The official launch of the International Year of Sustainable Travel for Development (IY2017) was launched on 18 January 2017 in Madrid, Spain.
IY2017 aims to support a change in policies, business practices and consumer behaviour towards a more sustainable tourism sector that contributes to the SDGs. It is also a unique opportunity that aims to raise awareness about the contribution of sustainable tourism to development among public and private sector decision-makers as well as the public. This in turn, rallies all stakeholders to work together in making tourism a catalyst for positive change.

 
BORNEO ECO TOURS FRIEND OF IY2017
Borneo Eco Tours as pioneer of ecotourism  and sustainability champion in particularly in Borneo, pledges as friend in support for this event. Borneo Eco Tours sees IY2017 as a vital event that encourages positive change especially in our home state, Sabah.
Some of the initiatives that Borneo Eco Tours has taken up besides being a “Friend” of IY2017, is using the UN Sustainable Development Goals as a guiding principle when developing and implementing community and environmental projects.
Aside from the said initiatives, Borneo Eco Tours has also establish Kiulu Farmstay, a community based tourism project which has brought about positive change in the lives of the community in Kiulu since 2015.
This is possible as Borneo Eco Tours has helped to create new job opportunities like guiding, house-keeping, landscaping and others for the villagers of Kiulu. This in turn, gives them a new income and also decreases poverty within the community. The project will be the first of many other similar initiatives that intends to empower the lives of communities through community development and capacity building.
“The tremendous hope that our sector provides should inspire us all to act for the good of people and planet. Together we can be the change we want to see,” says UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai.

The year 2017 is looking to be a year of positive change as the United Nations General Assembly has designated 2017 to be the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development (IY2017). It recalls the potential of tourism to advance the universal 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and also the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The celebration is very much dedicated to championing tourism as a sector that can lead towards a brighter future.
IY2017 aims to support a change in policies, business practices and consumer behaviour towards a more sustainable tourism sector that contributes to the SDGs. It is also a unique opportunity that aims to raise awareness about the contribution of sustainable tourism to development among public and private sector decision-makers as well as the public. This in turn, rallies all stakeholders to work together in making tourism a catalyst for positive change.
IY2017 will promote tourism’s role in the following five key areas:
(1) Inclusive and sustainable economic growth
(2) Social inclusiveness, employment and poverty reduction
(3) Resource efficiency, environmental protection and climate change
(4) Cultural values, diversity and heritage
(5) Mutual understanding, peace and security.