UN Tourism Report Calls for Community-Centered Approaches to Maximize Tourism Benefits
(IN SHORT) UN Tourism and the World Tourism Alliance have released a joint report stressing the importance of inclusive tourism planning and governance in accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 10 on reducing inequalities. The report outlines how tourism can drive shared prosperity if policies prioritize social equity, community development, and reinvestment in sustainability. It includes successful case studies from China, Indonesia, and Rwanda among others, and urges governments to adopt tourism strategies that benefit all stakeholders.
(PRESS RELEASE) MADRID, 2025-Apr-23 — /Travel PR News/ — Tourism holds significant untapped potential to advance the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 10 on reducing inequalities. Yet, according to a new report from UN Tourism and the World Tourism Alliance (WTA), realizing this potential demands inclusive and community-centered planning, policy, and investment frameworks.
The report emphasizes that to transform tourism into a true driver of equity and social inclusion, countries must develop governance models that intentionally distribute its benefits across all segments of society. This includes creating opportunities for job creation, empowering women, preserving cultural and natural heritage, fostering education and infrastructure development, and ensuring sustainable environmental practices.
UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili warned that “five years into the 2030 Agenda, many SDG targets are falling behind. Tourism, one of the world’s most impactful economic sectors, can help shift the course—if we harness its full potential through targeted and inclusive policies.” He called for placing communities at the heart of tourism development and urged stakeholders to make tourism a meaningful tool for inclusive, sustainable growth.
Echoing this sentiment, WTA Chair Zhang Xu added that for developing regions to achieve sustained growth, the benefits of societal progress must be shared more equitably. The report draws on best practices from countries including China, Albania, Indonesia, Jordan, Peru, Rwanda, and Vanuatu to show how national tourism policies can be leveraged for poverty alleviation and inclusive development.
Recommended Actions Include:
- Positioning tourism as a core pillar in national strategies for poverty reduction and inclusive growth.
- Establishing policy and governance frameworks that empower host communities and ensure shared prosperity.
- Reinvesting tourism revenues in sustainability initiatives and broader enablers like education, health, and infrastructure.
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SOURCE: UN Tourism
