Wednesday, June 12, 2024 Global tourism leaders convened once more to discuss the future of the industry, underscoring its critical economic significance and elevating its profile on the global political stage. The 121st session of the UN Tourism Executive Council gathered delegates from 47 nations, including 18 Tourism Ministers, to propel the organization’s vision for the industry’s complete recovery post-pandemic. UN Tourism data revealed that approximately 285 million tourists traveled internationally in the first quarter of 2024, marking a 20% increase from the previous year.
Meanwhile, international tourism earnings returned to USD 1.5 trillion in 2023. Emphasizing the importance of investments and education, UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili highlighted the need for embracing innovation and steering investment toward the industry to foster its positive transformation.
“With tourism having bounced back from the biggest crisis in its history, now is the time to channel our energy into building greater resilience against any future shocks,” he said. “At the same time, we must ensure tourism’s growth benefits people everywhere, above all by expanding access to education and job opportunities and harnessing the power of new technology.” The Secretary-General then outlined the organization’s accomplishments since their last meeting, with a focus on investment in tourism, education, and speeding up innovation throughout the industry.
The sessio.
