UN General Assembly hosts Tourism for Sustainable Development event The United Nations General Assembly has 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. The presence of Member States, Observers, civil society organizations, and UN agencies reflected a growing collective commitment to harnessing the transformative power of tourism for inclusive and sustainable development. Addressing the General Assembly, UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “The growing significance of the to...
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The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan is to halve the $200 daily fee it charges tourists in an effort to boost a sector still struggling to recover a year after the end of COVID-19 restrictions. Bhutan raised its "Sustainable Development Fee" to $200 per visitor per night, from $65, when it ended two years of COVID restrictions in September last year saying the money would go to off-set the carbon generated by visitors. The new rate of $100 per night would come into effect from September and last for four years, the government said in a statement late on Friday. "This is in view of the important role of the tourism sector in generating employment, earning foreign exchange ... and in boosting overall economic growth," it said. Isolated for generations, Bhutan opened to tourists i...
Read MoreUNWTO has developed with the G20 economies a roadmap for making tourism a central pillar of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As the knowledge partner of India's G20 Presidency, UNWTO 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. A roadmap for people and planet Halfway between the 2015 launch of the 2030 Agenda and the deadline to accomplish it, UNWTO 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 under India's G20 Presidency: Green Tourism: Recognizing the critical...
Read MoreParticipants in the Arctic Tourism Week Interregional Forum, which took place this month in Norilsk, discussed the principles of the sustainable development of the tourism industry in the Far North, the impact that the development of the hospitality industry and urban master planning could have on the regions of Russia’s Arctic zone, measures to support entrepreneurs, and new trends in the creation of tourism products. The event, which was held as part of Russia’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council in 2021-2023, was organized by the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and the Arctic, the Norilsk Municipal Administration, and the Norilsk Development Agency. The Roscongress Foundation manages the events of Russia’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council. The business and cul...
Read MoreIts 2022 Sustainable Development Report outlines determination to cooperate and innovate with partners to lead change As the Cathay Pacific Group continues to make important strides towards becoming a sustainability leader, it has announced the release of its 2022 Sustainable Development Report, which underscores the Group’s ongoing commitments and progress in achieving its sustainability goals. Titled "Greener Together,” the report reflects Cathay Pacific's belief that driving progress towards a sustainable future requires strong partnerships and collective action. Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam stated: “As we enter an exciting new phase of rebuilding Cathay Pacific for Hong Kong, one of our key development areas is becoming a leader in sustainability. This means working to...
Read MoreWill welcome tourists 'who can spend' from September 23 Bhutan will reopen for international tourists from September for the first time since the pandemic began more than two years ago, officials said on Thursday, as the tiny Himalayan kingdom looks to revive its economy. Wedged between China and India, the country with scenic natural beauty and ancient Buddhist culture, took drastic early steps and banned tourism, a major source of income, in March 2020 when the first COVID-19 case was detected there. FILE PHOTO: Paro International Airport in Bhutan. The constitutional monarchy of less than 800,000 people has reported fewer than 60,000 infections and only 21 deaths, but the $3 billion economy contracted in the last two fiscal years, pushing more people into poverty. read more...
Read MoreTourism stakeholders invited to share progress on climate action
UNWTO is inviting public and private stakeholders from around the world to take part in a Global Survey of Climate Action in Tourism and help identify frontrunning initiatives and opportunities to accelerate climate action in tourism. Launched on World Environment Day, the survey aims to support the ongoing efforts of the sector to reduce its environmental impacts and carbon emissions, as well as to strengthen its capacity to adapt to a changing climate. In May, the Tourism Ministers of the G20 nations stressed the need to rethink tourism and shape a more resilient, sustainable and inclusive sector. They also committed to take action and to promote such a green transformation. The UNWTO Recommendations for the Transition to a Green Travel and Tourism Economy, welcomed by t...
Read MoreAt FITUR- The International Spanish Tourism Trade Fair (Madrid, 19-23 May 2021), UNWTO will ensure sustainability, innovation and responsibility are a central part of the conversation. FITUR was the last global in-person trade fair to take place before the COVID-19 pandemic, and is the first one to return, sending a clear message of the resolve of the tourism sector for a safe and responsible restart. This year’s trade fair will continue the long-standing partnership between UNWTO and FITUR, with the United Nations specialized agency for tourism addressing the most pressing challenges currently facing the sector while also looking to the future and supporting the tourism talent of tomorrow. Sustainable development takes the lead The week kicks off with the 25 winners of the U...
Read MoreThe shared values and close ties between tourism and culture stakeholders means both sectors can work together to ensure inclusive access to heritage, as countries around the world recover from the pandemic. In recognition of this mutually reinforcing relationship, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and UNESCO have collaborated to produce a set of new guidelines focusing on the responsible restart of cultural tourism. UNWTO invited the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to contribute to the UNWTO Inclusive Recovery Guide, Issue 2: Cultural Tourism. This is the second set of guidelines relating to the socio-cultural impacts of COVID-19 issued by UNWTO and will continue to be revised, as the situation evolves. Make cultural tourism relevant The pu...
Read MoreMore than 26,000 green technologies availableHotels and hospitality businesses to benefit from access to green technologiesGreen Technology Selector identifies more than 26,000 green technologiesEBRD and UNWTO promote the delivery of climate finance in the tourism sector The EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development) and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) are joining forces to promote sustainable tourism, accelerate the transfer of climate finance and make green technologies more accessible for the tourism sector through the Bank’s online shopping-style platform Green Technology Selector. The coronavirus crisis has had a massive impact on the tourism sector. The priority now is to support the recovery of the sector, which supports many millions of jobs globally and ...
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