Project Overview:
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The Youth Action in Eco-Friendly Tourism (YAET) project is an essential initiative focused on addressing critical environmental and cultural challenges within the context of climate change. YAET's core mission is to empower young individuals to become active stewards of the environment and change agents within the tourism sector. As the effects of climate change intensify, it has been observed that the conventional approach to tourism is unsustainable, contributing significantly to environmental degradation and cultural erosion (Gössling et al., 2015).
Modern tourism practices have led to pollution, habitat destruction, and deterioration of cultural heritage sites, exacerbating the impacts of climate change. Irresponsible tourism contributes to 8% of global carbon emissions (Lenzen et al., 2018), loss of biodiversity, and heightened vulnerability of communities to climate-related risks. The degradation of natural and cultural assets threatens the sustainability of tourism.
YAET's central objective is to foster a paradigm shift in tourism practices among the youth and the local community. By cultivating awareness and instilling a sense of responsibility, the project aspires to catalyze a transition towards sustainable tourism, aligning with the global call for responsible consumption and production (United Nations, 2015).
To achieve this, YAET has orchestrated a series of impactful activities, including workshops, seminars, and hands-on experiences such as beach clean-up campaigns. These activities have reached 250 participants and will engage over a thousand participants across different districts of Bangladesh.
YAET's early accomplishments have yielded promising results, with direct engagement with approximately 1200 youth and local community members, imparting knowledge about sustainable practices and their vital role in mitigating climate change.
Looking ahead, YAET plans to expand its reach to a broader audience, encompassing more districts, and involving more young volunteers. Collaboration with YouthNet for Climate Justice, the Bangladesh Tourism Board, and deputy commissioner offices is underway, all contributing towards nurturing a generation of environmentally conscious and culturally sensitive tourism advocates.
References:
Gössling, S., Scott, D., & Hall, C. M. (2015). Tourism and water: impacts, adaptation and mitigation. Channel View Publications.
Lenzen, M., Sun, Y. Y., Faturay, F., Ting, Y. P., Geschke, A., & Malik, A. (2018). The carbon footprint of global tourism. Nature Climate Change, 8(6), 522-528.
United Nations (2015). Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. A/RES/70/1.
