Restoring Tourism with Safety, Equity, and Eco-Consciousness in Mind
In the wake of the unprecedented fall in international tourist numbers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has released a thematic brief outlining a framework for restarting the tourism sector in a more resilient, inclusive, and carbon-neutral manner. The Policy Brief, authored by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), highlights the unique importance of the tourism sector, particularly for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) that are heavily reliant on tourism for jobs and economic growth.
The Policy Brief identifies five key priorities for the restart of tourism, including mitigating socio-economic impacts on livelihoods, boosting competitiveness, advancing innovation, fostering sustainability, and enhancing coordination and responsible leadership. These priorities emphasize a holistic approach that integrates economic recovery with social equity and environmental protection, aiming to transform the tourism sector into a driver of sustainable development.
1. **Tourism Governance:** The first priority is to strengthen multi-level governance systems by developing robust, data-driven policy frameworks. This enables coordinated action by governments, industry, and communities to manage tourism effectively and sustainably.
2. **Sustainability and Inclusivity:** The second priority is to advance the three pillars of sustainability—social, environmental, and economic—through rigorous research, impact monitoring, and inclusive practices that benefit all stakeholders, especially local communities.
3. **Knowledge Exchange and Research:** The third priority is to create platforms for generating and disseminating policy-relevant knowledge, supporting evidence-based decision-making, and fostering innovation in tourism.
4. **Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration:** The fourth priority is to bridge policymakers, the tourism industry, academia, and communities to collaborate on sustainable tourism development and climate action initiatives.
5. **Climate Action in Tourism:** The fifth priority is to promote low-carbon solutions, renewable energy adoption, and circular business models within tourism to reduce its environmental footprint and contribute to carbon neutrality.
These priorities underscore the need for a more resilient, inclusive, and carbon-neutral tourism sector. With 90% of World Heritage Sites having closed due to the pandemic, both tangible and intangible heritage are at risk worldwide. The brief warns that up to 100 million direct tourism jobs are at risk, and the massive drop in export revenues from tourism could reduce global GDP by as much as 2.8%.
The Policy Brief is supported by eleven United Nations agencies, emphasizing the sector's unique importance and outreach. The UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili underscores the importance of tourism for both developed and developing economies, stating that the impacts of the pandemic on tourism are placing conservation efforts in jeopardy, particularly in SIDS and LDCs.
The Policy Brief stresses that the crisis represents an opportunity to rethink tourism and its contribution to the SDGs. By rebuilding the tourism sector in a safe, equitable, and climate-friendly manner, we can ensure that it once again becomes a provider of decent jobs, stable incomes, and a protector of cultural and natural heritage. This framework is also supported by initiatives such as the establishment of research centers and sustainable tourism awards to recognize leadership in these areas.
- The tourism sector, crucial even for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), can be rebuilt in a more resilient, inclusive, and carbon-neutral manner to become a provider of decent jobs, stable incomes, and a protector of cultural and natural heritage.
- Effective and sustainable tourism management requires robust, data-driven policy frameworks that foster coordinated action among governments, industry, and communities, emphasizing a holistic approach that integrates economic recovery with social equity and environmental protection.
- In the restart of tourism, priority should be given to advancing the three pillars of sustainability, including social, environmental, and economic aspects through rigorous research, impact monitoring, and inclusive practices that benefit all stakeholders, particularly local communities.
- Successful implementation of sustainable tourism development and climate action initiatives relies on multi-stakeholder collaboration between policymakers, the tourism industry, academia, and communities who share a common goal of fostering eco-tourism and promoting eco-friendly tourism practices.
- Promoting low-carbon solutions and renewable energy adoption within the tourism sector can help reduce its environmental footprint and contribute to carbon neutrality, ensuring that tourism continues to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the post-pandemic world.
