{"id":4896,"date":"2025-06-25T08:52:49","date_gmt":"2025-06-25T08:52:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fii-institute.org\/?post_type=press&#038;p=4896"},"modified":"2025-06-25T10:27:07","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T10:27:07","slug":"global-report-urges-investment-in-regenerative-tourism-innovation-to-meet-surging-public-demand","status":"publish","type":"press","link":"https:\/\/fii-institute.org\/ar\/press\/global-report-urges-investment-in-regenerative-tourism-innovation-to-meet-surging-public-demand\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Report Urges Investment in Regenerative Tourism Innovation to Meet Surging Public Demand"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em><strong><em>Red Sea Global, FII Institute, Wave, and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, lead collaborative study on accelerating innovation in sustainable travel<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Riyadh, 25 June 2025<\/strong> \u2013 A major new report released today by <strong>Red Sea Global (RSG),<\/strong> the <strong>Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute<\/strong>, <strong>Wave<\/strong>, and the <strong>Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation<\/strong>, highlights an urgent need for investment and innovation in regenerative tourism \u2014 a model that goes beyond sustainability to actively restore ecosystems and empower communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Titled <strong>\u201cUnlocking Innovation for Regenerative Tourism,\u201d<\/strong> the report identifies a paradox at the heart of the booming blue economy \u2014 valued at $2.5 trillion and expected to double by 2030 \u2014 where rising consumer demand for eco-conscious travel far outpaces the industry\u2019s capacity to deliver restorative experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Drawing on global surveys of hospitality leaders, investors, innovators, and case study analysis, the report highlights the tourism sector\u2019s direct contribution to global GDP at approximately US$9.9 trillion, representing 9.1% of the total global GDP in 2023. Moreover, coastal and marine tourism represents over 50% of total global tourism, indicating that regenerative tourism constitutes a vastly underserved segment with the potential to deliver on economic, sustainability and social goals for local communities and global industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAt Red Sea Global, we believe that tourism can be a powerful force for good. This report underscores the urgent need to unlock innovation and investment in regenerative practices,\u201d says <strong>Raed Albasseet, Group Chief Environment &amp; Sustainability Officer<\/strong> <strong>at Red Sea Global.<\/strong> \u201cOur own regenerative tourism efforts demonstrate that it is possible to create thriving destinations that also protect and enhance the environment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Penny Richards, CEO of the Future Investment Initiative Institute<\/strong> said \u201cInnovation today will define the tourism industry of tomorrow and I urge investors, policy makers and innovators to look carefully at the findings of this groundbreaking report.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis important study highlights the critical role of data and collaboration in restoring our oceans,\u201d said <strong>Jamila El Mir, Insights and Activation Lead at Wave<\/strong> \u201cBy leveraging data-driven insights to fill our knowledge gaps, and fostering partnerships across the tourism ecosystem supported by ocean data platforms such as<a href=\"http:\/\/oceancentral.org\/\" rel=\"noopener\"> <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/oceancentral.org\/\" rel=\"noopener\">oceancentral.org<\/a> by Wave, we can unlock regenerative solutions that ensure a thriving ocean for generations to come\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Olivier Wenden, Vice Chairman and CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation<\/strong> added, \u201cThe findings from this report provide a roadmap to protecting biodiversity and advancing the sustainable use of ocean resources. The Foundation remains committed to championing regenerative approaches, especially in the Mediterranean, Polar Regions, and Least Developed Countries.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Key Findings from the Report:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Demand-Supply Mismatch:<\/strong> 43% of global travelers are willing to pay more for sustainable stays, but few options currently deliver genuinely regenerative value.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Investor Hesitation:<\/strong> 58% of investors cite a lack of confidence or data to fund regenerative tourism, despite a $3 trillion market opportunity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I<strong>nnovation Gaps:<\/strong> Nearly a third of hospitality leaders agree that the emerging innovation pipeline is in need of significant funding to support growth at scale<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Action Lag:<\/strong> Although half of hospitality leaders understand regenerative tourism, only 20% have implemented it at scale.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Economic Potential Undervalued:<\/strong> Over 40% of innovators report difficulty raising funds due to a lack of recognition for the economic impact of their solutions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ocean Community Uniting on the Journey to Ocean Regeneration<br><\/strong>In an effort to engage stakeholders and foster collaboration, the publication\u2019s insights were shared and discussed during a workshop in <strong>Monaco on 7<sup>th<\/sup> June 2025<\/strong>, held alongside the <strong>Blue Economy &amp; Finance Forum , <\/strong>and explored during a panel on <strong>10th June 2025<\/strong> at the Startup Reef in the Innovation Pavilion at the <strong>UN Ocean Conference (UNOC)<\/strong> in <strong>Nice<\/strong>, during which innovators were invited to showcase blue tech solutions to support regenerative practices in the tourism industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis collaborative research effort