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Delegates' Area
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TOURISM WG
Meeting of the Tourism Working Group highlights the importance of public-private partnerships for advances in the sector, which is responsible for 11% of global GDP
Held in the Amazonian city of Belém, the host city of COP 30, the meeting focused on climate change and how sustainable tourism can play an essential role in maintaining nature reserves, forests, rivers, and traditional peoples.
The meeting of the G20 Tourism Working Group (WG), which brought together world leaders operating in the sector, took place in Belém, capital of the Brazilian state of Pará. It emphasized the promotion of public-private partnerships as a driving force for the socio-economic development of the sector, which is responsible for 11% of global GDP.
The choice of the capital of Pará, the gateway to Amazonia, reinforced the importance of sustainability in tourism, underlining social inclusion and environmental preservation. Brasil's Minister of Tourism, Celso Sabino, stressed the sector's role in tackling climate challenges and promoting sustainable development: “There is no better way of generating opportunities than through sustainable tourism, which values the preservation of nature reserves, forests, rivers, and peoples. We are committed to rescuing the global pact for environmental preservation, and tourism is the proper way to achieve this,” he said.
At the last meeting under Brasil’s G20 Presidency, the group's ministers focused on finalizing proposals that would establish tourism as a driving force for development. The president of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), Julia Simpson, reinforced the important role of collaboration between governments and the private sector. “These partnerships will set the course for global tourism. With more investment and opportunities, the sector will grow together with all the associated production chain,” she said.
The President of the Executive Council of UN Tourism, Ahmed Al Khateeb, used the opening to celebrate the recent establishment of the UN Tourism regional office in Brasil. Based in Rio de Janeiro, the entity will bring greater global visibility to Brasil, as well as to other countries of South America and the Caribbean, favoring a closer relationship with the main tourism branch of the United Nations.
The Secretary General of UN Tourism, Zurab Pololikashvili, emphasized that the ministers were to ratify the final document of the G20 Working Group last Saturday (21). “Brasil’s G20 Presidency is to be congratulated, as I'm sure we'll advance on the proposals that will take world tourism to a new stage, including greater sharing of the sector's best practices worldwide,” he said.
Zurab praised Minister Sabino's decision to host the event in Belém. “You show us that the world is totally different here, that Belém is a unique place. And when we talk about development and the COP, this is where the G20 had to be. Thank you so much for making this historic decision that is happening today. It's the first time that so many delegations of Tourism Ministers are visiting this city in the heart of the Amazonia," he said.
New UN Tourism Office in Brasil
The President of the Executive Council of UN Tourism, Ahmed Al Khateeb, used the opening to celebrate the recent establishment of the UN Tourism regional office in Brasil. Based in Rio de Janeiro, the entity will bring greater global visibility to Brasil, as well as to other countries of South America and the Caribbean, favoring a closer relationship with the main tourism branch of the United Nations.
“Brasil has incredible potential for tourism, and the unit's work in the country will involve planning and implementing actions to improve professional training, international promotion, attracting investment and conducting research and events in the region, among other initiatives,” said Al Khateeb. UN Tourism currently has only two offices worldwide: the headquarters in Madrid (Spain) and a regional office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Schedule and next steps
The G20 Tourism featured panels and discussions, emphasizing the Sustainability Forum, dedicated to policies to promote sustainable tourism. A ministerial meeting takes place on September 21st, with the participation of leaders from various countries and bilateral meetings to discuss strategic partnerships. The focus is on developing innovative solutions for responsible and sustainable tourism, both in Amazonia and worldwide.