G20 Tourism Working Group and Ministerial Meeting

• All Regions
• 30 Sep 2023

One Earth, One Family, One Future

A roadmap for people and planet

As the knowledge partner of India's G20 Presidency, UN Tourism delivered the Goa Roadmap for Tourism as a Vehicle for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals at the meeting of the Ministers of Tourism of the world's leading economies.

Halfway between the 2015 launch of the 2030 Agenda and the deadline to accomplish it, UN Tourism called on G20 Tourism Ministers to lead the sector's contribution to accelerating progress towards achieving the 17 SDGs. The Goa Roadmap, developed with the Tourism Working Group, builds upon the five priority areas of India's G20 Presidency:

• Green Tourism: Recognizing the critical need to work towards climate action and environmental protection, including through greater international cooperation, the Goa Roadmap incorporates recommended actions and good practices from G20 economies and guest countries. These focus on issues such as financing, sustainable infrastructure and resource management, integrating circular approaches in the tourism value chain and engaging visitors as key actors in sustainability.
• Digitalization: The Roadmap makes clear the wide-ranging benefits of supporting businesses and destinations as they embrace digitalization, including enhanced productivity, improved infrastructure management and delivering a safer and more efficient visitor experience.
• Skills: Reflecting one of UN Tourism's core priorities for the sector, the Roadmap emphasizes the need to provide tourism workers, particularly youth and women, with the skills employers need, to future-proof tourism jobs and to make the sector a more attractive career path. 
• Tourism MSMEs: With Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) accounting for 80% of all tourism businesses worldwide, the Roadmap emphasizes the importance of public policies and public-private partnerships in addressing key challenges, including financing, marketing and skills gaps and market access to support MSMEs through the digital and sustainable transitions.
• Destination Management: The Roadmap presents a set of recommended actions to create a holistic approach to destination management that strengthens public-private-community partnerships and enhances a whole-of-government approach. It also shares further examples of innovative programmes among G20 and invited countries. 

The Goa Roadmap for Tourism as a Vehicle for Achieving the SDGs offers the G20 economies a proposed plan of action to lead the way forward towards a better future for all

UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili says: "As tourism bounces back close to pre-pandemic levels, we must ensure that recovery is sustainable, inclusive and resilient. The Goa Roadmap for Tourism as a Vehicle for Achieving the SDGs offers the G20 economies a proposed plan of action to lead the way forward towards a better future for all."

Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Development of North Eastern Region, Government of India, added: "Tourism can be instrumental in addressing many of the challenges faced by our societies while transforming itself to address its socio-economic impacts. Working together on a common roadmap for recovery and long-term sustainability will unlock its immense potential to deliver on the SDGs."

G20 Tourism and SDGs Dashboard

UN Tourism and India’s G20 Presidency joined hands to launch a new tool to advance the contribution of tourism policies and initiatives towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Ahead of the G20 Leaders' Summit (9-10 September), UN Tourism worked with the Presidency through India's Ministry of Tourism on the G20 Tourism and SDGs Dashboard. This tool will help to promote the sector's contribution to accelerating progress towards achieving the 17 SDGs.

The Dashboard showcases the pillars of the Goa Roadmap for Tourism as a Vehicle for Achieving the SDGs around the five priority areas set for the Tourism Working Group, which are: 1. Green Tourism; 2. Digitalization; 3. Skills; 4. Tourism MSMEs and 5. Destination Management.

The UN Tourism-G20 Dashboard includes over 20 case studies under these five areas and will be updated on a regular basis over the coming years, providing a unique reference for tourism policies and initiatives in their contribution to the SDGs

The G20 Tourism and SDGs Dashboard is included in the UN Tourism-led Tourism for SDGs Platform.

UN Tourism, tourism and the G20

• The G20 economies represent around 85% of the global GDP, over 75% of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.
• In 2022, the G20 welcomed 74% of all international tourists and accounted for 73% of tourism exports worldwide. In 2019, pre COVID-19 pandemic the Tourism Direct GDP reached 3.7% of the G20 economies.

Related links

• G20 Tourism Side Event Focuses on Rural Tourism for Community Empowerment
• Tourism for Development and Prosperity Highlighted in G20 Leaders’ Declaration
• G20 Welcomes Roadmap to Make Tourism Key Driver of Sustainable Development Goals
• UNWTO and G20 Launch Dashboard to Support Tourism in Advancing the SDGs
• Goa Roadmap for Tourism as a Vehicle for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
• G20 Tourism and SDGs Dashboard

Ambassadors Join UN Tourism to Look Ahead to 2027 Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism

• All Regions
• 20 Jun 2024

UN Tourism has joined its Members in celebrating the establishment of 2027 as the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism.

