Tourism businesses that invest more in educating stakeholders, frontline staff and consumers could help deliver a better post-lockdown model, according to World Tourism Day 2023 analysis. be.
Speakers opined that the tourism industry can grow sustainably and responsibly if people have a deeper understanding of conscious travel that contributes to the improvement of society and the environment.
Pololikashvili: A job in tourism is the first step to economic advancement (Photo: Kathryn Wortley)
WTTC CEO Julia Simpson pointed out the importance of tourism to the global economy. One in every 10 jobs on the planet comes from travel and tourism. The global tourism industry is expected to reach US$9.5 trillion by the end of 2023. And while tourism lifts people out of poverty, it contributes less to global carbon emissions than people expected, at just 8%.
UNWTO Special Adviser Anita Mendiratta said that as global travel recovers, there was an urgent need to invest in a sustainable future for the industry. He added that it has the power to help you learn.
“We need to respond to climate change with the same energy that we responded to coronavirus,” she said.
Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Tourism Minister Haifaa Al Saud said participants had a “collective responsibility” to work on tourism that supports “the planet, peace and prosperity.”
Speakers will inform the public and private sectors on how to achieve sustainable development, equip travel and hospitality staff with critical skills, and persuade consumers to travel more responsibly. He welcomed education as a method.
UNWTO follows a recent study that revealed that fewer tourists plan to visit new or different destinations when they resume travel. We used WTD as a platform to launch Tourism Opens Minds, a global initiative aimed at promoting travel to new destinations. Under the plan, people will be encouraged to diversify their travel habits to combat overtourism and raise the level of tourism development.
“We want to teach the world that every country is a great destination. Authenticity is what attracts people to a place,” said Saudi Arabia’s Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih. Told.
This concept is being adopted in many countries. In South Africa, where most inbound tourists are concentrated in the Western Cape province, which includes Cape Town, efforts are underway to diversify its offering while educating travelers about the “hidden gems across the country”. said Patricia de Lille, South Africa’s Minister of Tourism.
The power of educating consumers is already being proven by environmentally conscious travelers changing global tourism.
“Tourists are increasingly making decisions based on how sustainable a destination is,” said Gregory Jerejian, head of investment and legal affairs at developer Red Sea Global. The company is promoting the Red Sea Project, a tourist destination along Saudi Arabia’s west coast, which Gerejian said will not just preserve, but improve local communities and the environment.
Eduardo Carmona, CEO of Sudameric, a Chile-based private capital fund, said that as consumers seek less congested and environmentally friendly options, developers are seeking solutions that are “less invasive in nature. I agreed that it was necessary.
UNWTO’s Mendiratta added that today’s travelers want to know where their money is being spent and whether it is reaching local communities.
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said education in the tourism sector is “a top priority for UNWTO” and that jobs in the tourism sector are “the first step towards economic empowerment” in many countries. he pointed out.
Still, more needs to be done to ensure education equips people with the right skills, said Leo Wang, CEO of private education company Swiss Education Group. explained as follows: The future is in green skills and we want green skills standards in education. ”
