UN Tourism Joins Launch of Ireland’s first Sustainable Tourism Observatory

UN Tourism has celebrated the official launch of the Atlantic Sustainable Tourism Observatory Ireland (ASTOI) in Sligo, Ireland.

The Observatory, which has been admitted into the International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO) underscores Ireland’s commitment to fostering sustainable practices within its tourism industry. To mark the occasion, a delegation from UN Tourism met with the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media, Mrs. Catherine Martin to discuss the latest developments in tourism sustainability and resilience, and the importance of joining forces to meet jointly the planetary crisis.

ASTOI will collaborate closely with destinations along the Atlantic coast, on the islands and in the Heartlands region to monitor, evaluate, and promote sustainable tourism initiatives, ensuring environmental conservation, socio-economic development and cultural preservation. The observatory stands for a commitment to evidence- based decision making based on participatory approaches and transparency.

The Observatory will monitor, among other issues, 11 key areas that touch upon all three sustainability pillars, including climate change, water, wastewater and energy management, as well as local satisfaction and accessibility.

About INSTO

The UN Tourism International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO) is a network of tourism observatories monitoring the economic, environmental and social impact of tourism at the destination level. The initiative is based on UN Tourism’s long-standing commitment to the sustainable and resilient growth of the sector through measurement and monitoring, supporting the evidence-based management of tourism. ASTOI joined the INSTO network in November 2023, during the annual meeting of its constituencies in Madrid.