At the Organization’s headquarters in Madrid, the UN Tourism leadership welcomed the Ambassadors to Spain of 24 Member States to look ahead to the seminal year. They included His Excellency Farrukh Tursunov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan, which sponsored the Resolution for the year ahead of its adoption by 86 Member States at the UN General Assembly in February. Rosario Sánchez Grau, Secretary of State for Tourism of Spain, host country of UN Tourism, was also present to mark the occasion.

The adoption of the Resolution to proclaim 2027 the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism was a joint achievement. So it is only right we come together today to celebrate it

Welcoming the dignitaries, UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “The adoption of the Resolution to proclaim 2027 the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism was a joint achievement. So it is only right we come together today to celebrate it. The year will allow us to make clear tourism’s unique ability to drive development and opportunity, while also stressing the need to ensure that the sector’s growth is sustainable in every way and resilient enough to weather future shocks and challenges.”

The UN General Assembly Resolution calls on “UN Tourism to facilitate the organization and implementation of the International Year, in collaboration with Governments, relevant organizations of the United Nations system, international and regional organizations and other relevant stakeholders."

Related links

• Download News Release on PDF
• Sustainable Tourism Development
• UN General Assembly Hosts Tourism for Sustainable Development Event

Education and diversification recognized as key to future of tourism in Asia and the Pacific

• All Regions
• 28 Jun 2024

Diversifying tourism across Asia and the Pacific, alongside promoting more and better education, will be key to building a more resilient and sustainable sector.

According to UN Tourism’s data, the sector is experiencing a rapid recovery in Asia and the Pacific, with arrivals reaching 82% of pre-pandemic levels in the first quarter of 2024, boosted by the re-opening of many destinations throughout 2023. Now, with full recovery on the horizon, the latest joint meeting of UN Tourism’s Commission for Asia and the Pacific (CAP) and its Commission of South Asia (CSA), focused on the challenges and opportunities for creating a positive and lasting transformation.

As our data shows, tourism’s recovery is close to complete here in Asia and Pacific. We worked together to face the crisis head on.

Guiding transformation and building resilience  

The 36th meeting of the CAP-CSA welcomed more than 130 delegates from 25 countries and territories. All Members were provided with a comprehensive overview of UN Tourism’s work and achievements since the last meeting, with key priorities then presented for the years ahead.

UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “As our data shows, tourism’s recovery is close to complete here in Asia and Pacific. We worked together to face the crisis head on. And now we must work together to focus on our priorities for the future. That means supporting education, driving investments into our sector and further strengthening the ties between public and private to build resilience and advance sustainability and inclusive growth.” 

Education the top-level tourism priority  

Reflecting the high-level support given to tourism and to UN Tourism’s mission to guide the sector forward, Commission host the Philippines was represented by President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, at the meeting. In his opening remarks President Marcos commended UN Tourism’s focus on education and training for the sector and stressed his commitment to wider sustainability efforts. “Education is always going to make any industry better and certainly tourism is no different,” President Marcos said. “We need to raise the standards and practices in this crucial sector by investing in education, training, and skills upgrading of all the personnel who are working in this industry.” 

Emphasising his Government’s recognition of the importance of education, President Ferdinand Marcos expressed interest in opening a new Academy in Collaboration with UN Tourism in the Philippines. The institution would add to UN Tourism’s growing network of Academies, with education centres focusing on the specific needs of regions or on key skills needed for the future of tourism.  

Resilience via green transformation  

Within the framework of the joint Commission meeting, Member States in the region tabled a thematic discussion on product development emphasizing the need for green transformation to enhance the tourism sector’s competitiveness, while bolstering its resilience through the promotion of innovative and green solutions.  

Untapping Gastronomy Tourism’s Potential   

In Cebu, the spotlight was put on gastronomy tourism as one of the sure routes to progress product diversification to add value to the sector and accelerate  recovery in the region. Here, UN Tourism hosted its first Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Asia and the Pacific, connecting public and private sector leaders with top entrepreneurs and leading chefs from the region and beyond. Discussions concluded with the Cebu Call to Action on Gastronomy Tourism, urging public and private leaders to integrate gastronomy tourism into policy, foster cross-sector cooperation, namely with agriculture and creative industries, support small businesses, and promote sustainable practices. 

Secretary-General Polikashvili challenged tourism players to further capitalize on the region’s growing reputation as both a destination and leader in the field of gastronomy tourism. “My proposal is to leave a legacy… to create something an education center or gastronomic center here in Cebu,” he said.  

