The global tourism surpassed 1.4 billion in international arrivals recording 6 per cent growth over the previous year and generating close to US $ 1.5 trillion in direct spend. It is no longer a secret that tourism is among the leading economic sectors across the world today. And this is particularly true for South Asia, which achieved astonishing growth rate of 9 per cent in 2017, and shows its continued increase in the first 9 months in 2018.
India’s role in this growth has been especially significant. And the year 2019 belongs to India as the country is hosting the official celebrations of World Tourism Day, an annual event of UNWTO.
Highlighting India’s growing profile as a tourism destination as well as the fact that the country has emerged as one of the fastest growing tourism source markets in the world, Eunji Tae, Officer, Regional Department for Asia and the Pacific, UNWTO, said: “India’s contribution to the region’s success was substantial. In fact, India´s position in the world tourism map becomes more significant both as a destination and as a source market.” Tae was speaking at South Asia’s biggest travel exhibition SATTE held in New Delhi.
Also stressing that its high time that the tourism development became more sustainable and responsible, she emphasised, “We not only need to grow, we must grow better. That´s the only way we could continue to grow and evolve in a long term. These developments imply responsibility, especially ensuring the growing contribution of tourism to social, economic and environmental sustainability.”
“As much as the tourism sectors are connected globally, this work of economic, social and environmentally sustainable development also needs mutual collaboration between different countries and regions, between public and private sectors, and between tourism industries and community in general,” she added.
Tae also reminded that 2019 is particularly relevant with India hosting the 2019 official celebrations of World Tourism Day, an annual event held on 27 September which serves as a backdrop to underscore tourism’s potential and real economic and social contribution. The event this year has been themed, “Tourism and Jobs: A Better Future for All” highlighting challenges and opportunities which cut across sustainable development.
“As this year´s theme of World Tourism Day, policies for fostering talents, providing and maintaining decent jobs in the tourism sector are at the core of UNWTO’s work and partnership with its members. South Asia and India have proven the importance of skills development for job creation. Let us deepen our collaboration to maximize tourism’s input to the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Together let us prove the real power of tourism in achieving the tourism development which leads a better future for all,” Tae pointed.
