INTERNATIONAL. Tourism has been “hardest hit” by COVID-19 among economic sectors, according to United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili.
He was speaking at a high-level virtual meeting yesterday (19 March) involving key UN agencies, the chairs of its executive council and regional commissions, and private sector leaders.
A Global Tourism Crisis Committee has been created to reflect the need for “coordinated and efficient” action by the private and public sectors, governments, international financing institutions and the UN, the organisation said. The committee’s aim is to offer a “global guide for recovery” and regular virtual meetings will be held.
UNWTO said it would release a set of recommendations to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism sector and to then accelerate recovery “in the coming days”.
“This unprecedented public health emergency has already become an economic crisis which will come at a social cost,” said Pololikashvili.
“The livelihoods of millions of people and their families are at stake, be it in urban centres or in remote communities where tourism is sometimes the main income generator and a vehicle for social inclusion, protecting heritage and kickstarting development.”
UNWTO also unveiled the tagline ‘Stay home today so you can travel tomorrow’, which will be promoted on digital media using the hashtag #TravelTomorrow.
