Dubai: MENA governments looking to offer tax cuts, provide incentives to promote sustainability

Dubai: MENA governments looking to offer tax cuts, provide incentives to promote sustainability

Governments in the Mena region are looking to offer tax incentives to travel, tourism and hospitality firms and promote those businesses that comply with the sustainability and climate change goals and help reduce CO2 emissions.

The regional ministers and UN officials said at the Arabian Travel Market on Monday that it is not just the responsibility of the governments but also the private sector to contribute financially to deal with climate change challenges faced by the world.

Dr Abel Al Razzaq, managing director, Jordan Tourism Board, said firms that comply with climate-change regulations are given more preferential treatment in the supply chain.

“For example, hotels adhering to green tourism will get discounts on participation in exhibitions. But those hotels that are not sustainable will not be promoted. There is also talk to give more tax incentives to the hospitality sector that comply with climate-related regulations,” he said, adding that hotels are also taking initiatives and increasingly deploying solar energy while rent-a-car companies are shifting to electric cars to reduce emissions.

“We need to educate businesses and travellers on how they can contribute, calculate and reduce CO2 emissions,” he said.

‘Protecting your own business'

Sujit Mohanty, chief of Arab States for the United Nations Office for Disaster