Closing Remarks: High-Level Thematic Debate on Sustainable Tourism
Remarks by H.E. Mr. Abdulla Shahid, President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly
4 May 2022
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank you for the very fruitful and rich debate today.
Your insights on the role and importance of sustainable and resilient tourism, for an inclusive recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, have been very enriching and informative in paving the way forward.
Without a doubt, the unparalleled tolls of the pandemic have been far-reaching and wide.
Now in a third year of the pandemic, we must ask ourselves, “what’s next?”
– How can we, as a global community, move beyond the pandemic, rebuild economies, and restore hope and trust?
– How can we reclaim the Decade of Action for the Sustainable Development Goals, as a “Decade of Recovery?
– How do we ensure that the private sector and all actors look beyond the bottom line to really care about a sustainable transformation?
As demonstrated by today’s multi-stakeholder debate, it is critical that efforts to rebuild and transform the tourism sector are done with people, planet, and prosperity at the heart, and in partnership with governments, the private sector and civil society.
Today’s discussions further underscored how powerful tourism can be as a driver of sustainable development.
But this is not a given, and it is not guaranteed.
It must be well-managed to reduce the sector’s carbon footprint and help fight climate change; it must contribute to reducing economic and income inequality while promoting prosperity; and it must support local and indigenous communities, protect and conserve biodiversity, while keeping income in destination countries.
It is collaborative platforms like these that accords us the opportunity to share best practices and lessons to transform these goals into reality.
The summary of today’s debate will emphasize those best practices and recommended actions that were forthcoming during the discussions and will be shared with you all.
I extend my heartfelt appreciation to all of today’s speakers, Ministers, and all participants.
I also extend warm appreciation to Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili and his team for helping to make today’s event
possible, and for bringing tourism to the heart of the UN – a first in 20 years.
Likewise, I express appreciation to UN Environment, UNDP and UNCTAD for their support.
Excellencies, let us take forward the momentum generated here today to undertake concrete actions within our respective spheres of influence.
We have this once in a generation opportunity to transform tourism for people, plant, and prosperity; let us seize the opportunity to make the tourism sector a part of the solution and not the problem.
I thank you
