Prince Albert II of Monaco addressed leading luxury hospitality executives and high-end travel advisors from across the globe at the recent Forbes Travel Guide Summit, held in the Municipality in late February.
Taking to the stage at the Grimaldi Forum, Prince Albert II discussed his family’s long-standing commitment to environmental conservation, tracing the theme back to his great-grandfather’s pioneering work in oceanography.
His Serene Highness highlighted Monaco’s short coastline (at under seven kilometres) and its successful marine reserve, established by his father over 40 years ago.
Subscribe to LATTE’s free eNewsletter to keep up to date with everything in the luxury travel industry.
Albert II shared his own personal experiences in the Arctic, which triggered the creation of his foundation – aptly named the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation – and celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026, and more than 800 projects.
He emphasised the importance of balancing tourism with sustainability and detailed his foundation’s work in Asia, Africa and South America.
Albert II said his grandfather spearheaded Monaco’s turn toward caring for the natural environment more than 100 years ago. “The word environment didn’t exist back then.”
“He was such a visionary. He was one of the first to talk about different ways of fishing and was an advocate against over fishing in the early part of the 20th century.”
“He was also a great advocate for landmarks and for parks. He was one of the first in Europe, probably inspired by what was in the US, where he travelled to in 1913.”
“He was one of the founders of the first national parks in Europe, between France and Spain in the Pyrenees. All of that really inspired the people of Monaco, including my father, and that inspired me to continue in that vain,” His Highness said.
Speaking of his own experiences, Prince Albert II said: “With my different travels around the world and the way I saw the different changes in different ecosystems that prompted me to try to do more, building on the Marine Reserve of Monaco’s coastline started by his father 40 years ago.
“It’s hard to maintain a marine reserve in such an urbanised city and urbanised coastline, but it is possible. It is possible to fine that balance between development, sustainability and environmental marine protection.”
Albert used an example of a receding glacier called the ‘Living Room’ in the Svalbard archipelago that his grandfather viewed in 1906 and he personally witnessed in the summer of 2005 aboard a research vessel sailing around Spitsbergen in Norway.
“I was able to see firsthand this glacier and compare it to a picture that my great grandfather had taken almost 100 years earlier, and to compare the glacier, it had receded by over three miles. That was an alarm bell that went off, and I decided we had to do something about this.”Another example of the Prince’s was an expedition in April 2006, from the polar station in Barneo with dog sleds and a goal to reach the North Pole. “There were alarming signs of thinner ice, less wildlife and changes in temperature which were already very visible and very real.”
“I had already thought of creating my Foundation, but that kind of accelerated that idea. In June I introduced my Foundation and in June this year it will celebrate its 20th anniversary next year, and well over 800 projects that we are initiated or collaborated with.”
“It makes us a reliable player. Our main focus is marine but we also do a lot with forests,” he said.Prince Albert II told travel and tourism media expert Peter Greenberg that Monaco has successfully balanced sustainability with tourism
“It’s a question of balance and setting up the right processes and ways of integrating sustainability in everything that you do. It is possible to have a wonderful experience in luxury while making it as sustainable as possible and attractive as possible and not have it impede on the overall experience.”
“Managing numbers. It is a challenge, and a challenge for any primary tourist destination in terms of traffic flow, making sure that different populations and tourism can co-exist in the same space. But that’s a challenge not only for us here in Monaco but for destinations for everywhere.”
“We need to ensure we have a great experience for everybody, but we have to manage those goals in a very diplomatic way,” Albert II said.
Monaco Brand
His Highness also highlighted the significance of the Monaco brand.
“Monaco is a very special place. It’s where innovation meets heritage.”
“We have an incredible setting and iconic landmarks. Culture is very much a part of Monaco and there are many cultural events. But also great sports events that we have and the other wonderful events.
“Monaco used to be very seasonal, but there’s no more seasons now and so many different events in every month of the year that makes it an interesting destination. There is something for everyone for every moment of the year and that is fairly recent in our history, but that’s really what is characterising our way forward now.”
LATTE travelled to Monaco as a guest of Forbes Travel Guide.
