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TOURISM WG
G20 commits to promoting sustainable, resilient, and inclusive tourism
The Belém Declaration, unanimously approved on Saturday, 21st, at the last G20 Tourism meeting in Belém, Pará, highlights guidelines for the sector's sustainable development and international cooperation.
"A milestone for global tourism". Thus, the leaders of the 20 largest economies in the world endorsed the "Belém Declaration," unanimously approved, marking the conclsion of Brasil's G20 Presidency in Tourism. The group's last meeting took place on Saturday, the 21st, in Belém, in the Amazonian state of Pará. The document will be presented during the Leaders' Summit in November.
The document establishes three premises for world tourism development to ensure greater protagonism to sustainability: professional training and infrastructure investments.
The leaders also advocate for a collaborative approach among governments, the private sector, and local communities to promote responsible and resilient tourism in alignment with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Chaired by the Minister of Tourism of Brasil, Celso Sabino, the meeting of G20 officials was attended by 44 delegations from member countries, representatives of international organizations, and guests. The event ended a cycle of technical meetings that started in February 2024 and had agendas in Brasília (DF) and Rio de Janeiro (RJ).
"We did a beautiful job, combining effort, technical expertise, and cooperation to present not only to the G20 but also to the world, a proposal for an economic development model allied to tourism, that will create more opportunities, more cooperation, more friendship and, above all, more sustainability", said Minister Celso Sabino at the meeting' opening.
The document strongly indicates the need for collective investments in the sector to maintain a sustainable planet for future generations.
"The world is experiencing a process of climate transformation, and tourism will lead to economic development, better prospects for life, and environmental preservation. Tourism will ensure a better future for the next generations, "added Celso Sabino.
PRIORITY THEMATIC AXES - The G20 Tourism Working Group defined four main axes: sustainability in tourism; information managemen; international cooperation; and tourism as a driver of the economy.
The guidelines include measures in critical areas identified by G20 members, emphasizing the need for multilateral cooperation to face challenges such as the post-pandemic recovery from COVID-19 and adaptation to climate change.
One of the highlights of the meeting was the presentation of the "Best Practices Dashboard," a platform created to share successful initiatives and reinforce the importance of joint actions to promote sustainable tourism. Since its implementation, the tool has doubled the number of case studies, showing the positive impact of international collaboration.
TRAINING - Another central point of the "Declaration of Belém" is the tourism sector's commitment to education and professional training. The report identified continuing education as one of the greatest challenges in ensuring excellence and adaptability in the industry.
UN Tourism was represented at the meeting by the entity's secretary general, Zurab Pololikashvili, who highlighted its commitment to education and investment attraction programs, seeking to train workers and boost tourism as a vector of socioeconomic development.
Recommendations for accessing financing lines from international institutions and multilateral banks were also presented, focusing on four priority areas: climate resilience, social development, creation of new tourism products in local communities, and shared infrastructure. These actions ensure that tourism reaches its full potential, generating economic growth and shared prosperity.
Closing the event, Minister Celso Sabino classified the "Belém Declaration" as a legacy for global tourism. “This statement reflects our commitment to a more sustainable and inclusive future for tourism. We thank all participants for their contributions and for their partnership in building a more resilient path for the sector,” said Sabino.
As the meeting concluded in the capital of Pará, Brasil reaffirms its leadership in the global tourism landscape, promoting the integration of policies that foster economic growth, environmental preservation, and social development. The “Belém Declaration” will now serve as a strategic guide for future G20 actions in tourism.
G20 BELÉM - The last G20 Tourism meeting under the Brazilian presidency occurred from September 19th to 21st in Pará. Over the three-day event, international authorities from the tourism sector gathered for panels, lectures, and debates on the industry's key topics, culminating in the presentation of the "Declaration of Belém."