Dubai Tourism Department has set new rules for the hotels in Dubai to improve their sustainability efforts. There are many new requirements going forward.

Properties will need to review their practices on consumption of energy and managing food and water. Hotels are required to inform the guests about the ongoing eco-friendly initiatives. Staff will be trained to create a sustainably-minded workforce. Hotels will need to work with local communities and undertake co-operate social responsibility programmes.

Each hotel group must set up sustainable committees to oversee activities so that the regulated guidelines achieve energy conservation and efficiency, and promote environmentally sustainable practices across the local tourism industry.

Many hotels have already made moves to become more sustainable. For example, Tryp by Wyndham has set up the first glass water bottle refiling system to eliminate the use of plastic bottles.

The new rules have been given a thumbs up by the UN’s sustainability goals which specify eco-friendly tourism aims. With Dubai going to host the 20 million tourists to Dubai in 2020 for the Expo 2020, environmental goals for the city’s tourism industry are expected to promote sustainability in a big way.