SIDS GBN Forum 2018 - Mauritius
“Strengthening private sector partnerships for sustainable tourism development.”
UN-OHRLLS and the Government of Mauritius convened the SIDS Global Business Network Forum from 21 – 22 May 2018 at the Maritim Resort and Spa, Balaclava, Mauritius. The forum theme was “Strengthening private sector partnerships for sustainable tourism development”.
Forum objectives
- A platform for existing and new members of the SIDS Global Business Network to meet and exchange best practices and for building partnerships for sustainable tourism development in SIDS,
- Provide substantive inputs to the AIMS regional preparatory meeting for the SAMOA Pathway mid-term review as well as the inter-regional meeting,
- Facilitate an open dialogue and sharing of experiences among governments, private sector, civil society and other stakeholders on addressing challenges and promoting opportunities for sustainability of the tourism industry in SIDS,
- Dedicated sessions on connectivity, renewable energy, sustainable oceans, climate change and resilience building and other cross-cutting thematic areas in the context of promoting sustainable tourism development in SIDS,
- Advocate for continued momentum on promoting the theme of the third International Conference on SIDS which is “the sustained development of SIDS through genuine and durable partnerships” and recognise the role of partnerships as critical for the implementation of the sustained development in SIDS.
Forum report
Partnership announcements
- Mauritius based and the Austrian renewable energy company announced a partnership to reduce fuel use through increasing the use of solar technology at Lux owned resorts in the Maldives.
- Dutch company , focused on renewable energy driven desalination systems, announced its commitment to partner with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) including with the (SPTO) to work together with the private sector of South Pacific SIDS.
- The announced its commitment to partner with UN-OHRLLS in supporting the goals of the SIDS-Global Business Network by bringing together the ocean business community to also focus on SIDS.
- The and SIDS Global Business Network will collaborate with key national, regional and international partners to promote food tourism across SIDS.
- A partnership between the and the International Coalition of Tourism Partners was also announced and the Vanilla Islands Organisation has committed to strengthen information technology and dissemination of information on the Sustainable Development Goals.
Programme
Speakers
Presentations
Session 1: TOURISM AS A DRIVER OF SDGs
- Prof Geoffrey Lipman, President, International Coalition of Tourism Partners
- Ms. Sonja Hunter, CEO, Samoa Tourism Authority and Chairperson, South Pacific Tourism Organisation
Session 2: PROMOTING TOURISM THROUGH CULTURAL HERITAGE
- Mr. Chris Cocker, Chief Executive Officer, South Pacific Tourism
- Ms. Isolina Boto, Head of the Brussels Office,Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation (CTA)
- Dr. Robin Nunkoo, Head of the International Centre for Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality, University of Mauritius
- Marie Attoumane, Directrice Nationale, du tourisme, Comoros
Session 3: IMPROVING CONNECTIVITY FOR TOURISM
- Mr. Pascal Viroleau, Chief Executive Officer, Vanilla Islands Organization
- Mr. Stephen Lyon, Board Member, Cook Islands, Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation (PIPSO)
Session 4: ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
- Mr. Earlston McPhee, Director, Office of the Minister, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism
- Ms. Janice Bristol, Senior Quality and Standards Officer, Tourism Department, Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, Republic of Seychelles
- Mr. Raj H. Prayag, Chairman, Mauritius Oceanography Institute, Former Director of Environment
- Mr. Paul Holthus, Founding President and CEO, World Ocean Council
- Mr. Thomas Siebenbrunner, Head of Sales and Marketing, Swimsol, Austria/Maldives
- Mr. Sid Vollebregt, Managing Director, Elemental Water Makers
- Mr. Leighton Waterman, Programme Officer, IRENA – SIDS Lighthouses Initiative
Session 5: FINANCING FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
- Dr. Azeema Adam, Maldives Envoy on Financing for Development
- Mr. Garry Kelleher, Ireland Tourism Promotion Board
- Mr. Cyrille Frederic Marie Barnerias, Global Environment Facility
- Mr. Nagarajan Sridhar, CEO and Executive Director, Mau Bank
Session Notes
Session 1: Tourism as a driver of SDGs
Session 2: Promoting tourism through cultural heritage
Session 3: Improving connectivity for tourism
Session 4: Environmental sustainability and renewable energy
Session 5: Financing for sustainable tourism development
Concept note
View the 2018 forum concept note