Looking ahead to Indonesia 

The meetings concluded with Members agreeing to accept Indonesia’s offer to host the 37th Joint Meeting of UN Tourism’s 2 Asian Commissions in 2025. The exact dates will be confirmed in due course. 

Education and diversification

Cebu, Philippines

Education and diversification

Cebu, Philippines

Education and diversification

Cebu, Philippines

Education and diversification

Cebu, Philippines

Education and diversification

Cebu, Philippines

Education and diversification

Cebu, Philippines

Education and diversification

Cebu, Philippines

Related Links:

• Download News Release on PDF
• First Gastronomy Tourism Forum for Asia and Pacific Unites Governments, Businesses and Top Chefs
• 36th CAP-CSA and First UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Asia and the Pacific
• UN Tourism Academy

UN Tourism Commits to the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

• All Regions
• 4 Jun 2024

UN Tourism has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the sector’s resilience and increasing its importance for inclusive development in Small Island Developing States. 

At the Fourth International Conference for SIDS (Antigua and Barbuda, 27-30 May), UN Tourism joined government leaders and fellow UN agencies to identify a shared pathway towards resilient prosperity. The conference concluded with the adoption of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS), with tourism at its core.   

Tourism and SIDS: A vital economic pillar  

According to UN Tourism data, the SIDS received 36 million international tourist arrivals in 2023, representing 91% of pre-pandemic levels worldwide, meaning recovery rates outpaced the global figure of 89%. Although SIDS represent only 3% of all arrivals in the world, tourism is a life line in Small Islands Developing States SIDS where the sector accounts for 38% of all exports (excluding Singapore), going up to 85% in the cases of some countries.  

There is nevertheless a pressing need to transition into a sustainable and resilient tourism model that places people and planet at the core. Localizing the supply chain to reduce leakages, de-risking investments and protecting biodiversity are fundamental for resilience, as outlined in the ABAS.    

UN Tourism pledges support to SIDS 

Both at the Plenary discussions and during the Interactive Dialogue on Revitalising SIDS Economies, UN Tourism’s Executive Director Zoritsa Urosevic expressed its commitment to support SIDS through ongoing initiatives and programmes. A call was made to support productive sectors (manufacturing, agrifood, fisheries, creative industries); prioritise local, formal job creation; develop social protection mechanisms; integrate circularity as a core business model; protect and restore ecosystems; support climate action; and explore innovative finance in connection with blue carbon. 

Rethinking tourism policy and finance  

UN Tourism organized a side-event on “Regenerative Tourism: Policy, Practice and Finance”, in connection with the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism. The Ministers of Tourism of Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Sint Marteen, as well as the local Ministry of Saint Kitts, presented their policies and practices. The Pacific Tourism Organization and the Caribbean Tourism Organization and experts from Sustainable Travel International, TUI Care Foundation and NOAH ReGen also took part in the discussions, especially addressing the need for collaboration and finance. The Ministry of Tourism of Antigua and Barbuda and the destination of Saint Kitts became signatories of the Glasgow Declaration. 

In collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), International Monetary Fund (IMF), University of Oxford SDG Impact Lab, Catalytic Finance Foundation and Pegasus Capital Advisors, UN Tourism co-organized the virtual side-event "Better data for a better tourism in SIDS". The event highlighted the role of the Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism in providing guidance for more harmonized and meaningful metrics to measure tourism's impact, dependencies and growth ‘beyond GDP’ as well as the role of market intelligence on creating relevant knowledge for action, and the importance of measuring tourism projects and initiatives at all levels, by using tools such as Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through Tourism – Toolkit of Indicators for Projects (TIPs) or STAR - Self-assessment Tool to Assist Rural Destinations. 

Discussions took also among UN Heads of Delegations regarding the implementation of ABAS and an inter-agency nexus dialogue on Tourism in SIDS  titled “Advancing Sustainable Development of SIDS through Tourism: Fostering Sustainable and Circular Consumption and Production” was organized within the framework of the One Planet network involving FAO, ILO, UNDP, UNEP, UNFCCC and UN Tourism. 

