During a gathering of G20 Tourism Ministers in Belém, Brazil, UN World Tourism Organization Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili highlighted that the tourism sector is set to reach pre-pandemic levels by the end of this year. With this recovery in sight, the focus should now turn towards the future, prioritizing the empowerment and inclusion of local communities, combating climate change, and advancing initiatives for nature-positive and circular economies.

Secretary-General Pololikashvili said: “Tourism heavily depends on biodiversity, climate stability and natural resources. Accelerating climate action in tourism is critical for the resilience of the sector and host communities.” In this context, he applauded Brazil’s G20 Presidency focus on inclusion and sustainability.

Closing the the meeting, Minister of Tourism of Brazil, Celso Sabino said “the Belém Declaration affirms the collective commitment to promote a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive tourism in the world”.

Climate Change, E-Skills Development, and Inclusion Crucial for the Future of Tourism

At the G20 meeting, UN Tourism stressed the critical importance of education and skills for the future of the sector and its transformation. “ILO data shows that around 880,000 tourism jobs annually will require specialized training until 2030 and that 25% of tourism stakeholders report significant shortages in skilled employees, particularly in customer service and managerial roles,” Mr Pololikashvili noted.

The Secretary-General also emphasized the significant role tourism plays in driving development and expressed support for the G20’s focus on financing initiatives aimed at advancing tourism-driven development.

“For many developing countries, including Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, tourism is a major source of employment, foreign exchange earnings and tax revenues. Yet, the sector continues to be overlooked as a tool for development, with the total Official Development Assistance disbursements for tourism remaining below 0.25% of total ODA.” he said.

The Secretary-General expressed gratitude and praise for the Belem Declaration adopted by the G20 Tourism Ministers, which underscores the importance of the Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism (SF-MST). This framework serves as a valuable tool for generating reliable, comparable, and comprehensive data on tourism’s economic, social, and environmental impacts. He also acknowledged the G20 Tourism and SDGs Platform, developed in partnership with the UN World Tourism Organization, as a key initiative.

G20 Economies: Global Tourism Leaders

The G20 economies account for over 70% of all international tourist arrivals and tourism receipts worldwide, as well as 82% of global tourism GDP. In 2023, the tourism sector contributed directly to 3.1% of the G20’s GDP, representing 5% of all exports and 23% of service exports within the group.

By mid-2024, international tourism in the G20 economies had recovered 97% of its pre-pandemic levels. The direct GDP generated by G20 tourism fully rebounded in 2023, reaching US$ 2.8 trillion.

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