UNWTO Recommends Ways To Reopen Tourism

With many countries gradually lifting travel restrictions and easing lockdown rules, the UN World Tourism Organization has released a new set of guidelines for the travel, hospitality and related sectors to provide guidance ‘for a strong and sustainable recovery’ in the post COVID-19 world.

Yesterday, the #UNWTO Global Tourism Crisis Committee met to address the future of tourism.

We released a set of guidelines and priorities to strengthen tourism recovery after the impact of #COVID19.
United for safe and seamless travels. #TravelTomorrow https://t.co/UQi5cUdzU4 pic.twitter.com/UaeaZaQO5w

— World Tourism Organization (@UNWTO) May 29, 2020

However, the agency has also warned that international tourist arrivals could fall by between 60 per cent and 80 per cent, likely putting 100-120 million jobs at risk and an estimated loss of US$ 910 billion to US$ 1.2 trillion in exports. Therefore, the guideline emphasises several parameters for tourism recovery, such as providing liquidity and protecting jobs, public-private collaboration for an efficient reopening, added value jobs through new technologies, etc.

 According to UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, the guidelines, produced in consultation with the Global Tourism Crisis Committee, offer a comprehensive set of measures designed to help governments as well as businesses to open tourism up again in a safe, seamless and responsible manner. He said, “They are the product of the enhanced cooperation that has characterized tourism’s response to this shared challenge, building on knowledge and inputs from across the public and private sectors and from several UN agencies as part of the UN’s wider response.”

Happening now❗ The UNWTO Global Tourism Crisis Committee meets to endorse the set of comprehensive actions to guarantee tourism comes back in a safe and sustainable way for all.

Cooperation is at the center of a stronger tourism recovery. #TravelTomorrow pic.twitter.com/N51MEyhLXm

— World Tourism Organization (@UNWTO) May 28, 2020

The guidelines, which are expected to boost traveller confidence, cover priority areas such as international border management, cross-cutting measures in the private sector, safe air travel, hospitality, tour operators and travel agencies, destination planning and management, etc. The guideline has also considered areas of public gathering, including meetings and events, attractions and thematic parks.