Tourism sector recovery plan
Can you expect a world without tourism? Though we can see the remotest parts of the world in pictures available on internet, and indeed have a virtual tour to anywhere, nothing can replace the idea of being at a new place in person. That’s the reason why traveling to new destinations is so imperative and unmatchable experience for the wanderers.
But tourism is something much more than that for the locals living at tourist places. Because this is this sector gives them the source of their livelihood. Tourism plays an integral and major role in most of the economies of the world. Since the coronavirus outbreak, when countries had to lockdown themselves, tourism sector has got a major blow. In view of upcoming World Tourism Day on September 27, let’s see what plans and policies the United Nations is coming up with to help rebuild the sector as soon as possible.
Rebuild tourism sector
Being among the world’s most important economic sectors, tourism employs one in every ten people, providing livelihood to hundreds of millions more people on earth, said the UN Secretary-General António Guterres on the launch of Policy Brief on Covid-19 and Transforming Tourism. Focusing on importance of tourism for global economies, he said, tourism has a major contribution in boosting the economies and enabling nations to thrive.
Tourism is one of the wonders of the world itself, said the UN chief. Describing the socio-cultural-natural importance, he said, tourism helps people experience the cultural and natural wealth of the earth. It brings people close to each other as it acknowledges the common humanity. The global agency chief expressed concerns over current devastating state of the tourism sector due to Covid 19 pandemic.
Due to lockdown in countries and international travel remaining suspended, global tourism activities dropped by more than half in the first 5 months of 2020, causing a loss of nearly $320 billion dollar globally, Guterres said. The significant decline in tourist activities has risked nearly 120 million direct tourism sector jobs, he added.
A source of livelihood
A large number of young people and women are employed in informal economy or in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Being a major shock for developed nations, the Covid crisis has also emerged as an emergency situation in small islands, developing countries and African states. Tourism works as a vehicle that integrates and empowers women, rural people and indigenous population and many historically marginalized communities, also generating income for them.
The UN described tourism as a key pillar that conserves natural and cultural heritage of the world. The revenues have fallen due to inactivity in tourism sector. This triggered more incidents of poaching and habitat destruction in surroundings of protected areas. Also, with shutting down of World Heritage Sites, population that depends on tourism has lost crucial livelihood source, Guterres said.
He also insisted that the recovery process should not be hurting the environment. Rebuilding tourism sector is imperative, said the international body head. It must be done in a safe, equitable and climate friendly way, he added. Climate goals should not be ignored during recovery initiatives from pandemic period. Otherwise, greenhouse gas emissions through transport may harm the atmosphere once again after a break during coronavirus lockdown time.
UN’s recovery plan for tourism
A boost in tourism, to help millions of livelihoods depending on the sector, will build a sustainable and responsible travel experience, said the UN chief. He emphasized on the safety for a range of communities, workers and travelers during Covid times. The United Nations head further said, he has identified five priority areas to aid recovery in tourism sector.
- Mitigation of socio-economic effects of pandemic
- Construction of resilience across entire tourism value chain
- Maximization of technology uses in tourism sector
- Promotion of sustainability and green growth
- Encouragement of partnerships for Sustainable Development Goals
Finally, Guterres stressed on making sure that tourism bounces back as a decent jobs provider, stable incomes generator and cultural and natural heritage protector.
