The latest issue of the UNWTO Barometer saw negative tourism growth in the last six months of 2008 and envisions a flat situation for 2009. The new Resilience Committee had its first meeting, emphasising the need for “smart, green tourism” if tourism is to continue its role as an economic stimulator.
Said the UNWTO “The slowdown in advanced economies, which are facing a contraction in gross domestic product for the first time since World War II, is already spreading to major emerging markets such as China, India, and Brazil. UNWTO expects 2009 international tourism to be in the range of 0% to a 2% decline. Along with the Americas, Europe will be the most affected region in terms of overall tourism results as most of its source markets are already in, or entering into, recession. In Asia and the Pacific results are expected to be positive, although growth will continue to be much slower compared with the region’s performance in recent years; the same applies to Africa and the Middle East. Notwithstanding this assessment, UNWTO highlights the fact that the softening of international tourism growth follows four historically strong years: UNWTO’s response “History proves that crises can also provide opportunity because they call for substantial efforts and industry solidarity. Moreover, if short term crisis actions can be aligned with the continuing longer term global poverty and climate needs, the overall industry structure may actually be strengthened.” “Against this background, UNWTO is increasing its response efforts to provide the sector, and its Members in particular, with the necessary support to help them endure these challenging times.” UNWTO will focus on three interrelated initiatives: - Supporting the sector’s immediate response through its recently established Tourism Resilience Committee to strengthen market intelligence and best practice sharing.
- Advocating tourism’s priority inclusion in general economic stimulation measures.
- Advancing tourism in the new Green Economy as a sector that can deliver on smart growth, intelligent infrastructure and clean energy jobs. Later, on 28th January, 2009 UNWTO’s Tourism Resilience Committee (TRC) met for the first time in Madrid. The recently established TRC is one of the responses of the Organization to provide the sector, and its Members in particular, with the necessary support to help them endure these challenging times. The Committee, chaired by His Excellency Zoheir Garranah, Tourism Minister of Egypt, represents a unique platform to share short-term analysis and prospects as well as response best practises to help better asses and weather the impact of the current situation on tourism performance. The TRC meeting stressed that any short-term economic response goals must be aligned with long-term commitments to sustainable development, poverty alleviation and climate change response. UNWTO Deputy Secretary-General Taleb Rifai stressed that “In these times of such significant uncertainty and volatility, both public and private tourism stakeholders have a responsibility to continue and even reinforce the efforts towards a more sustainable tourism development. UNWTO will stand by its members and the tourism sector as a whole to achieve this.” Minister Zoheir Garranah said that “any short term measures should stay on course with the development and climate agenda”. UNWTO Assistant Secretary-General, Geoffrey Lipman added that “The ultimate goal should be to strive for what is being termed ‘smart tourism’. By this we mean clean, green, ethical and quality at all levels of the service chain. There is no better sector for this green economy approach than tourism. We can provide many more green tourism jobs in the years ahead if we set our minds to the task”. UNWTO will further assist Members and provide direction to the industry at large through strengthened support services in risk management and crisis response as well as expanding its long-term market 2020 vision to 2030.
