Contributed by: GreenStep Solutions

In the face of a summer season of wildfires that have broken records and impacted countless communities, both ecological and human, more and more discussion is happening in post-pandemic Canada about just how resilient our communities and businesses are when natural disasters arrive on their doorstep.

More than 30,000 people have been evacuated from their homes and towns, and a similar number are on evacuation alert. Tourists were ordered to stay away, and the industry rallied quickly to reopen, but the impacts were felt by many businesses.

“Community resilience is the ability of a community to recover from a disaster or persist sustainably in the face of a new, ongoing hardship.” - Urban Footprint.

The tourism industry interacts with every facet of the Canadian economy, from roads to airports, to our pristine natural landscapes. This interconnection underscores the significant capacity AND potential of the tourism industry to drive transformative change. So, what role can the tourism industry play in creating resilience in the communities in which we operate? As the world marks World Tourism Day later this month (September 27th), with a theme of green investments in tourism, tourism businesses and destinations can amplify this theme by further investing in resilience and sustainability.

In practical terms, tourism businesses and destinations can invest in resilience and sustainability by following these key steps:

1. Commit - Join a global sustainable tourism movement to help make tourism a force for good. Show your commitment, and take the Sustainable Tourism 2030 pledge, or sign on to the Glasgow Declaration.

2. Plan - Build an action plan, this is the best investment you can make on your journey. Establish stretch goals for greening your business or destination, and reducing your environmental impacts by enhancing energy efficiency, managing waste, conserving water, and making impactful purchasing choices.

3. Act - Put your action plan into action! Each action will improve the sustainability of your business, and the resilience to be able to withstand shocks and stresses that may occur in the future (both natural and manmade).

To amplify efforts further, look to build community and connect with other tourism organizations, local governments, non-profits, and businesses. By working collectively and engaging in collaborative efforts, the challenges become less daunting and we’ll achieve our goals more quickly.

Resources: UNWTO Concept Note - World Tourism Day 2023