United Nations Collaborates for Sustainable Urban Tourism
In a pivotal gathering hosted by the Department of Territorial Planning of the Basque Government, experts across various sectors convened under the theme "Advancing Sustainable Urban Tourism: developing tools for promoting good practices in cities." This meeting marks a significant step towards fostering sustainable urban development through the lens of tourism, addressing the collective ambition for more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable urban environments. With the backdrop of the Basque Country's scenic landscapes, this assembly of minds from UN agencies, international organizations, and the academic and private sectors delved into the multifaceted role of tourism in urban sustainability.
The discussion spanned the contributions of cities like Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bilbao, and Venice, among others, sharing innovative policies and practices that encourage knowledge exchange and collaborative opportunities. The intersection of mandates from UN Tourism and UN-Habitat brought forward diverse perspectives on harnessing tourism for the social, economic, environmental, and cultural sustainability of cities. Key insights were also shared by representatives from UNESCO, UNEP, and the OECD, highlighting the interconnectivity of tourism with cities' economic, environmental, cultural, and heritage aspects.
A central focus of the Expert Group Meeting was on identifying challenges and opportunities within sustainable urban tourism. From understanding tourism's role in the Urban Agenda to exploring innovative approaches for its promotion, the meeting laid the groundwork for integrating sustainable tourism principles into urban and territorial policies and plans.
Looking ahead, the insights and outcomes from this meeting will significantly influence the Global Urban Agenda. These deliberations are set to enrich the dialogue at the upcoming 12th World Urban Forum (WUF 12) in Cairo, Egypt, and the Mayors Forum for Sustainable Urban Tourism, orchestrated by UN Tourism. As cities worldwide strive towards sustainability, this collaboration between UN Tourism and UN-Habitat epitomizes the holistic approach needed to reimagine urban spaces through the transformative power of tourism.