One Planet: UNWTO Presents Vision for Responsible Recovery of Tourism Sector

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) recently announced its new vision for global tourism – growing better, stronger, and balancing the needs of people, planet and prosperity – through its One Planet sustainable tourism programme.

The vision, named “One Planet Vision for the Responsible Recovery of the Tourism Sector”, builds on the UNWTO Global Guidelines to Restart Tourism, with the aim to emerge stronger and more sustainable from the Covid-19 crisis.

As underlined by the UNWTO, the effort comes at a time when several destinations around the world begin to ease restrictions on travel and mobility and the tourism sector is getting ready to resume its activity with the lessons learned from the pandemic.

“Sustainability must no longer be a niche part of tourism but must be the new norm for every part of our sector. This is one of the central elements of our Global Guidelines to Restart Tourism. It is in our hands to transform tourism and that emerging from Covid-19 becomes a turning point for sustainability,” UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said.

Better, more sustainable, and resilient growth

“The One Planet Vision calls for responsible recovery for the tourism sector, which is founded on sustainability, to build back better. This will underpin tourism’s resilience to be better prepared for future crises,” the UNWTO said. The Vision will support the development and implementation of recovery plans, which contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to the Paris Agreement.

“At a time when governments and the private sector are embarking on the path to recovery, the time is right to keep advancing towards a more economically, social and environmentally sustainable tourism model.”

Led by UNWTO, with the governments of France and Spain as co-leads and in collaboration with UNEP, the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme aims to enhance the sustainable development impacts of the tourism sector by 2030 by developing, promoting and scaling up sustainable consumption and production practices that boost the efficient use of natural resources, while producing less waste and addressing the challenges of climate change and biodiversity.

Access the full document One Planet Vision for a Responsible Recovery of the Tourism Sector.