Morocco has made sustainability a cornerstone of its tourism ambitions, a strategic choice highlighted by the General Confederation of Enterprises of Morocco (CGEM) during a side event at COP30 on Friday, focusing on climate responses in a sector facing dual pressures: maintaining its attractiveness while reducing its carbon footprint.
Held at the Pavilion of the National Confederation of Industry of Brazil, the session, themed “Travel & Sustainability: Responsible Tourism to Meet Climate Challenges,” brought together institutional and tourism stakeholders. This debate is crucial at a time when tourism, accounting for nearly 10% of global GDP and 357 million jobs, is one of the sectors most vulnerable to climate impacts (heat waves, wildfires, coastal erosion, water stress) while generating 8.8% of global CO₂ emissions, 90% of which are linked to transport.
Opening the discussions, Youssef Chaqor, Vice President of the Sustainability Development Commission of CGEM, emphasized the relevance of initiatives aimed at reconciling tourist attractiveness, low-emission mobility, and ecological transition. He highlighted the strategic importance of water conservation and the value of circular resource use models, positioning these efforts within Morocco’s overall commitment to sustainable tourism.
Presenting a case study on the Palm Grove of Marrakech, Ayman Cherkaoui, Director of the Hassan II International Center for Environmental Training, part of the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, detailed ecological restoration and sustainable valuation actions surrounding this natural heritage, located at the heart of a major tourist destination.
A panel dedicated to low-carbon tourism solutions subsequently showcased various operational approaches, ranging from sustainable air mobility to innovation in tourism services, including ecotourism.
Amine El Joudani, representative of the Moroccan National Tourism Office in Brazil, highlighted the growing dynamic of tourism flows between Morocco and Latin America, driven by the return of direct flights and an increased Brazilian interest in the Kingdom’s cultural and immersive offerings. He noted that this attractiveness aligns with Morocco’s commitment to a sustainable tourism model, notably structured by the Moroccan Charter for Sustainable Tourism.
He also emphasized efforts to enhance the resilience of infrastructure ahead of major sporting events, as well as the rise of the “Eco-Hotel Morocco” label, designed to encourage responsible resource management within tourism establishments.
Speaking on behalf of Royal Air Morocco, Othman Baba reiterated the airline’s “firm and deep” commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, in line with the international aviation sector’s roadmap. He reminded attendees that aviation accounts for 2.5% of global emissions and could reach 20% by 2050 without decisive action, underlining the urgency of accelerating the transition.
The representative of the national carrier in Brazil outlined the four pillars of the company’s decarbonization strategy: optimizing flight operations through a fuel efficiency program, gradually renewing the fleet with next-generation aircraft that consume 20% less kerosene, integrating sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) already used on flights from Europe, and technological partnerships to reduce contrails by optimizing flight paths. These efforts confirm, in his view, RAM’s pioneering role in energy transition for air transport in Africa.
Ali Zerouali, Vice President of CGEM’s Africa Commission, emphasized Brazil’s unique geostrategic position, open both to the East and the South, making it one of the world’s most competitive hubs. He highlighted Morocco’s role as a gateway to Africa and the Mediterranean basin, stressing the natural complementarity between the two countries. He pointed out the importance of strengthening air and maritime corridors to consolidate their positions in clean fuel chains and become reference regional platforms.
Finally, Helio Alves de Brito, founder of DMC Incentives & Corporate Events and CEO of ESG Pulse Strategy, stressed the need for criteria and verifiable data to lend credibility to ESG commitments in tourism and events. He explained that Brazil has developed an ecosystem of harmonized indicators for hoteliers, agencies, event organizers, and municipalities to address the “technical gap” that still hinders the concrete implementation of sustainability.
He noted that neither Africa nor South America appears in major global indices of sustainable destinations, a visibility deficit that deprives both regions of increasing investments in responsible tourism. Hence, he asserted the necessity of shared standards to enable Morocco, particularly with the 2030 World Cup approaching, as well as South American countries, to fully integrate into global sustainable tourism chains.
MAP Ecology