G7_JAPAN

Development challenges
Tourism can be one of the building
blocks of the 2030 Agenda
Higher prioritisation of tourism in
international aid flows is needed
A traveller looks across Longji Rice Terraces
in Guanxi Province, China. Tourism deserves
a higher priority in international aid flows in
order to maximise its growing contribution
to socio-economic development
presidency of the G20, “tourism is a key
sector to support robust and inclusive
growth across the world”.
ISTOCKPHOTO
Sustainable Development Goals
It is thus no coincidence that tourism is
included in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development in three of
the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) – 8, 12 and 14. The SDGs highlight
in particular the capacity of the sector to
contribute to economic growth, job creation,
sustainable consumption and production,
and the conservation and sustainable use
Share of international
tourist arrivals in 2015 (%)
51+23+16+5+5+H
51% Europe
23% Asia Pacific
16% Americas
5% Middle East
5% Africa
Source: World Tourism
Organization (UNWTO) 2016
1.8BN
Forecast number of international
tourist arrivals by 2030
of the oceans, seas and marine resources.
In this context, and at a time when global
leaders look to strengthen the foundations
of the global economy – an economy that
is today more than ever interconnected –
tourism can be one of the building blocks of
the 2030 Agenda.
We are, therefore, at an unprecedented
moment for increasing the support to the
sector by developing appropriate policies as
well as mobilising private sector investment
in tourism and related infrastructure and
services. Parallel to this process, tourism
should be a priority at the highest political
level both nationally and internationally
so that its potential can be realised.
Assisting rural development
As an example, currently tourism receives
only 0.78% of the total aid-for-trade
disbursements and a mere 0.097% of total
official development assistance, although
its relevance in the economies of the least
developed countries reaches as much
as 6% of their global trade. UNWTO will
continue to call for a higher prioritisation of
tourism in international aid flows in order
to maximise the growing contribution of the
sector to socio-economic development.
In that sense, UNWTO welcomes
decisions such as the recent
pronouncement of the China National
Tourism Administration and the State
Council Leading Group Office of Poverty
Alleviation and Development of China
to promote rural tourism as an effective
means to fight poverty. Tourism is indeed
well positioned to contribute to rural
development, by providing a wide range
of job and entrepreneurship opportunities
in areas where other economic activities
are often limited or in decay. Furthermore,
tourism provides these opportunities
locally, helping to curb rural migration.
As we celebrate the adoption of 2017
as the International Year of Sustainable
Tourism for Development, I trust that the
efforts of all actors engaged in the sector
as well as the commitment of so many world
leaders will finally give tourism the position
it deserves so that its potential
can be fully maximised. G7
g7g20.com May 2016 • G7 Japan: The Ise-Shima Summit 97