The United Nations General Assembly held a second thematic event focused on tourism and the sector’s critical role in critical role of tourism in advancing sustainable development and resilience.
Organized by the President of the General Assembly in collaboration with UN Tourism, the event was held at the UN Headquarters within the framework of Sustainability Week. Addressing the General Assembly, UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “The growing significance of the tourism sector for our societies and our economies brings with it extra responsibility. We cannot allow the lifeline of tourism to be cut again. Resilience in tourism is not just a matter of planning or reacting to crises. It is also about proactively addressing the underlying factors of those crises. Unsustainable consumption is leading to biodiversity loss, climate change and the emergence of pandemics. It’s vital that we adopt policies that accelerate transformative change.”
The President of the General Assembly, His Excellency Dennis Francis, said: “We need a global tourism sector that is sustainable – one with deep local value chains that expand demand for locally made products and services in ways that also directly and positively benefit local communities; a sector that serves as a positive force for biodiversity conservation, heritage protection and climate friendly livelihoods.”
The thematic event provided a platform for Member States to share best practices, strategies, and innovative approaches to promote sustainable and resilient tourism, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Key Highlights included a Fireside Chat on the future of Tourism featuring leaders from various sectors discussing innovative solutions and Ministerial Roundtables focusing on launching the Statistical Framework for measuring the sustainability of tourism and fostering resilient tourism amidst global challenges. Ministers and officials shared insights and commitments to advance sustainable tourism practices and policies.
In closing, the President of the General Assembly reiterated the importance of collaboration and partnership to address the complex challenges facing the tourism sector and reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting sustainable tourism as a catalyst for positive change.
