As the world gears up for the G20 Leaders’ Summit, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), in partnership with India’s Ministry of Tourism, has introduced a powerful resource to leverage tourism’s potential for advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This visionary initiative is poised to reshape the landscape in alignment with global sustainability objectives.
Launched midway between the 2015 inception of the 2030 Agenda and the impending deadline, this tool is designed to highlight the sector’s pivotal role in hastening progress toward the 17 SDGs.
DASHBOARD HIGHLIGHTS
The G20 Tourism and SDGs Dashboard spotlights the pillars of the Goa Roadmap for Tour as a Catalyst for Achieving the SDGs. These pillars correspond to the five priority areas identified by the Tourism Working Group, encompassing:
- Green Tours
- Digitalization
- Skills
- MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises)
- Destination Management
The dashboard comprises an extensive repository of over 20 case studies categorized within these five key areas. Furthermore, it will be regularly updated throughout 2023 and beyond, serving as an invaluable reference for travel policies and initiatives striving to contribute to the SDGs.
A CRUCIAL TOOL
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili expressed the significance of the G20 countries’ leadership, representing over 70% of global tours. He emphasized the Dashboard as a concrete outcome of the G20 Tourism Working Group. He said it was a crucial tool for all stakeholders in the sector.
Minister of Tourism, Culture G Kishan Reddy, underscored the transformative potential of digitalization championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He hailed the G20 Tourism and SDGs Dashboard as a symbol of India’s digital progress. He said it was a wellspring of knowledge for global public and private stakeholders. Its aim is to steer the industry towards greater sustainability, resilience, and inclusivity.
TOURISM AND THE G20 ECONOMIES
The G20 economies collectively represent an astonishing 85% of the global GDP. They represent over 75% of worldwide trade, and approximately two-thirds of the global population. In 2022, the G20 welcomed a staggering 74% of international tourists and accounted for 73% of global tourism exports. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, the Tourism Direct GDP had reached a remarkable 3.7% of the G20 economies.
