A new 'National Ecotourism Project' has been planned for the UAE, which will position the Emirates as a leading global ecotourism hub, a report said.

The announcement was made by a top official from the UAE's Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCAE) during a recent press conference in Dubai, WAM reported.

"Global travel and tourism trends in the last decade have indicated the emergence of ecotourism, a concept widely embraced by tourists who seek to leave no ecological footprint behind while travelling," the report said citing Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al-Zeyoudi, minister of Climate Change and Environment.

"The national ecotourism project is a result of the country's commitment to preserving the environment, a commitment instilled in its people by the UAE's Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan," he added.

The project will promote the country's eco-tourism attractions in three phases that focus on environmental, economic and social factors. MoCCAE is currently working on the pilot phase that includes making ample information and promotional footage available under the theme ‘The UAE’s Natural Wonders’, to showcase the rich biodiversity across the country’s 43 protected areas.

The UAE recorded nearly 15.87 million incoming tourists in 2017, an astonishing 6.5 per cent increase over 2016, with revenues amounting to Dh118.8 billion ($32.3 billion), as per specialised reports. These reports project tourist traffic to continue growing in the coming years to a record-breaking 25 million between 2020 and 2021, coinciding with Expo 2020 Dubai.

To capitalise on this boom, Dr Zeyoudi said that the ministry will launch a dedicated website and app for tablets and smartphones to raise awareness of the protected areas among residents and visitors and encourage travel agencies to include these sites in their promotional packages for the UAE.

"The portal and app will serve as an information and visual resource that UAE embassies across the globe and national airlines can use to introduce these attractions to the world," he said.
 
In the next phase, the ministry plans to update the website and app with geographic locations and detailed information on these facilities and services to assist travel agencies in organising eco-friendly tours.

"Ecotourism drives the wheel of the green economy through establishing green transportation infrastructure as well as eco-friendly hotels and other leisure amenities. As it promotes sustainable local agriculture, ecotourism also combats desertification and contributes to the growth of the GDP," Dr Zeyoudi noted.