What's Hot?
Cannes Film Festival Bans Risqué Outfits From Annual...
Tourism Sales Mission Boosts Ties Between Malaysia And...
Book Of The Year Finalists Show ‘Incredible Talent’
Bafta TV Awards: The Winners List In Full
A Small West African Country Has Big Artistic...
Koyo Kouoh, Prominent Art World Figure, Dies At...
2baba, Makhadzi, Stonebwoy, Eddy kenzo, Nikita Others Storm...
Nemsia Studios Unveils New Movie ‘After 30’
Akon Didn’t Create Afrobeats – ID Cabasa
Seven Tips On Some Of The Most Beautiful...
  • Home
  • Arts & Exhibitions
  • Culture & Festivals
    • Culture Africana
    • Culture People
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Music, Movies & More
  • News
    • Travel News
  • Opinion
    • Reviews (The Critics)
  • TCN Literati
  • Tourism & Hospitality
The Culture Newspaper
Tourism & Hospitality

UNWTO’s Damning Report Casts Doubt On Africa’s Preparedness To Restart Tourism

by Olalekan Okeowo June 26, 2020
by Olalekan Okeowo June 26, 2020

United Nations World Tourism Organization, UNWTO, in a latest report has revealed that only 4% of destinations in Africa have introduced specific policies to restart tourism, lagging considerably behind Europe, Asia, and the Pacific as well as the Americas.

This was contained in the United Nations specialized tourism agency’s first Briefing Note on Tourism and COVID-19.

The Briefing Note, released on Monday (June 22), points out that destinations in Europe have led the way in introducing specific policies around restarting the industry, with 33% of destinations in the region have done so. In Asia and the Pacific, 25% of destinations have adopted restarting tourism policies, while in the Americas this figure stands at 14%.

Similarly, UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili, commended government’s support to the project restart tourism.

“The determination of governments to both support tourism, and now restart tourism, is testament to the importance of the sector. In many countries, particularly in the developing world, tourism is a major supporter of livelihoods and economic growth, and so it is vital that we restart tourism in a timely and responsible manner,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili.

Recall that from the start of the current crisis, UNWTO has urged both governments and international organisations to make tourism recovery a priority. The Briefing Note has now indicated that, of the 220 countries and territories assessed, 167 have reported taking measures to mitigate the effects of the crisis.

Of these, 144 have adopted fiscal and monetary policies, while 100 have taken specific steps to support jobs and training, both in tourism and other key economic sectors.

READ More  Saudi Arabia Tourism Partners With Japan And Nigeria

UNWTO found that the most common form of economy-wide stimulus packages adopted by governments focused on fiscal incentives, including exemptions or deferrals of taxes (VAT, corporate income tax, etc.), as well as providing emergency economic assistance and relief to businesses through monetary measures such as special credit lines at reduced rates, new loan schemes and state banking guarantees to address liquidity shortage.

These policies are complemented with a third pillar to protect the millions of jobs at risk through flexibility mechanisms put in place in many countries, such as exemption or reduction of social security contributions, wage subsidies or special support mechanisms for self-employed.

Small businesses, which make up 80% of tourism, have received targeted assistance in many countries, according to the UNWTO Briefing Note.

Pololikashvili emphasises that, to restart tourism, restoring trust and confidence in the sector is crucial. In countries where tourism is back on the path to reignition, health and sanitary protocols, certifications and labels for clean and safe practices, and safety ‘corridors’ between countries are the most common measures

0
FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinWhatsappEmail
Olalekan Okeowo

previous post
‘Serengeti’: How Lupita Nyong’o Set Out to “Diversify” the Docuseries Genre
next post
TIFF To Serve As Beacon Of Hope As Organizers Unveil Festival Plan

You may also like

Tourism Sales Mission Boosts Ties Between Malaysia And...

May 12, 2025

A Small West African Country Has Big Artistic...

May 12, 2025

Tourist Places In China For An Epic Cultural...

May 9, 2025

Asia-Pacific Travel Trends Reshape Middle East Tourism Strategy

May 8, 2025

LASEPA Seals Hotels, Bars, Others In Alimosho

May 8, 2025

Lagos Tourism Ministry Partners MyLagosApp To Enhance Service...

May 8, 2025

Top 10 Most Visited Cities In The World...

May 5, 2025

‘Tourism Is The New Oil’, Says Saudi Tourism...

May 4, 2025

Culture Ministry Partners Emirates To Boost Inbound Tourism

May 2, 2025

Akwa Ibom: Hidden Jewel of Nigeria

May 1, 2025

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Recent Posts

  • Cannes Film Festival Bans Risqué Outfits From Annual Ceremony
  • Tourism Sales Mission Boosts Ties Between Malaysia And Saudi Arabia
  • Book Of The Year Finalists Show ‘Incredible Talent’
  • Bafta TV Awards: The Winners List In Full
  • A Small West African Country Has Big Artistic Dreams

Sponsored

Recent Posts

  • Cannes Film Festival Bans Risqué Outfits From Annual Ceremony

    May 12, 2025
  • Tourism Sales Mission Boosts Ties Between Malaysia And Saudi Arabia

    May 12, 2025
  • Book Of The Year Finalists Show ‘Incredible Talent’

    May 12, 2025

Categories

  • Arts & Exhibitions
  • Culture & Festivals
  • Culture Africana
  • Culture People
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Music, Movies & More
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Photo News
  • Reviews (The Critics)
  • TCN Interview
  • TCN Literati
  • Tourism & Hospitality
  • Travel News
  • Travel Trends
  • Travelogue
  • What's Hot?
  • World Culture

Connect with us

Connect with us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

@2025 - The Culture Newspaper. All Right Reserved. Maintained by Freelart

The Culture Newspaper
  • Home
  • Arts & Exhibitions
  • Culture & Festivals
    • Culture Africana
    • Culture People
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Music, Movies & More
  • News
    • Travel News
  • Opinion
    • Reviews (The Critics)
  • TCN Literati
  • Tourism & Hospitality