Biodiversity Strategy

Continuously seeing the true value of nature

Biodiversity – the variety of flora and fauna, ecosystems and genetic resources – plays a crucial role in our global survival. Yet nowadays it is being threatened more and more by plundering cultivation, overexploitation and the consequences of climate change.

As a globally active company, TUI is aware that its social activities within the value added chain on a local, regional and global scale have consequences on the biological diversity. At the same time, the tourism sector is immoderately dependent on an intact nature and environment. Since the early 90s TUI has been committed to concrete projects and cooperation agreements with scientific, political and nature conservation organisations to protect biodiversity. The strategic objective of the TUI Group is to continuously “attach value” to biodiversity as a natural resource in holiday destinations and as the natural
basis for tourism – today and in future.

The TUI Biodiversity Strategy includes the continuous execution of several measures:

  • Consideration of international agreements and conventions on the protection of nature and species (e.g. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, CITES)
  • Support of a mulit-level conservation area policy in holiday destinations to provide clearly defined regulations for the protection of biodiversity (e.g. the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas of the EUROPARC Federation)
  • Campaigns in holiday destinations on the protection of species to raise the awareness of guests and local people (e.g. cross-company initiatives such as the “Year of the Dolphin” in cooperation with UNEP and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS))
  • Cooperation projects with scientific and research institutes (e.g. the scientific case study “Wildlife Watching and Tourism” in cooperation with UNEP/CMS)
  • Active environmental consultancy and collaboration with experts (e.g. basic value paper for the protection of biodiversity)
  • Cooperations with NGOs to support local species conservation initiatives (e.g. support of the NGO "Archelon" campaign for the protection of sea turtles)
  • Sustainable product development (e.g. offering of responsible whale watching trips that comply with set regulations)
  • Sensitization of customers to encourage their responsible interaction with flora and fauna in the holiday destinations (e.g. information in brochures, hotel information material and in the internet)
  • Sensitization of employees (e.g. by regularly providing environmental information in internal media or as a module in company training)

The protection of biodiversity is a mission of the United Nations. In 1992, members of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) agreed on the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The governments of the 190 states that have agreed to the objectives are looking to achieve a significant decline in the current loss of biodiversity. The initiative “Business & Biodiversity” points out the crucial role that private companies play in the protection of natural conditions. As a member of this initiative, TUI shares in the responsibility for achieving the objectives stated in the Convention on Biological Diversity by the United Nations:

  1. TUI systematically analyses its corporate activities with regard to the consequences for biodiversity in order to promote the effective integration of biodiversity into its business activities.
  2. In order to define the most urgently needed protective measures TUI has already defined appropriate indicators. The TUI specific KPI system is under continuous development in internal discussions and with external partners.
  3. The Group’s “Environmental Management / Sustainable Development” department steers all activities with regards to biodiversity and reports directly to the Executive Board. There are already diverse approaches and concrete examples for successful initiatives concerning the protection of species and environmental protection throughout the integrated tourism business. TUI’s future focus will be the consolidation of these initiatives, the making use of experience and the promotion of best-practice examples within the Group.
  4. In TUI AG’s Code of Conduct the commitment to the preservation of biodiversity is clearly stated. As a result, TUI determines objectives for its activities and its quality and puts these into effect throughout the Group.
  5. By regular monitoring TUI’s objectives and extensive internal and external communication, for example in the Annual Report, the Sustainability Report and the internet site www.tui-sustainability.com, TUI objectively looks into the issue of effectiveness of the protection initiatives and aims at creating awareness and trust of all guests, employees and partners.
  6. TUI’s contracting partners in the integrated tourism business are being continuously sensitized regarding the protection of species and are gradually contributing more to achieving our objectives.
  7. TUI resorts to the expertise of research and scientific organisations as well as governmental and nongovernmental organisations in order to enhance its competences.

By signing the Leadership Declaration in line with the “Business & Biodiversity” initiative, TUI underlines the great importance that the protection of biodiversity has for the company and furthermore it recognises its responsibility towards the sustainable use of biodiversity.