On the 3^rd of July 2019, UNWTO together with strategic partners, the International Trade Centre (ITC), World Trade Organization (WTO) and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) successfully led two side event sessions focusing on tourism:

• Session 5: "Creating and Capturing value at origin: Tourism as a driver of inclusive and sustainable economic diversification" (UNWTO/EBRD/ITC) at 10:30am - 11:30 am (Room S3, WTO Building)
• Session 11: "Tourism financing for the 2030 Agenda" (UNWTO/ITC/WTO) 11:30am - 12:30 (Room S3, WTO Building)

In Session 5, the panel provided interesting insights into the challenges and possible solutions for promoting sustainable tourism, reflecting a range of perspectives from the private sector to international institutions and government authorities. Mr Pololikashvili, UNWTO Secretary-General emphasized on UNWTO’s new strategic objectives, one of which will be to motivate people, ideas, approaches and innovation as well as to focus more on secondary cities and rural areas, all for the benefit of more sustainable tourism and achievement of the SDGs.

In Session 11, ministers, development partners and financing institutions recognized the way in which tourism can contribute to the 2030 Sustainable Agenda. Tourism is explicitly mentioned as a target in three of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (8, 12 and 14), though, as speakers at the Geneva session noted, for the sector to really realize its enormous potential, the amount of aid and development financing directed towards tourism needs to be increased significantly.

Unlocking Tourism’s potential for realizing the 2030 Agenda requires a combination of effective and robust policy frameworks, enhanced private sector action, and an innovative approach to development cooperation.

“This is an important time for both the tourism and the international development sectors. UNWTO welcomes the opportunity to join ministers, tourism leaders and our partners for these important talks here in Geneva. Working together we can harness the power of the new aid architecture and ensure that nobody gets left behind as tourism transforms lives around the world” said Mr. Pololikashvili.

“It is fundamental to raise the profile of the sector, and having the discussion on tourism in the international fora” – H.E. Dr. Rania Al- Mashat

Please find useful links below :

• UNWTO Press Release: World Tourism Organization Leads Discussion on “Tourism Financing for the 2030 Agenda” at the Aid for Trade Conference in Geneva
• Aid for Trade Global Review 2019: “Supporting Economic Diversification and Empowerment.”

For sessions recordings please find the links below:

• Session 5: "Creating and Capturing value at origin: Tourism as a driver of inclusive and sustainable economic diversification"
• Session 11: "Tourism financing for the 2030 Agenda"