4 Annual International Symposia and Conferences of Partners held in Costa Rica, Korea, Germany, Morocco (5th in Namibia); A SIDS consultative meeting on sustainable tourism; 85 partners in 7 regions; 1 sustainable tourism project screening and evaluation tool; 3 regional analysis on sustainable tourism (Asia & Pacific, Caribbean and southern Africa): 6 screened projects, 1 monitored project, 2 research studies, 3 draft regional proposals, 1 global consultant database; 6 Mainstreaming Sustainable Tourism workshops (Albania, Serbia, Brazil, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Cape Verde); Sustainable tourism policy advice to: Barbados, Jordan, Mauritania, Montenegro, Samoa and Bhutan.

Over the years of the Partnership implementation, we learned of the importance of leadership – from individuals and institutions in the public and private sectors and civil society groups. Leaders need to articulate tourism strategies and plans, motivate and assemble talent and partners to implement the plan. We have learned that the complex challenges must be matched with diverse and integrated approaches. Increasing demand and opportunities for sustainable tourism in SIDS was also considered an important issue by partners. In 2012, the tourism and travel industry contributed to over 9% of the global GDP. However, in spite of the remarkable natural resource and cultural potentials, tourism destinations in SIDS accounted for only less than 4 per cent of international visitor arrivals. In many of the SIDS, considerable opportunities exist to increase sustainable tourism and its economic and social benefits.

In February 2015 the Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism transitioned into The Sustainable Tourism Programme of the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production (10YFP STP). The 10YFP STP promotes transformation for sustainability through efficiency, innovation and adaptability. The Programme will support evidence-based decision-making; adopt a life cycle approach for continuous improvement, emphasize collaboration among stakeholders and results-based project implementation. The 10YFP Sustainable Tourism Programme supports cooperation between stakeholders for the development and implementation of innovative projects and good practices in resource efficient and low-carbon tourism planning, reducing the loss of biodiversity, conserving ecosystems, preserving cultural heritage, alleviating poverty, improving sustainable livelihoods and adapting to the reality of a changing climate. Objectives of the Programme are: 1. Integrating sustainable consumption and production (SCP) patterns in tourism related policies and frameworks; 2. Collaboration among stakeholders for the improvement of the tourism sector´s SCP performance. 3. Fostering the application of guidelines, instruments and technical solutions to prevent and mitigate tourism impacts and to mainstream SCP patterns among tourism stakeholders. 4. Enhancing sustainable tourism investment and financing.

The 10YFP STP Partners (former GPST Partners) comprise the following categories: Governments (14%), International Organizations (5%), Non-governmental Organizations (34%), Academia (10%), Private Sector –business oriented/ for-profit- (21%), Private Sector –industry association, business organizations/ not-for-profit) (5%), Experts -technical centers and service providers- (10%). 22 SIDS are now represented within the frame of the 10YFP Sustainable Tourism Programme that integrated all partners of the former GPST. 2 SIDS are represented by National, Regional or Local Governments and Agencies (Bahamas, Ministry of Tourism and Aviation and , Saint Lucia, Saint Lucia Tourist Board), 18 SIDS are represented by International Organizations that are partners of the 10YFP STP (mainly by the Association of Caribbean States and Institut de la Francophonie pour le développement durable: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Cape Verde, Comoros, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Mauritius, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu), 1 SIDS is represented through a Civil Society organization (Cook Islands, Island Sustainability Alliance CIS Inc.), and 1 SIDS is represented at the 10YFP STP through involvement of a private company (John Keells Maldivian Resorts Ltd., Maldives). The Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism was a group of committed partners led by UNEP, working diligently to keep sustainable tourism on the global agenda. This has culminated in the 10YFP Programme on Sustainable Tourism with its inter-governmental mandate. The development of the Sustainable Tourism Programme has a multi-stakeholder participatory approach with a strong focus on collective impact. Based on an initial stock taking exercise which analyzed the status quo of sustainable tourism worldwide and a global sustainable tourism survey, a concept note for the Sustainable Tourism Programme was developed. The final concept note was reviewed by a group of experts representing the South Asia Pacific region and Small Islands Development States. The tourism economy is of particular importance for many of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Recognizing the special SIDS needs and the interests in capacity building, the United Nations Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD) convened a Special Session on Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Development of Tourism in Small Island Developing states (SIDS) as an integral part of the above mentioned consultation. The Consultation Meeting and the Special Session was attended by delegations from the Caribbean, the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and South China Sea (AIMS), and the Pacific regions and aimed to create capacity for well managed tourism with minimal negative environmental and cultural impacts, through identification of good practice, tools and guidelines. Regional analysis have been undertaken for the Caribbean and Asia Pacifc region where SIDS issues were assessed and recommendations provided to decision makers.