Over the past month, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has held meetings of its five Regional Commissions in a bid to share responses to the challenge of COVID-19 and their plans for the restart of tourism in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
The five regional bodies of Member States of the United Nations specialized agency – regional commissions for Africa, the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific and the Middle East – met virtually rather than in person for the first time ever.
“The meetings of the UNWTO Regional Commissions has shown the universal determination to restart tourism, and to do so with an emphasis on sustainability and on ensuring the benefits are shared as widely as possible.
“At the same time, the insights of UNWTO Member States from around the world make clear that, while some destinations are re-opening to tourists, this crisis is not yet over in many places, and that the tourism sector continues to require strong political and economic support if we are to safeguard livelihoods and protect whole economies in these challenging times,” UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili, said in a statement released by the agency.
The series of meetings, which kicked off with the Regional Commission for Africa, focused on ensuring all destinations are ready to welcome tourists back, with enhanced hygiene protocols in place so as to make tourists feel safe and confident.
