According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, well-implemented circular management models can reduce greenhouse gas emissions in key sectors such as tourism by up to 39% by 2030.
The Circular Tourism Peru project includes the implementation of emblematic actions in Peruvian tourism destinations (Lima, Cusco, Piura and San Martin), where circular management models will be implemented, companies will be trained and indicators for carbon footprint mitigation will be developed.
‘We seek to transform the sector with a new tourism model, where recycling, energy efficiency, sustainable design and climate commitment are part of the DNA of micro, small and medium-sized tourism enterprises. We believe there is a lot of opportunity and with this project we are going to consolidate it for the year 2030,’ said Carlos Loayza, General Manager of CANATUR.
A central element of the project will be the formation of a Sectoral Commission of Circular Economy in Tourism (CTUR), aligned with the National Coalition of Circular Economy (Peru Circular Country), promoted by the Ministry of Environment. This commission will articulate the public sector, private sector, academia and civil society, in a quadruple helix that will promote policies and good practices at the national level.
"From AECID, in alliance with the European Union and CANATUR, we are committed to promoting a more sustainable tourism, which generates employment, promotes innovation and protects our environment. Tourism is a key economic driver for both Peru and Spain. We are committed to supporting actions such as the design of a Roadmap for the Circular Economy in Tourism, the development of quality seals and the promotion of circular tourism municipalities. This project reaffirms our commitment to build a prosperous, resilient and sustainable future for all," said José Roberto Piqueras, General Coordinator of AECID in Peru and Cooperation Counsellor of the Spanish Embassy in Peru.
A concrete and successful example of a circular management model in tourism in Latin America is the ‘Eco-Hotels’ project in Costa Rica, where grey water reuse, composting, solar panels and sustainable certification practices were implemented. This allowed a reduction of more than 50% in water and electricity consumption per guest, also reducing costs and carbon emissions, without affecting the tourist experience, serving as a reference for the models that are sought to be adapted in Peru.
"The Circular Economy applied to the tourism sector is more than a trend: it is a necessity to move towards a more resilient, competitive and sustainable development model. From MINCETUR, we are convinced that through innovation, sustainability and strategic alliances between the actors of the sector, we can promote a transformation that strengthens tourism as an engine of economic growth and improvement of the quality of life of the population", said Madeleine Burns, Deputy Minister of Tourism.
The project ‘Tourism Coalition for a Circular, Inclusive and Climate Smart Economy (Circular Tourism Peru)’ reaffirms Peru's commitment to the Paris Agreement (signed at COP21 in 2015) and the 2030 Agenda, positioning the country as a benchmark in the transformation of tourism towards a more equitable and planet-friendly model.
For more information visit https://turismocircularperu.pe/
