The UNWTO Global Tourism Crisis Committee has united the tourism sector to formulate a sector-wide response to the unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Early on, the Committee released the first set of global recommendations to support jobs and economies through tourism.

At its fifth meeting, UNWTO changed the emphasis towards restarting tourism. The Committee endorsed UNWTO’s Global Guidelines to Restart Tourism, an action plan focused on the Priorities for Tourism Recovery.

In addition, Greece presented a ‘White Paper on Recommendations for Restarting Tourism’, on behalf of UNWTO’s European COVID-19 Task Force. Furthermore, Spain introduced its ‘Guidelines for Reducing Coronavirus Infection in the Tourism Industry’, which serves as a pilot project for UNWTO.

Additional examples reflected response measures from all world regions, international organizations and the private sector:

  Colombia – Managing the Impact of COVID-19
  Dubai Airports – COVID-19 Response Measures
  Portugal – Clean & Safe Stamp
  Republic of Korea – How COVID-19 Was Contained
  Seychelles – Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
  WTTC – World Travel & Tourism Council
  OECD – Tourism Policy Responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19)

Leading Tourism’s Response

UNWTO has been providing the analytical insights needed for a better understanding and more effective response to the pandemic, by:

• Releasing regular updates of global travel restrictions
• Generating up-to-date data of COVID-19's impact on tourism
• Offering a worldwide overview of measures to support tourism

Tourism’s COVID-19 response has been furthered by UNWTO by 

• Preparing the UNWTO Recommendations for Action – Supporting Jobs And Economies Through Travel & Tourism
• Producing a Technical Assistance Package
• Formulating an inclusive response to protect vulnerable groups
• Response through Innovation, Digital Transformation & Investments
• International Protection of Tourists
• General awareness raising through the #TravelTomorrow campaign, promoted also by countries, destinations, private sector and media, including a landmark agreement with CNN International

The Global Tourism Crisis Committee 

The Committee comprises representatives of UNWTO’s Member States and private sector Affiliate Members, alongside the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the World Bank, as well as the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The private sector is represented by Airports Council International (ACI), Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).