17TH FEBRUARY IS THE GLOBAL TOURISM RESILIENCE DAY
We have seen the impact of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 directly. Like many industries it affected tourism directly impacting negatively amongst communities who were earning livelihoods through tourism. There are disasters that also affect tourism which may be natural or man made. There is no doubt that tourism is an important driver of economic development and can bring significant advantages to people, places and local communities.
Most of us have travelled to different parts of the country and the world for tourism purposes. It has impacted millions directly or indirectly all over the world. We should know that tourism supports millions of direct and indirect jobs all over the world, in particular for women and young people. For some small island states and developing countries, tourism accounts for over 20 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP).
The world is already facing the challenges of climate change and the tourism industry is one of the sectors most vulnerable to climate change, facing numerous risks ranging from extreme weather events to long-term environmental shifts. Climate resilience refers to the ability of tourism destinations to withstand, adapt to, and recover from climate-related impacts. This resilience is fundamental to supporting sustainability in tourism by protecting natural resources, maintaining biodiversity, and securing livelihoods.
Sustainable tourism, including ecotourism, is a cross-cutting activity that can contribute to the three dimensions of sustainable development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by fostering economic growth, alleviating poverty, creating full and productive employment and decent work for all. Eco tourism is a popular word when it comes to North East India as the region has full potential of transformation through eco and other nature based tourism.
When there is climate crisis then we must have to think and act for resilient tourism so that communities in developing and least developing countries are negatively impacted as for many developing countries, including the least developed countries, small Island developing states, countries in Africa and middle-income countries, tourism is a major source of income, foreign currency earnings, tax revenue and employment.
It’s time to build resilient tourism for our sustainable future. Resilient tourism, as defined by UN Tourism (formerly United Nations World Tourism Organisation), is the ability of the tourism sector to prepare for, withstand, adapt to, and recover from crises like pandemics, climate-related disasters, and economic shocks. It focuses on building long-term sustainability, crisis management, and adaptability to ensure the industry continues to thrive.
The use of sustainable and resilient tourism as a tool to foster sustained and inclusive economic growth, social development and financial inclusion, enables the formalization of the informal sector, the promotion of domestic resource mobilization and environmental protection and the eradication of poverty and hunger, including the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and natural resources and the promotion of investment and entrepreneurship in sustainable tourism.
Like many other days the Global Tourism Resilience Day is observed on 17th February and it has been proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in resolution A/RES/77/269; aims to emphasize the need to foster resilient tourism development to deal with shocks, taking into account the vulnerability of the tourism sector to emergencies. The UN Tourism is the leading UN international agency in the field of tourism. Its mission is to promote tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability and offers leadership and support to the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide.
At present the culture of travelling and hosting is slowly changing. We could see that tourists are increasingly seeking authentic, culturally immersive experiences, such as local food, traditions, and interactions with local residents. This change creates opportunities for community-led tourism and authentic, off-the-beaten-path and slow tourism experiences that support local communities and promote sustainable practices and also build resilient tourism.
Ranjan K Baruah
Guwahati
(With direct inputs from UN publication and feedback may be sent to bkranjan@gmail.com)