High-Level Thematic Event on Tourism - United Nations General Assembly
Tuesday, 16 April 2024, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. | General Assembly Hall, UN Headquarters, New York
As part of the Sustainability Week, the High-level Thematic Event on Tourism will be convened by the President of the General Assembly for the seventy-eighth session, in cooperation with UN Tourism. As one of the largest sectors in the world, tourism is a major driver of economic growth, and social and cultural development, as well as an important contributor of decent job creation and entrepreneurship for all. For many developing countries, the tourism sector is a major source of employment, foreign currency earnings and tax revenues.
The high-level thematic event on tourism aims to advance a concerted approach on strengthening tourism resilience at the highest level and maximising its contribution to the sustainability agenda. The event offers Member States, Observers, civil society, UN System and other stakeholders a platform to discuss strategies, share best practices and experiences to promote sustainable and resilient tourism and its contribution to achieving SDGs.
Provisional Programme
Opening Segment
Remarks by:
- H.E. Mr. Dennis Francis, President of the General Assembly for the 78th Session
- Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary General of UN Tourism
- H.E. Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Chair of the Executive Council of the UN Tourism and Minister of Tourism for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Fireside Chat – Future of Tourism
Moderator: Mr. Richard Quest, CNN International Anchor, UN Tourism Ambassador
- Ms. Virginia Messina – Senior Vice President, Advocacy and Comms, World Tourism and Travel Council
- Mr. Jerry Inzerillo, Group CEO, Diriyah Gate Development Authority
- Ms. Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization
- Prof. Mr. Robertico Croes, Professor Tourism Economics and Management, Rosen College of Hospitality Management
- Mr. Christian de Boer, Managing Director of Jaya House Hotels
Designation of Mr. Jerry Inzerillo, Group CEO, Diriyah Gate Development Authority, as the UN Tourism Ambassador for Sustainable Tourism by the Secretary-General of UN Tourism.
Plenary
Statements from Member States and Observers
Break
Ministerial Roundtable 1
Sustainable Tourism - The Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism
Moderator: Ms. Zoritsa Urosevic, Executive Director, UN Tourism
Panelists:
- H.E. Ms. Patricia de Lille, Minister of Tourism of the Republic of South Africa
- H.E. Mr. Harris Whitbeck, Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Guatemala
- H.E. Mr. Ibrahim Faisal, Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Maldives
Ministerial Roundtable 2
Resilient Tourism – Fostering resilience tourism to facilitate and ensure global sustainability
Moderator: Ms. Aradhana Khowala, CEO & Founder, Aptamind Partners, UK
Panelists:
- H.E. Mr. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism of Jamaica
- H.E. Mr. Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia
- H.E. Mr. Jordi Torres Falco, Minister of Tourism of the Principality of Andorra Interactive Dialogue Interventions from Member States and Observers, as well as, time permitting, UN System and other stakeholders.
Closing Segment
Remarks by:
- Mr. Eric Adams, Mayor of New York City
- Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary General of UN Tourism
- H.E. Mr. Dennis Francis, President of the General Assembly
Documents:
- United Nations General Assembly Sustainability Week
- United Nations General Assembly High-Level Thematic Event on Tourism
