World Tourism Day: UNWTO calls for green investments at its event in Riyadh

Under the slogan "Investing in people, planet and prosperity", the World Tourism Organization presents its new goals in Saudi Arabia.

The halt the COVID-19 pandemic caused in the tourism sector allows us to review and redefine the sustainable objectives of the industry, states UN-agency UNWTO in its official comunniqué for World Tourism Day.

On September 27 and 28, the organization is hosting in its event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a Tourism Leaders Forum and panels on the innovation gap, new destinations, talent recruitment, and entrepreneurship, among other topics. In addition, the Women In Tech Start-Up competition will come to an end.

UNWTO says tourism is one of the industries creating the most jobs in the world. "In 2019, the sector employed one in 10 people worldwide and has proven to be a tool for economic diversification and a primary driver of employment with a multiplier effect on other sectors that contribute to rural development," notes the agency.

However, the UNWTO warns that "in emerging destinations, 50% of young people are unable to work in tourism due to lack of opportunities, resources or access to academic training". For this reason, the organization considers that education is a fundamental pillar for development.

In terms of infrastructure, hotel investments must consider environmental needs and decarbonization goals, according to the UNWTO. "(...) reducing emissions provides an investment opportunity of US$ 24.7 trillion in the green building sector in emerging market cities up to 2030, of which US$ 1.5 trillion is for hotels, resorts, and restaurants," the comunniqué adds.

According to UNWTO, "the volume of global hotel investments has increased year-on-year by 131%, reaching a total of US$ 66.8 billion in 2021."

Investments in innovation and digitalization are another pillar of the strategy. For the agency, it is essential to support women entrepreneurs: "According to the UNWTO World Report on Women in Tourism - Second Edition, 54% of people employed in tourism are women." In this regard, the entity calls for investments in improving jobs and reducing the gender gap.

Next year’s event will be held in Georgia.

World Tourism Day

UN: World Tourism Day has been held on 27 September each year since 1980. The date marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Statutes of the Organization in 1970, paving the way for the establishment of UNWTO five years later.

Author: Marina Vanni