Advancing Sustainable and Inclusive Tourism
Tourism is one of the world’s most dynamic industries: a powerful driver of economic growth, job creation, and cultural exchange. In developing countries, it can be a lifeline for communities, generating income, empowering women and youth, and preserving natural and cultural heritage. Globally, the sector supports one in ten jobs — more than 350 million jobs — with over half filled by women and young people.
At IFC, we work to ensure that tourism grows sustainably and inclusively. Through financing and advisory services, we help businesses adopt resource-efficient practices, uphold high labor standards, and build resilience in the face of global challenges. Our goal: tourism that benefits people, protects the planet, and strengthens local economies. Since 1967, IFC has financed 332 projects across 97 countries, committing about $3.9 billion and mobilizing billions more from partners.
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Examples of IFC’s work in Tourism
Expanding Destinations and Skills Development
IFC supports new and emerging destinations while strengthening community linkages. From building workforce skills in partnership with hotel groups like Kasada, to fostering small and medium enterprise (SME) participation in supply chains, our projects amplify tourism’s benefits for local communities.Green Building Leadership – EDGE Certification
IFC promotes resource-efficient hotel infrastructure through its EDGE green building program, helping clients reduce carbon footprints and operational costs.Greening Real Estate Investment Portfolios (GRIP)
Through GRIP, IFC helps hotel owners and operators decarbonize their portfolios. To date, GRIP has partnered with 13 major asset owners, covering over 50 million square meters and enabling over US$2 billion in IFC investments.Focus on Low-Income Communities
in 2024, 83% of IFC’s new tourism investments were directed to low-income countries or those in fragile and conflict-affected situations, maximizing local impact.Sustainability-Linked Financing
IFC provides long-term financing and advisory services for hotels and resorts, supporting projects that meet high standards for sustainability and social inclusion. For example, IFC arranged the first blue loan in Croatia to support sustainable coastal tourism — pioneering new ways to align tourism growth with climate resilience.Job Creation and Labor Standards
IFC’s investments emphasize job creation, compliance with labor standards, gender inclusion, and best practices in hotel operations to benefit local communities. We also provide trainings and workshops for IFC hotel clients, leveraging learnings from ILO/IFC Better Work partnership to strengthen workplace practices.Building Resilience for the Future
IFC helps tourism businesses adapt to global challenges — from strengthening infrastructure against extreme weather to embedding sustainability in business models.