Time to rethink, transform, and safely restart tourism – UN chief

Guterres said in his message to mark World Tourism Day, globally observed on September 27 to raise awareness about covering the social, cultural, political, and economic contribution of tourism towards gaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism could result in more than US$ 4-trillion loss to the global economy, according to a recent report from the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Highlighting the fact that in the first months of this year, “international tourist arrivals decreased by a staggering 95 per cent in parts of the world”.

Guterres said that tourism continued to suffer enormously due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is a major shock for developed economies, but for developing countries, it is an emergency,” he added.

“Climate change is also severely affecting many major tourist destinations, particularly Small Island Developing States”, his message added. “There, tourism accounts for nearly 30 per cent of all economic activity.”

Acknowledging that many millions of livelihoods are in jeopardy, Guterres said that now it is “time to rethink, transform, and safely restart tourism”.

“With the right safeguards in place, the tourism sector can provide decent jobs, helping to build resilient, sustainable, gender-equal, inclusive economies and societies that work for everyone,” he added.

According to the United Nations specialized agency responsible and sustainable tourism (UNWTO), tourism is a recognized pillar of most the SGDs, particularly Goals 1 (poverty-elimination), 5 (gender equality), 8 (decent work and economic growth) and 10 (to reduce inequalities).

Guterres went on to call for targeted action and investment, towards green and sustainable tourism, “with high emitting sectors, including air and sea transport and hospitality, moving towards carbon neutrality”.

Saying that “everybody should have a say in how tourism shapes the future of our societies,” the UN chief concluded that “only through inclusive decision-making can we ensure inclusive, sustainable growth, deliver on the promise of the SDGs, and transform tourism to fulfil its potential”.

The sector could then become “an engine for prosperity, a vehicle for integration, a means to protect our planet and biodiversity, and an agent of cultural understanding between peoples,” Guterres said.