Zurab Pololikashvili: Communities at the heart of tourism development

Tourism development can and should be a driver of social equity and prosperity for all. This is the central message of a new report jointly published by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) and the World Tourism Alliance (WTA). The report highlights that targeted policies, appropriate regulatory frameworks, and effective governance models are needed to ensure that the benefits of tourism reach all members of local communities.

Five years before the 2030 deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, progress is proving slow, and many of the intended reforms are at risk. Tourism, as one of the largest socio-economic sectors in the world, can make a decisive contribution to reversing this trend – if fully harnessed.

“To succeed, we must put communities at the heart of tourism development,” said UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. “Our organization is committed to leading this transformation, ensuring that the benefits of tourism are shared socially, economically, and environmentally.”

The report presents concrete examples of policies that promote prosperity through tourism, including China’s strategy for poverty reduction through tourism, as well as case studies in Albania, Indonesia, Jordan, Peru, Rwanda, and Vanuatu. These examples show how national policies can make tourism a driver of shared prosperity.

“Countries and regions that have escaped poverty are now pursuing sustained and sustainable development,” said WTA President Zhang Xu. “To support them, we must ensure that the fruits of progress are distributed more fairly and effectively.”

Policy Proposals for Inclusion and Sustainability

The report includes specific policy proposals, including:

• Placing tourism as a key pillar of policies aimed at combating poverty and socio-economic inclusion.
• Adopting regulatory frameworks and investment approaches that ensure that the benefits are spread equitably across all stakeholders and local communities.
• Redirecting tourism revenues to strengthening the sustainability of the sector itself, but also to social infrastructure such as education, health, and infrastructure.

UN Tourism, headquartered in Madrid and with 160 member states, is expected to elect a new Secretary-General in May 2025. Former Tourism Minister Haris Theocharis is the candidate. The organization's strategic direction is expected to remain focused on promoting responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.

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