In his message commemorating World Tourism Day, United Nations Secretary-General Guterres underscored the imperative of investing in clean and sustainable tourism practices.
Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), echoed this sentiment in his video message, urging every sector of the tourism industry to rethink the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
World Tourism Day, celebrated annually on September 27, centered its theme this year on "Shaping the New Tourism." Guterres emphasized that the celebration serves to highlight tourism's unique potential to foster inclusion, preserve nature, and enhance mutual understanding among diverse cultures.
Simultaneously, he stressed the critical need for humanity to invest in constructing a clean and sustainable tourism sector, advocating for reduced energy consumption, zero-emission strategies, and the preservation of biodiversity.
Guterres articulated, "Tourism must generate decent employment opportunities, ensuring that profits genuinely benefit host countries and local communities." He urged governments, businesses, and consumers to align their practices with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the "1.5 degrees Celsius" temperature control objective.
The realization of these goals is intricately linked to the survival of the tourism industry and the well-being of destinations, particularly small island developing States (SIDS).
Highlighting the UN Oceans Conference held earlier in the year, Guterres regarded it as a pivotal initial step. During the conference, the international community and the tourism industry committed to achieving a legally binding agreement on plastic pollution by 2024.
Preceding World Tourism Day, the World Tourism Organization released the latest edition of its World Tourism Barometer.
The data indicated a nearly threefold increase in international tourist arrivals between January and July compared to the corresponding period the previous year, signaling a revival to almost 60% of pre-pandemic levels.
The report revealed that Europe and the Middle East are leading the tourism recovery, with international tourist arrivals reaching 74% and 76% of 2019 levels, respectively, in the first seven months of the year.
The Asia-Pacific region has also witnessed a significant increase in visitor arrivals. Still, it remains 86% lower compared to 2019 due to several countries in the region maintaining restrictions on non-essential travel.
In the contemporary consumer era, tourism has evolved to become more diversified, intelligent, personalized, experiential, and integrated. Navigating this new landscape necessitates continuous adaptation to unique cultural and tourism resources worldwide.
The sustained growth of the global tourism industry requires collaborative efforts among nations, focusing on mutual benefit, fostering a win-win situation, and steadfastly addressing policy communication, industrial cooperation, and standard alignment.
This collective commitment is integral to positioning the tourism industry as the pillar and engine of global economic development in the new era.
As we navigate the evolving landscape of the tourism industry, adaptation becomes paramount in the face of changing consumer preferences. The current era demands a nuanced approach characterized by diversification, technological integration, and a heightened focus on personalized and experiential travel.
Exploring the unique cultural and tourism offerings of cities worldwide is crucial in meeting the demands of the discerning modern traveler. Collaboration on a global scale is imperative for sustained industry growth.
Nations must forge alliances, prioritizing mutual benefit and cooperation in areas such as policy development, industrial partnerships, and standardization efforts.
