The United Nations is marking Global Tourism Resilience Day, hoping to boost sustainable and adaptable tourism development worldwide.
U.N. Tourism has said it seeks to promote environmental preservation and economic growth through tourism, particularly in developing countries. Its annual conference on resilient tourism will be held this week.
The day “aims to emphasiSe the need to foster resilient tourism development to deal with shocks, taking into account the vulnerability of the tourism sector to emergencies,” according to the U.N.
“It is also a call for action for Member States to develop national strategies for rehabilitation after disruptions, including through private-public cooperation and the diversification of activities and products.”
Global Tourism Resilience Day was first adopted in 2023. An International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism will be celebrated in 2027, the U.N. said in 2024.
International tourism returned to pre-pandemic levels last year, the U.N.’s World Tourism Barometer reported in January.
The annual Global Tourism Resilience Conference and Expo will be held in Negril, Jamaica from 17-19 February.
Discussions will focus on building tourism resilience through new technologies, including artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and digital payment methods like blockchains.
“The principles of tourism resilience have guided us in Jamaica and are crucial to our ongoing success,” said Jamaican Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett.
“As the global tourism industry continues to grow and change in the face of new challenges and disruptions, it has never been more important to tap into the expertise of leaders and innovators to collaboratively discuss issues that are central to future-proofing travel and tourism worldwide.”
