Sustainable Tourism Pledge

Destination Northern Ontario has recently signed the Sustainable Tourism 2030 Pledge.

 

This commitment underscores our dedication to enhancing our business's sustainability performance until 2030.

As the UN World Tourism Organization defines, sustainable tourism encompasses initiatives that consider both current and future economic, social, and environmental impacts while also addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and host communities.

In alignment with this pledge, we are committed to measuring and improving our sustainability performance annually. Some initiatives we are already working on include:

1. The sustainability strategy, along with the sustainability product development team, will advise Destination Northern Ontario by discussing and analyzing the available research and the recommendations for sustainable tourism outlined in the Destination Northern Ontario Tourism Product Development Strategy.
2. Implementing waste reduction and recycling programs across our offices and events. Additionally, we are adopting sustainable procurement practices by sourcing environmentally friendly products and services.
3. Certification process through GreenStep and the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario. 
4. Evaluation of the database of tourism businesses already committed to sustainable practices and incorporating a "sustainability" tag for easy identification.
5. A three-year Partnership with the Culinary Tourism Alliance to promote sustainable food tourism in Northern Ontario, with continued support for Feast ON Certification.
6. Supporting local communities and businesses through partnerships and collaborations.

These are just a few examples of our ongoing efforts to prioritize sustainability in all operations. Additionally, we will conduct a self-assessment to identify further opportunities for improvement and development.

Together, we can make a positive impact on our environment and communities.