On February 26, the UN General Assembly unanimously approved the resolution International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism, 2027. The document was initiated by Uzbekistan, with the support of 80 co-sponsoring countries, as reported by the press service of the president of Uzbekistan.
The UN website also mentions the Maldives as one of the initiators of the resolution.
The main objective of the resolution is based on the thesis put forward by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the Samarkand session of the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in October 2023 on the sustainability and flexibility of tourism to new problems and challenges of our time, the report stated.
The resolution emphasizes the significance of tourism in spreading awareness of the rich cultural heritage of various civilizations and bringing about a better appreciation of the inherent values of different cultures, thereby contributing to the strengthening of peace in the world.
Special attention is paid to the development of sustainable and resilient tourism for the conservation of ecology, biodiversity and mitigation of atmospheric pollution.
The document decides to declare 2027 the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism and calls on the UNWTO in collaboration with governments, relevant organizations of the United Nations system, international and regional organizations and other relevant stakeholders.
The resolution recognizes the importance of promoting sustainable tourism, including ecotourism, which can contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, including fostering economic growth, creating full and productive employment, promoting rural development and better living conditions for rural populations.
The resolution encourages member states to take effective measures in the context of sustainable and resilient tourism as an important tool to alleviate poverty, promote the equal participation of women and the balanced participation of youth, older persons, persons with disabilities, and to promote effective economic empowerment, mainly through decent job and income creation.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres noted that tourism, as one of the largest sectors of the global economy, has great potential to bring cultures closer together, create new opportunities and contribute to sustainable development.
Despite being the industry hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, tourism is experiencing a rapid recovery. By the end of 2023, the turnover of the international tourism industry reached 88% of the pre-pandemic level, UNWTO data indicates.
Consultations to finalize the text of the document involved experts from Russia, China, the PRC, the United States, Turkey, Germany, the United Kingdom, the EU delegation, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Egypt, Brazil, and Argentina.
