On 3 Oct 2020, the Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia celebrated the World Tourism Day 2020 under the theme of Tourism and Rural Development, presided over by H.E. Dr. THONG Khon, Minister of Tourism in Siem Reap – Angkor, Home of World Heritages. This event amid the COVID-19 pandemic was organized in respect with safety and health guidelines. The celebrations also highlighted the efforts made by UNWTO, ASEAN Member States to address the challenges faced by all member countries. Cambodia, as the chair of ATF 2021 shows its high commitment to bring back tourism.
In his opening remarks, H.E. Dr. Thong Khon stressed the necessity to explore the possibility of considering ASEAN Travel Bubble. He also congratulated the achievement of ASEAN National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) in starting the development of ASEAN Tourism Safety and Hygiene Guideline and ASEAN Tourism Post COVID-19 Recovery Plan.
World Tourism Day is usually celebrated by UNWTO member countries on 27 Sept or beyond to disseminate the future perspectives of tourism in a specific direction so as to contribute to the world agenda. This year is “Tourism and Rural Development” with a special focus on how to restart tourism and how to transform tourism potentials as a driver for more resilient and responsible manner.
At the beginning of the celebrations, the congratulatory message from Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN SEN, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia was read out and highlighted the important roles of tourism in enhancing rural development. The hall also appreciated the key messages from H.E. Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General and H.E. Zurabl Pololikashvili, UNWTO Secretary General.
Tourism’s many benefits must be felt outside of urban areas for the sector to fulfil its potential to provide opportunities for all: That was the key message of World Tourism Day 2020 as UNWTO united the global community around the theme of “Tourism and Rural Development”.
Around the world, tourism is a lifeline for rural communities, providing jobs, supporting rural businesses and protecting natural and cultural heritage. World Tourism Day 2020 emphasized the role the sector will play in helping rural areas recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and build for the future.
Messages promoting the day were shared by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, His Holiness Pope Francis, UNWTO’s network of Ambassadors, including Spanish football star Iker Casillas, heads of Government including Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and UN agencies and international organizations, from UNESCO and ITC to the OECD and IATA.
Tourism has proven to be a lifeline for many rural communities, but its true force still needs to be fully deployed
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “Tourism has proven to be a lifeline for many rural communities, but its true force still needs to be fully deployed. This World Tourism Day highlighted our sector’s unique ability to reach those who would otherwise be left behind, providing opportunities for all, transforming lives and protecting the cultural heritage that makes us human.”
The celebration was hosted by the MERCOSUR nations (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile as associate member), the first time in the 40-year-history of history of the international day of observance that hosting duties have been shared.
Germán Cardoso, Minister of Tourism for Uruguay, highlighted rural tourism’s importance for helping countries diversify their markets, noting it offers “sensitive and emotional experiences” for visitors alongside its benefits for the communities themselves. The Minister of Tourism for Argentina Matías Lammen noted that “tourism in South America is regional…whoever visits us usually visits more than one country”, making a joined-up approach to building a “greener future” essential. Marcelo Alvaro Antonio, Minister of Tourism for Brazil, singled out the importance of innovation and investment and the “power of ecotourism and adventure tourism”. For Paraguay, Minister Sofía Elizabeth Montiel de Afara, reaffirmed her government’s “commitment to the Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, and its emphasis on working with local communities. The Under-Secretary of Tourism for Chile, José Luis Uriarte, similarly pledged to use tourism to “support rural communities suffering from the economic and social repercussions of this pandemic.”
Taking part in the round-table discussion that followed were Mario Alberto González Sanchez, Director of Mexican Secretariat of Tourism, and the Chilean chef and UNWTO Special Ambassador, Pilar Rodriguez. Joining them were Lisandro Menu-Marque, Director at Globalia, and Shannon Stowell, CEO of the Professional Adventure Travel Association and the Adventure Travel Fund of the USA.
UNWTO used the occasion of World Tourism Day to launch its new Recommendations on Tourism and Rural Development. The new publication outlines the key steps destinations can take to fully harness the potential of tourism to help drive social and economic recovery outside of urban areas.
Recognising the important role new ideas and technology will play in this, UNWTO also announced the winners of its Rural Tourism Innovation Competition. Organized with the Government of Spain, Google Spain and the Federation of Rural Women’s Associations (FADEMUR). The competition attracted more than 130 applications from across Spain. Almost half of applications (43%) were put forward by women. My Street Book won the prize in the Innovation category, and the winner of the prize for the start-up with the biggest social impact was Van Woow.
