The Secretary-General of World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Zurab Pololikashvili, has canvassed that 25% of all emergency funds be directed to helping tourism as the sector continues to be the hardest hit by the effect of the novel COVID 19 pandemic continues to bite hard.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Secretary-General against the backdrop of an alarm raised by the International Labor Organization, ILO that as many as 1.6 billion individuals worldwide could be affected by a loss of working hours as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the statement titled Message from Madrid: No Time to Waste as Lost Working Hours Devastate Lives, the UNWTO Secretary-General posited that for many millions of people around the world, tourism is so much more than a leisure activity and the ILO data on lost working hours shows the importance of acting fast because the longer the delay in giving tourism the financial and regulatory reform required, the more livelihoods will be at risk.
“Our sector gives them the chance to make a living. To earn not just a wage, but also dignity and equality. Tourism jobs also empower people and provide a chance to have a stake in their societies often for the first time. The International Labor Organization, a fellow UN agency of UNWTO, has raised the alarm: As many as 1.6 billion individuals worldwide could be affected by a loss of working hours as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among them, are the most vulnerable members of our societies, those working in the informal economy. Many of them have contributed to what has made tourism such a force for good for so long – sharing their homes with us, providing services to tourists, and offering warm welcomes. We owe it to them to ensure strong and timely action is taken to protect tourism and to protect livelihoods” he said.
Pololikashvili expressed his optimism that governments worldwide are ready to step up to the plate and act accordingly.
“On the back of positive words, we are finally seeing signs that governments are ready to act. Within the past week, I addressed the Tourism Ministers of the G20 countries, urging action. I also addressed Ministers from the 27 countries of the European Union. Both blocs have the chance to set the agenda.
UNWTO stands beside European Union Commissioner Thierry Breton in his call for 25% of all emergency funds to be directed to helping tourism. Such an amount reflects both the impact that COVID-19 has had on European tourism and on our sector’s ability to affect positive change” he added.
He further expressed his gratitude for the continued support of King Felipe VI of Spain.
“In recognizing tourism’s long history of leading recovery, UNWTO is honored to count on the support of His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain. As well as being home to UNWTO, Spain is also a leading tourist destination and has served as an example of how tourism can be grown sustainably and responsibly for the benefit of many.
Such high-level support, both within national governments and international organizations, will be vital moving forward” he added.
