June 21, 2025 11:29 am (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
'Declined Trump's invitation as I had to visit Lord Jagannath's holy land': PM Modi in Odisha | Loyal to Congress for 16 years, differences can be discussed behind closed doors: Shashi Tharoor | Indians will soon feel ashamed to speak in English: Amit Shah amid language debate | Crashed Air India aircraft's black box to be sent to US for data recovery as India lacks 'proper equipment' | After SC's rap, Karnataka govt promises securities to theatres if Kamal Haasan's Thug Life releases | 'Misconduct proved': Probe panel recommends 'cash pile' accused Justice Yashwant Varma's impeachment | Hours after call with Modi, Trump continues taking credit for 'stopping war' between India and Pakistan | PM Modi arrives in Croatia on last leg of his three-nation tour, accorded warm welcome at airport | Air India cancels Delhi-Paris flight too after nixing Ahmedabad-London journey | 'Can't allow mobs to take over streets, rule of law must prevail': Supreme Court slams ban on Kamal Haasan's Thug Life
Tourism
Image: IMF/Jeff Moore

‘Time to rethink, transform, and safely restart tourism’, says UN chief

| @indiablooms | Sep 28, 2021, at 10:19 pm

Tourism “touches almost every part of our economies and societies”, enabling the historically marginalized, and “those at risk of being left behind, to benefit from development”, declared UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday, marking World Tourism Day. 

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism could result in a more than $4 trillion loss to the global economy, according to a recent report from the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Emergency for developing countries

Highlighting the fact that in the first months of this year, “international tourist arrivals decreased by a staggering 95 per cent in parts of the world”, Mr. Guterres said that tourism continues to suffer enormously due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“This is a major shock for developed economies, but for developing countries, it is an emergency”, he added. 

“Climate change is also severely affecting many major tourist destinations, particularly Small Island Developing States”, his message added. There, tourism accounts for nearly 30 per cent of all economic activity. 

Tourism for inclusive growth

Acknowledging that many millions of livelihoods are in jeopardy, Mr. Guterres said that now it is “time to rethink, transform, and safely restart tourism”.

“With the right safeguards in place, the tourism sector can provide decent jobs, helping to build resilient, sustainable, gender-equal, inclusive economies and societies that work for everyone”, he added.

According to the United Nations specialized agency for responsible and sustainable tourism (UNWTO), tourism is a recognized pillar of most the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs), particularly Goals 1 (poverty-elimination), 5 (gender equality), 8 (decent work and economic growth) and 10 (to reduce inequalities).

In his message, Mr. Guterres went on to call for targeted action and investment, towards green and sustainable tourism, “with high emitting sectors, including air and sea transport and hospitality, moving towards carbon neutrality”. 

Adding that everybody should have a say in how tourism shapes the future of our societies, the UN chief concluded that “only through inclusive decision-making can we ensure inclusive, sustainable growth, deliver on the promise of the SDGs, and transform tourism to fulfil its potential”.

The sector could then become “an engine for prosperity, a vehicle for integration, a means to protect our planet and biodiversity, and an agent of cultural understanding between peoples”, said Mr. Guterres.

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.