Policy Brief: - COVID-19 and Transforming Tourism AU G U S

As travel restarts in some parts of the world, Harnessing innovation and digitalization, limited connectivity and weak consumer confi- embracing local values, and creating decent dence, the unknown evolution of the pandemic jobs for all, especially for youth, women and the and the impact of the economic downturn most vulnerable groups8 in our societies, could present unprecedented challenges to th. [...] It is important for tourism of global GDP (UNCTAD) to shift towards a resilient, competitive, resource efficient and carbon neutral sector, A lifeline for SIDS, LDCs and in line with the objectives and principles of many African countries – tourism the Paris Agreement on Climate Change represents over 30% of exports and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable for the majority of SIDS and Development. [...] Advancing innovation and the Such transformation implies placing people’s digitalization of the tourism wellbeing at the heart of tourism development, ecosystem fostering engaging governments, the private sector, citi- zens and the international community in strong partnerships for better planning and managing of tourism and setting measurement systems Fostering sustainable and to evaluate the imp. [...] such as air, land and maritime transport, trade, environment, culture, employment, and strong public/private partnerships – and placing the wellbeing of host communities at the centre of tourism policies and management.80 79 UNWTO and UNEP, Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals – Journey to 2030, 2017. [...] Priorities build on the UNWTO Agenda by the World Bank Group (WBG), the Asian for Africa – Tourism for Inclusive Growth,81 a Development Bank (ADB) and the European Bank roadmap for African tourism which sets clear for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and priorities for the challenging months ahead: UNWTO to boost the recovery82 of the tourism unlocking growth and investment, promoting sector.