Sustainable practices, professional qualification, and financing: the sector's future under discussion at the last meeting of the G20 Tourism Working Group

The meeting marks the conclusion of the G20 discussions on global tourism, under the Brazilian presidency. The meeting will run until the 21st of September in the city of Belém, the capital of the Amazonian state of Pará, and the expectation is that the ministerial declaration for the sector will be approved.

The fourth and last technical meeting of the G20 Tourism Working Group (WG) began on Thursday (19) in the city of Belém in the Brazilian state of Pará. The meeting marks the conclusion of a series of discussions held throughout the year around strategic topics for the sector, such as sustainability, professional qualification, and attraction of investments. The event was opened by Ana Carla Lopes, the Brazilian Ministry of Tourism's Executive Secretary, and Heitor Kadri, the president of the technical group and head of the Ministry of Tourism's Special Advisory of International Relations.

Under Brazil's presidency, the group has held meetings in various locations across the country since the beginning of the year. The first meeting, held virtually, focused on qualification and training in tourism. The meeting focused on sector development through training and increased private financing. Sustainability was also a priority, as the country will host the COP 30 in 2025 in Belém. At the virtual meeting, the Brazilian delegation presented a study carried out by UN Tourism, which presents a statistical framework to measure the destinations' sustainability based on new indicators.

The Brazilian capital, Brasilia, in the Federal District, was the venue for the second meeting. On the agenda were proposals to ensure the strengthening of multilateral institutions and the expansion of international financing. Also, during the meeting, the delegations had the opportunity to attend the presentation of case studies on successful tourism experiences in the country.

The third meeting in Rio de Janeiro (RJ) evaluated the discussions and progress of the G20 Tourism Working Group between 2010 and 2023, ensuring the support and continuity of the summit's strategic actions. The meeting was attended by international entities such as UN Tourism, the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), contributing with their perspectives and expertise in the sector.

Belém

The schedule for the coming days includes a series of side panels and ministerial discussions. This Friday (20th), the day will begin with a joint opening led by the Brazilian Minister of Tourism, Celso Sabino, and leaders of international organizations such as the WTTC and UN Tourism. Among the highlights is the Sustainability Forum, which focuses on promoting tourism policies that boost sustainable tourism.

On the third day, there will be a ministerial meeting with the participation of industry leaders from different countries and bilateral meetings to discuss strategic partnerships. The event highlights the dialogue between public and private sectors, exploring solutions for developing responsible and sustainable tourism in the Amazonia, its surroundings, and worldwide.

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