Atlantic Sustainable Tourism Observatory joins international network

THE Atlantic Sustainable Tourism Observatory, Ireland, hosted by Atlantic Technological University (ATU), has become the newest member of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation's (UNWTO) International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO). The announcement was made during the 2023 Global Meeting of INSTO held at the UNWTO Headquarters in Madrid.

INSTO is a global network of tourism observatories dedicated to monitoring the economic, environmental and social impact of tourism at the destination level. This initiative aligns with UNWTO's commitment to fostering sustainable and resilient growth in the tourism sector through robust measurement and monitoring practices.

As Ireland's first INSTO observatory, the Atlantic Sustainable Tourism Observatory will collaborate closely with tourism destinations along the Atlantic coast, the islands and heartlands.

The successful acceptance into INSTO is the culmination of two years of dedicated efforts led by ATU's Dr. James Hanrahan and PhD researcher Fiona McKenna.

Dr. Hanrahan expressed the observatory's long-term vision, stating: “We hope to see the observatory become a source of high-quality, transparent and regularly updated data, playing a leading role in the scientific, political and socio-cultural sustainable tourism development for destinations in Ireland.”

Ms. McKenna emphasised the impact of data collection, noting: “This collection of data, measuring and monitoring against indicators, has equipped the destination with the information it needs to transition to a more sustainable destination.”

In welcoming four new members, UNWTO highlighted: “These destinations have demonstrated their work towards sustainable tourism through participatory approaches, evidence generation, and transparency - essential requirements for INSTO membership.”