Related Links:

• Download News Release on PDF
• Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) – a Renewed Declaration for Resilient Prosperity
• Glasgow Declaration - Regenerative tourism for resilience: Policy, practice and finance. | One Planet network
• “Better data for a better tourism in SIDS”
• Advancing Sustainable Development of SIDS through Tourism: Fostering Sustainable and Circular Consumption and Production | One Planet network

UN Tourism launches its first regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism in the Philippines

• All Regions
• 13 Jun 2024

The First UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Asia and the Pacific will take place in Cebu, The Philippines, on 26-27 June 2024. Organized in conjunction with the 36th Joint Meeting of the UN Tourism Commission for East Asia and the Pacific & the UN Tourism Commission for South Asia (36th CAP-CSA), it will mark the first time that the Gastronomy Forum is taken to the regional level.

First Regional Forum on Gastronomy Forum for Asia and the Pacific 

Following its global success, the Forum, annually organized by UN Tourism and its Affiliate Member, the Basque Culinary Center (BCC), is now set to make its regional debut. Hosted by the Government of the Philippines, this inaugural regional edition promises to serve as a meeting point for experts and member states dedicated to enhancing the role of gastronomy tourism in destination development. 

• The Forum will host a Ministerial dialogue to discuss policies to advance a roadmap on gastronomy tourism in the region. 
• Underscoring the significance of preserving local traditions and protecting the land and products for the development of sustainable gastronomy tourism, a panel debate will discuss innovative strategies with examples from Japan, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. The event will also welcome the participation of destinations and experts actively engaged in the advancement of gastronomy tourism as a tool for social inclusiveness, such as UN Tourism Ambassador  Chef Margarita Fores, as well as Chef Vicky Cheng from Hong Kong (China); Lionel Dabbadie, the FAO representative for the Philippines, along with representatives from JTB Corporation – the largest travel agency in Japan – and representatives from Jeju Tourism Organization (Republic of Korea), to present on two of the Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism, Sehwa and Dongbaek. 
• Additionally, as part of an ongoing effort to promote sustainability, participants will explore cost-effective and environmentally responsible strategies to maximize the use of local sourcing and minimize food waste through prevention, circularity, and initiatives to combat climate change within gastronomy tourism. 
• Set to welcome around 200 participants, this Forum will be also livestreamed. Registrations will be open until 16 June 2024.  

Related Links:

• Download News Release on PDF
• First UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Asia and the Pacific
• 36th Joint Meeting of the UN Tourism Commission for East Asia and the Pacific & the UN Tourism Commission for South Asia

UN Tourism Hosts First Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

• All Regions
• 10 Jun 2024

UN Tourism is to host its first Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa, advancing its work to make gastronomy tourism a pillar for sustainable and inclusive growth across the region.

The Forum will be held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, on 26-28 July 2024. Hosted under the patronage of the First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Her Excellency Dr. Auxillia C. Mnangagwa, and co-organized with Basque Culinary Center, it aims to harness the transformative power of gastronomy tourism for the benefit of local communities and territories in the African continent. 

Developing a strategy for African Gastronomy 

With gastronomy tourism as one of the pillars of the UN Tourism Agenda for Africa – Tourism for Inclusive Growth, the Forum aims to build towards a roadmap for a common agenda for African Gastronomy Tourism. African Tourism Ministers and the FAO Representative in Zimbabwe will take part in discussions on developing a strategy to propel African gastronomy onto the global stage, how to build adequate polices to enhance gastronomy tourism and enhance its role as a driver of development. In addition to forum discussions, the event will include organized technical visits to various locations throughout the region. 

Highlighting the importance of innovation, the Forum will include a pitch challenge where entrepreneurs will present scalable solutions to address regional challenges in the gastronomy and tourism value chains. Additionally, keynotes and panel discussions will emphasize sustainable practices in gastronomy tourism, exploring topics such as local sourcing and minimizing food waste.  

Supporting rural development and progressing skills and education 

At the Forum, Experts and chefs, including Chef Fatmata Binta, UN Tourism Ambassador for Responsible Tourism, representatives from the Ghana Food Movement, Chef Adenike Adefila from Nigeria, Chefs in Africa (Rwanda), and Chef Mounir El Arem from Tunisia, will present their initiatives and discuss their impact on local communities, emphasizing their role in fostering positive change and progressing education and skills. 

On the sidelines of the Forum, the UN Tourism Youth Photo Contest titled "A Journey through Zimbabwe´s Gastronomy" will offer Zimbabwean communities a unique opportunity to express their perspective and capture the essence of Zimbabwe's gastronomic heritage. The call for participation will open from 10 June to 1 July. 

Highest level support for tourism in Zimbabwe  

Zimbabwe’s engagement towards positioning gastronomy as a key pillar for the sustainable development of tourism in Africa has been showcased through the launch of several initiatives endorsed by Zimbabwe’s First Lady as the National Tourism Patron, such as the Regional Traditional Gastronomy Festival taking place every year since 2019. Zimbabwe has also been an active participant in previous editions of the World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism.  