underscores the importance of harnessing technologies such as artificial intelligence to accelerate the transition to a regenerative tourism sector,\u201d said <strong>Salma Baghdadi, Innovation Lead at Wave<\/strong> \u201cOur work is grounded in impact \u2014 regenerative tourism is not only an environmental and social imperative, but an economic opportunity requiring innovation and blue tech to scale smart, resource-efficient solutions at speed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A Call to Action<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The report outlines a clear call to action for both public and private stakeholders:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Raising awareness among institutional and private investors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Engaging hospitality institutions to drive adoption<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Growing the pipeline of ready-to-scale startups<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Advocating for stronger regulation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Opportunities to unlock regenerative tourism include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Policy Enablement:<\/strong> Enhancing regulatory environments that favor long-term regenerative impact.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Investment Acceleration:<\/strong> Strategic funding to grow blue tech and community-led models.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Framework Alignment:<\/strong> Coordinated development of global sustainability benchmarks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cross-Sector Collaboration:<\/strong> Initiatives to unite hospitality, policy, finance, and innovation communities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2014ENDS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>_________<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><u>Background for Editors<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Supporting Contributors<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a key contributor to the report, <strong>Red Sea Global<\/strong> provided valuable case studies and technical insights drawn from its development of regenerative tourism destinations such as <strong>The Red Sea<\/strong> and <strong>AMAALA<\/strong> in Saudi Arabia. RSG\u2019s contributions demonstrate real-world application of principles discussed in the report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">RSG\u2019s sustainability efforts include powering destinations with 100% renewable energy, marine restoration initiatives like coral and seagrass nurseries, and community programs such as local skills development and sustainable agriculture cooperatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>About the Report Partners<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Red Sea Global<\/strong> is a leading developer of regenerative tourism destinations and a contributor to the report\u2019s insights.<br><a href=\"http:\/\/redseaglobal.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\">redseaglobal.com<\/a><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute<\/strong> is a global non-profit foundation driven by data with an investment arm and one agenda: Impact on Humanity. Global and inclusive, we foster great minds from around the world and turn ideas into real-world solutions in four critical areas: Artificial Intelligence (AI) &amp; Robotics, Education, Healthcare and Sustainability<br><a href=\"http:\/\/www.fii-institute.local\/\" rel=\"noopener\">fii-institute.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Wave<\/strong>, founded by HRH Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud, is the Catmosphere Foundation\u2019s collective action platform targeting science-led restoration of a thriving ocean.<br>Powered by the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute, and in partnership with the Ministry of Energy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Wave strives towards the ambitious yet attainable goal of Ocean Regeneration within a Human Generation.<br><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewave.global\/\" rel=\"noopener\">thewave.global<br><\/a>Wave operates ocean data aggregator tool Ocean Central:<a href=\"http:\/\/oceancentral.org\/\" rel=\"noopener\"> <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/oceancentral.org\/\" rel=\"noopener\">oceancentral.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation<\/strong> is a global leader in advancing planetary health and promoting innovative environmental solutions.<br><a href=\"http:\/\/fpa2.org\/\" rel=\"noopener\">fpa2.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2014ENDS\u2014<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Red Sea Global, FII Institute, Wave, and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, lead collaborative study on accelerating innovation in sustainable travel Riyadh, 25 June 2025 \u2013 A major new report released today by Red Sea Global (RSG), the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute, Wave, and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, highlights [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4897,"template":"","categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4896","press","type-press","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fii-institute.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press\/4896","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fii-institute.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fii-institute.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/press"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fii-institute.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fii-institute.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4897"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fii-institute.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4896"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fii-institute.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4896"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fii-institute.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4896"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}