At Trip.com Group Global Conference Envision, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, urges the Asia-Pacific travel industry to double down on sustainability commitments as Travalyst looks to expand its coalition

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and founder of Travalyst, a not-for-profit coalition of some of the biggest names in travel and technology, has urged the travel industry in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region to double down on their commitments to support sustainable travel and tourism and shared climate goals at a global conference hosted by Trip.com Group, in Shanghai, China.

Delivering the keynote address at the annual Envision 2025 Global Partner Conference earlier today, the Duke said that despite current headwinds, the travel industry needed to stay the course and work together to drive progress towards critical climate and conservation targets ahead of the 2030 deadlines. Prince Harry told attendees that he believes the Asia-Pacific region is strongly positioned to drive positive sustainability practices for the global travel sector. 

Estimates suggest that APAC will regain its position as the top regional travel market this year, with a value of USD 490 billion. With the region seeing a 33% hike in international arrivals last year, the size of the APAC market means there is a significant opportunity to steer travellers and industry alike towards more inclusive practices, particularly in light of mounting evidence indicating that these travellers are increasingly seeking out low-impact tourism experiences. Research conducted by Travalyst founding coalition partner, Trip.com Group, has recently revealed that travellers from the APAC region are more likely than their peers in other regions to seek out sustainable travel options when planning their trips. 

Prince Harry said, “Climate change isn’t just an environmental challenge –  it’s a critical business emergency, costing the global economy $143 billion dollars annually.”

He continued, “Now is the moment for the industry to reaffirm its commitment to being a force for good. Challenges will undoubtedly rise, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my life, it’s that meaningful change never comes easily. The true measure of our commitment is how we respond when the path becomes difficult. We must never give up.”

Jane Sun, Chief Executive Officer of Trip.com Group, said, “We believe in the power of partnership to drive meaningful progress, and we are proud to be part of shared global efforts to shape a more sustainable and resilient future for travel. With like-minded partners, we are committed to empowering travellers with the information and options to travel responsibly, and working across the industry to build a more inclusive and impactful tourism ecosystem.”

On the sidelines of Envision 2025 and ahead of ITB China, Travalyst has also kicked off a major convening of stakeholders in Shanghai, including industry leaders and regional policymakers, this week. The two-day Executive Summit will discuss the sustainable future of travel and tourism, with a particular focus on driving a more equitable sector for communities. It will feature high-level roundtables with industry leaders, including Edison Chen, Vice President at Trip.com Group, and senior representatives from Visit Thailand and Go Turkiye. The Executive Summit will be the first in a global series, as Travalyst seeks to expand its coalition, calling for true collaboration to meet ambitious climate and nature goals.
Last month, Travalyst published its Five-Year Milestone Report, which called on the industry to champion tourism that enables a just transition of inclusive economic benefits, reduces inequality, and preserves local culture and fragile ecosystems. Since its founding in 2019, Travalyst has grown from five partners to 13, representing a combined market value of over USD 3 trillion. 

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_{1 Targets of reducing carbon emissions by 50% and protecting and restoring at least 30% of the planet, land, and sea by 2030, aligned with UN Tourism’s Glasgow Declaration for Climate Action in Tourism and UNEP’s Kunming-Montreal Global Diversity Framework respectively}.
_{2 Source: Phocuswright
3 Source: Trip.com Group
4 Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 8.9 and 12.B.}

Notes to Editors:

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About Travalyst
Travalyst is an independent not-for-profit entity working to change the way the world travels – for good. Founded in 2019 by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Travalyst is a global coalition of some of the biggest brands in travel and technology: Amadeus, BCD, Booking.com, Expedia Group, Google, Mastercard, Sabre, Skyscanner, The Travel Corporation, Travelport, Trip.com Group, Tripadvisor and Visa. Travalyst mobilises the industry to provide trusted information at scale to empower better decision making and accelerate impact-led change.