UN Tourism and Croatia sign agreements to establish a sustainable tourism research centre
UN Tourism has signed new agreements with the Ministry of Tourism and Sport of Croatia and the University of Zagreb to advance research, innovation and recognition in sustainable tourism development.
In a press statement, UN Tourism says that this partnership, formalised during an official visit by the UN Tourism Secretary-General to Croatia, will see the creation of a new research centre for sustainable tourism at the University of Zagreb and the launch of a sustainable tourism awards programme.
The statement adds that the research centre for sustainable tourism will serve as a key knowledge hub, addressing pressing challenges in the sector and supporting UN Tourism’s member states with applied, action-oriented research.
According to the statement, the centre’s mission is wide-ranging, focusing on six critical areas: tourism governance, sustainability and inclusivity, knowledge exchange, multi-stakeholder collaboration, climate action in tourism and tourism law.
UN Tourism says that by developing robust, data-driven policy frameworks, the centre aims to empower governments, industry and communities to make evidence-based decisions that balance tourism growth with environmental, social and economic sustainability.
The statement adds that a particular emphasis will be placed on tracking the environmental, social and economic impacts of tourism, in line with the UN Statistical Framework on measuring the sustainability of tourism. This will ensure that both public and private sector actions are guided by reliable, up-to-date data.
Additionally, the centre will also act as a platform for knowledge creation and dissemination, bridging the gap between policymakers, academia and industry leaders to foster innovation and best practices.
UN Tourism says that complementing these research efforts, the sustainable tourism awards will recognise outstanding destinations and initiatives across Croatia, furthering the country’s ambition to transform its national tourism model.
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