At a session on “Tourism in the Blue Economy,” organized in conjunction with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and France, high-level representatives highlighted how implementing a blue economy can help combat the threats of climate change, plastic pollution and overexploitation of resources.
At the same time, the panel, representing Colombia, Kenya, Seychelles, and Palau, made it clear that a more sustainability-focused approach can help deliver more competitive and inclusive tourism activities.
Speaking at the Summit, UNWTO Executive Director Zoritsa Urosevic said, “Tourism is one of the pillars of the blue economy and plays a key role in preserving the oceans by providing financial incentives and mechanisms to protect ecosystems. But we can, and must, do more. In the recovery process, tourism will need to play a key role in regenerating coastal and marine ecosystems for resilience, putting people at the center of our efforts.”
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, is an international organization with a central and decisive role in the promotion and development of responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism. It provides a global forum for tourism policy issues and a useful source of tourism expertise. It currently comprises 159 countries, 6 territories, 2 permanent observers and more than 500 Affiliate Members.
