiling ceremony was held on Oct 12 at the Qingcheng Mountain Tourist Center in Dujiangyan, Chengdu.

This is the fifth observatory the UNWTO set up in China since 2005. These observatories gather and report data on the environmental, cultural, social and economic impacts on tourism based on the UNWTO’s sustainable tourism indictors.

The UNWTO Monitoring Center has proposed two special observation areas worth long-term investigation โ€“ Sansheng Village, or Three Saints’ Flowering Village, and Kuanzhai Alley in the city.

“Chengdu observatory has unique features compared with the other four,” said Bao Jigang, director of the Monitoring Center.

“It is the only urban destination among the five observatories, and at the same time is an important tourism hub in southwest China,” Bao added. “The city’s experience in sustainable tourism is representative and irreplaceable.”

Chengdu submitted an application to the UNWTO to establish a sustainable tourism observatory in March. The Monitoring Center sent experts to the city and performed tourism research inspections three times.

“We found excitement and challenges at the same time. The city’s case materials and researchable issues assured us of the vital scientific and social value of Chengdu as an observatory,” said Bao.

“We chose Chengdu as the fifth observatory because we want to discover what kind of contribution tourism can make on sustainable development. We also want to find ways tourism can slow the pace of life in an era when society and economy develop so quickly,” said Xu Jing, director of the UNWTO’s Regional Program for Asia and the Pacific.

Chengdu’s application was approved in August.

The four other observatories in China are located in Yangshuo in Guangxi province, Huangshan Mountain in Anhui, Zhangjiajie Mountain in Hunan, and Kanas Lake in Xinjiang. All five of the observatories are monitored through a center at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, provincial capital of Guangdong.

The observatory is the first official organization that the UNWTO has set up in Chengdu. It is expected to bring opportunities for the city and its tourism to promote competitiveness and enhance international influence.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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