KATHMANDU: UN Tourism, the United Nations agency for sustainable and accessible tourism, has teamed up with the E1 Series, the world’s first all-electric raceboat championship, to jointly promote sustainable mobility and tourism through global sport.

The partnership was formalized with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Monaco, a hub for clean marine mobility, during the E1 Monaco race. UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili and E1 Series Founder Alejandro Agag signed the agreement, marking a significant step toward leveraging sports for positive environmental and economic impact.

Agag, recently appointed UN Tourism’s Special Ambassador for Sport, emphasized the power of sport to drive environmental change, saying: “By combining E1’s electric marine technology with UN Tourism’s global reach, we can deliver memorable experiences while protecting our marine environments.”

The collaboration aims to support several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including, SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG 14 – Life Below Water.

Together, the organizations will raise awareness around marine conservation and promote action to protect coastal ecosystems.

The E1 Series hosts electric boat races in iconic coastal cities such as Jeddah, Doha, and Dubrovnik, with upcoming events planned in Lagos and Miami. These races offer a new, eco-conscious way to connect fans, communities, and destinations, aligning with UN Tourism’s efforts to promote responsible travel.

Sports Tourism on the Rise

According to UN Tourism, over 180 million international tourists travel annually to attend sports events. Valued at approximately USD 685 billion in 2024 and growing at 17.5% annually, sports tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors in global tourism. It plays a vital role in economic diversification, social development, and cross-cultural exchange.

The UN Tourism–E1 partnership is expected to further strengthen global recognition of sustainable sports tourism and its potential to foster innovation and inclusive economic growth.