Related links:

• Download News Release on PDF
• First UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa

UN Tourism Welcomes 39 New Affiliate Members

• All Regions
• 14 Jun 2024

UN Tourism announces the addition of 39 new entities from the private sector to its growing network of Affiliate Members.

The new members combine a wide range of profiles with diverse backgrounds and types of business: 3 Destination Management Organization (DMOs), 14 for-profit companies, 10 associations and NGOs, and 7 education and research institutes, and 5 others. In terms of geographical distribution, the newly admitted members come from all the regions: 6 from Africa, 10 from the Americas, 3 from Asia and the Pacific, 13 from Europe, and 7 from the Middle.
 
“The integration of these new leading entities reflects our ongoing efforts to strengthen the Affiliate Membership and create a diverse and inclusive network capable of significantly contributing to the UN Tourism mission. We remain committed to enhancing Affiliate Members' satisfaction and fostering a sense of belonging through effective, mutually beneficial, win-win engagement in the Organization's key activities and projects,” said UN Tourism Director of the Affiliate Members and Public-Private Collaboration Department, Ion Vilcu.

Governments and National Tourism Administrations are increasingly partnering with UN Tourism to promote Affiliate Membership in their own countries to further invigorate their local tourism sectors and to have their leading entities connected within the largest network of its kind in tourism, which currently includes a total of 500 entities.

The 39 new Affiliate Members are:

• Altezza Travelling Limited    (United Republic of Tanzania)
• Amsa Hospitality Company (Saudi Arabia)
• Asociación de Hoteles y Turismo de la República Dominicana, Inc. - ASONAHORES – (Dominican Republic)
• Asociación del Deporte Español (Spain)
• Banco de Reservas de la República Dominicana (Dominican Republic)
• Banco Popular Dominicano, S.A. Banco Múltiple (Dominican Republic)
• Batterjee Medical College (Saudi Arabia)
• Booking.com B.V. (Netherlands)
• Cámara de Comercio de Medellín para Antioquia (Colombia)
• Conseil québécois des ressources humaines en tourisme-CQRHT (Canada)
• Decanter Enterprises (Zimbabwe)
• Ethiopian Tour Operators Association – ETOA (Ethiopia)
• Federation of Trade in Goods, Services and Tourism Rio de Janeiro – FECOMÉRCIO-RJ    (Brazil)
• Focus Brand, S.L. (Spain)
• Forward Data, S.L. (Spain)
• Hoteliers Association of Uzbekistan (Uzbekistan)
• IFP Qatar (Qatar)
• Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism – IGCAT (Spain)
• Instituto Nacional de Formación Técnico Profesional – INFOTEP (Dominican Republic)
• Instituto Superior de Derecho y Economía, S.A. (Spain)
• International Tour Management Institute, Inc. (United States of America)
• Ishraq Hospitality (United Arab Emirates)
• JLL Americas Inc. (United States of America)
• Jordan Hotels Association    (Jordan)
• Jordan Restaurant Association (Jordan)
• Klook Travel Technology Pte. Ltd. (Singapore)
• MADCUP, S.L. (Spain)
• Namibia University of Science and Technology    (Namibia)
• New Perspective Media FZ LLC (United Arab Emirates)
• Pakistan Association of Tour Operators - PATO (Pakistan)
• Palacio de Ferias, Congresos y Exposiciones de Marbella S.L. (Spain)
• PT Indonesia WISE    (Indonesia)
• Radisson Hospitality Belgium, B.V. (Belgium)
• Rijeka Tourist Board (Croatia)
• Scientific Research Institute for Tourism Development -TDI (Uzbekistan)
• Viristar LLC (United States of America)
• Zagreb School of Economics and Management    (Croatia)
• Zambia Institute for Tourism & Hospitality Studies (Zambia)
• Zambia Tourism Agency (Zambia)

Under the current admission procedure, the candidatures were submitted for consideration and approval of the Executive Council after being previously reviewed and endorsed by the Committee on Matters related to Affiliate Membership (CMAM), during its 5th meeting that took place on 6 June. These candidatures are the results of the implementation of the expansion strategy of the Affiliate Membership, aiming at improving the quality and geographical balance of the Affiliates network.

The admission of these new members was endorsed during the 121st Session of the Executive Council, which took place in Barcelona, Spain, on June 10-11.

Related links

• Download News Release on PDF
• Affiliate Members
• Executive Council - 121st session

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