Tourism: a path to sustainability
G20 economies play a pivotal role in leveraging tourism for sustainable development. By fostering international cooperation and supporting tourism policies that accelerate climate action, they can ensure that the benefits of tourism are equitably shared
Tourism supports millions of jobs both directly and indirectly, contributing 3% to global gross domestic product. But the wealth of nations extends beyond market values. Clean air, water, fertile soil and protected biodiversity are crucial to the well-being of present and future generations, as are principles such as community empowerment and socio-economic equity.
As the global community works to reduce carbon emissions and build a fairer world, G20 leaders have a vital role to play. G20 economies represent around 85% of global GDP, over 75% of global trade and two-thirds of the world’s population. In 2023, the G20 welcomed 69% of all international tourists and accounted for 71% of tourism exports worldwide. Tourism direct GDP represented 3.7% of the G20 economies in 2019, before Covid-19.
However, the benefits of tourism should be felt by all. We can move closer to this objective by ensuring that tourism policies are designed to accelerate climate action and promote shared prosperity, decent jobs, gender equality,
community empowerment, diversity and the well-being of local residents. G20 economies can lead the way by using tourism as a tool to reduce inequalities within and among countries by increasing financing for development in the sector. Currently, tourism represents less than 0.2% of all official development assistance.
The Goa Roadmap for Tourism as a Vehicle for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals highlights the importance of international cooperation and climate action, and demonstrates how G20 policies and initiatives can lead to change. Released by UN Tourism last year under India’s G20 presidency, the roadmap includes recommended actions and best practices for G20 economies and guest countries, covering issues such as financing, sustainable infrastructure and skills development. This year’s G20 summit, under Brazil’s leadership and themed ‘Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet’, provides an opportunity to enhance the role of tourism in inclusive development and the promotion of a sustainable future.
Every dollar invested in ecosystem restoration is expected to generate significant returns, estimated at between $7 and $30. Sustainable tourism can play a role in protecting local ecosystems, preserving wildlife and natural habitats, and preventing degradation. This requires environmentally conscious land and sea use management, the development of sustainable infrastructure, the promotion of regenerative practices in natural areas and the reduction of waste by shifting to a circular economy for plastics.
Advancing climate action
Launched in 2023, our Global Tourism Plastics Initiative aims to tackle plastic pollution caused by tourism. Signatories commit to eliminating problematic plastic items, transitioning to reusable models and increasing the use of recycled materials. They also collaborate to improve plastic recycling and composting rates, and report annually on their progress. This year, we released the Glasgow Declaration Implementation Report 2023 – Advancing Climate Action, charting the progress made by over 400 tourism organisations that submitted updates between January and June 2023, including more than 250 climate action plans.
The tourism sector has a responsibility to forge a more sustainable world. This can only be achieved through continued collaboration between stakeholders, including government agencies, local businesses and community members. Where the G20 economies go, others will surely follow. Together, we can work towards developing a new policy framework for tourism that minimises our impact on the environment and local communities while prioritising their well-being, creating jobs and driving economic growth, converting untapped potential into shared prosperity.
