UN General Assembly hosts event on tourism for sustainable development

23-04-24

The United Nations General Assembly has held a second thematic event focused on tourism and the key role the sector plays in promoting sustainable development and resilience.

The event, which was organized by the President of the General Assembly in collaboration with UN Tourism, took place at UN Headquarters as part of Sustainability Week. The presence of Member States, Observer States, civil society organizations and UN agencies reflected a growing collective commitment to harness the transformative power of tourism for inclusive and sustainable development.

We cannot allow the opportunities and livelihoods that tourism provides to be jeopardized again. Resilience in tourism is not just about planning or reacting to crises. It is also about proactively addressing the underlying drivers of such crises.

Addressing the General Assembly, UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said, "The growing importance of the tourism sector to our societies and our economies brings with it increased responsibility. We cannot allow the opportunities and livelihoods that tourism provides to be jeopardized again. Resilience in tourism is not just about planning or reacting to crises. It is also about proactively addressing the underlying drivers of such crises. Unsustainable consumption is leading to biodiversity loss, climate change and the emergence of pandemics. It is paramount that we adopt policies that accelerate transformative change."

The President of the General Assembly, His Excellency Dennis Francis, noted, "We need a global tourism sector that is sustainable - one that has deep local value chains that increase demand for locally produced products and services in ways that also directly and positively benefit local communities; a sector that serves as a positive force for biodiversity conservation, heritage protection and climate-friendly livelihoods."

A high-level platform for a statistics-driven strategy.

The thematic event provided a platform for Member States to share best practices, strategies and innovative approaches to promote sustainable and resilient tourism in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Highlights included the following:

• Informal Meeting: The Future of Tourism - Leaders from the tourism sector, academia and civil society engaged in a dynamic discussion on the future of tourism and the need for innovative solutions to address emerging challenges and opportunities.

• Ministerial discussions - Discussions were held on the launch of the Statistical Framework for Measuring Sustainable Tourism, and on strategies to foster a resilient tourism sector in the face of global challenges. Ministers and high-level officials shared views and commitments to promote sustainable tourism practices and policies.

In closing, the President of the General Assembly reiterated the importance of collaboration and partnership building to address the complex challenges facing the tourism sector, and reaffirmed the UN's commitment to support sustainable tourism as a catalyst for positive change.  

In February, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution to declare 2027 as the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism. The resolution invites UN Tourism to collaborate with governments, UN agencies and international organizations to implement the thematic year.