World Tourism Cities Federation Changsha Summit 2023

Distinguished Guests,

Good morning.

My name is Joe Colombano, I am the Head of the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in China, Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee. Mr. Chatterjee regrets being unable to be here today and has asked me to represent him at this important event. I will now deliver his remarks.

Representatives of the Hunan provincial government,

Representatives of Changsha municipality,

Deputy Mayor of Beijing,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I thank the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) for the invitation to address its Changsha Summit 2023.

As the world begins to return to a sense of normality after the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism numbers have started to rebound, providing a lifeline to an industry that suffered more than most over the past three years. While the financial implications on the sector cannot be overlooked, the short circuit caused by the pandemic provides the tourism sector with the opportunity to review its practices and develop new strategies: to protect biodiverse areas, respect the cultures of host communities, and reduce the depletion of environmental resources.

In short, to foster sustainable development.

We must seize this opportunity to put the tourism sector on a path toward sustainable development and align it with the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).   

We have seen in recent years an increased demand for sustainable tourism, with more and more people considering the impact of their travel decisions on local communities and the environment. Sustainable tourism can be a key driver of viable, long-term economic growth. It can also better integrate local communities into the tourism value chain, ensuring that the economic benefits from the sector are fairly distributed. This, in turn, will lead to more stable, better-paying employment opportunities, in particular for rural communities, and foster efforts to eradicate poverty around the world.  

China has an important role to play in global tourism. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), prior to the pandemic, China was the largest source of tourists globally. Due to the travel restrictions imposed globally to contain the pandemic, the pause in outbound Chinese tourists in 2020 and 2021 represented a financial loss of US$270 billion for the tourism sector.

This highlights the critical need to build resilience in the tourism sector to be prepared for future challenges. This means promoting and adopting more collaborative development of tourism industries between countries and regions, with a focus on the social good that tourism can provide if pursued in a responsible manner: to eradicate poverty, achieve climate mitigation and adaptation, foster biodiversity and protect the environment. We must learn from recent lessons and shift to a higher-quality paradigm, rather than reverting to how things were done before.

As said by UN Secretary-General António Guterres on the occasion of World Tourism Day last year, “Governments, businesses and consumers must align their tourism practices with the Sustainable Development Goals and a 1.5-degree future.”

Achieving sustainable tourism requires strong political leadership and the informed participation of all stakeholders.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

For over 40 years, the UN has been a trusted development partner of China, engaging in bilateral and multilateral cooperation to support sustainable development, including sustainable tourism.

In the past year, China has established itself as a leading supporter of United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in several core priority areas. These include Nature-Positive Tourism, which the organization placed on the agenda of the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) last year, when China served as its President.

UNWTO will return to China in September this year for the Global Tourism Economic Forum (GTEF). Scheduled to be held in Macau, the Forum also counts WTCF as one of its long-term supporting units. The tenth edition of the Forum will provide a platform for governments, business leaders, experts, and academics to advance shared plans for sustainable tourism.

Today's event reminds us that the opening of borders around the world marks a significant first step toward a more inclusive and peaceful future. What better way to start on that journey than with the people-to-people exchanges made possible by tourism?

China's reopening will deliver a much-needed jolt to global tourism recovery and growth, while also benefiting other economic sectors and providing a boost to sustainable development efforts around the world.

The UN in China stands ready to support the people and Government of China on their national development priorities and ensure that they are aligned with international norms and standards. We remain committed to connect, convene, and catalyze all stakeholders in the remaining years of this Decade of Action to achieve the SDGs. Together.

I send you my best wishes for a successful event. Thank you.