BRICS countries, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, are collaborating to prioritize policies that promote a fair and sustainable recovery of tourism. The tourism industry has the potential to boost economies, generate jobs, and promote international relations. Sustainable and inclusive tourism is crucial for a more resilient and equitable future, and BRICS countries can contribute to shaping a brighter future for the industry. The ongoing recovery process offers a distinctive chance for the travel and tourism sector to implement revolutionary changes, thereby building a more resilient and inclusive future.
What is the importance of sustainable and inclusive tourism in BRICS countries?
The tourism industry has the potential to boost economies, generate jobs, and promote international relations. BRICS countries, with a collective population of 3.5 billion, are focused on achieving common wealth and sustainable growth. The BRICS Tourism Ministers Meeting provides an opportunity for these countries to collaborate and prioritize policies that promote a fair and sustainable recovery of tourism. Sustainable and inclusive tourism is crucial for a more resilient and equitable future, and BRICS countries can contribute to shaping a brighter future for the industry.
The tourism industry possesses immense capacity to strengthen economies, generate jobs, and foster international relations. The BRICS nations – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – together form an intriguing consortium of diverse, evolving economies with a joint aim of achieving common wealth and sustainable growth. Collectively, these countries are home to nearly 3.5 billion people, making their collaboration even more crucial.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, in a recent speech at the BRICS summit in Johannesburg, stressed the importance of unity, inclusiveness, and sustainable development within the group. Furthermore, the Summit Declaration underlined the pressing need for the recovery of the tourism sector and the enhancement of mutual tourist flows.
The BRICS Tourism Ministers Meeting functions as a medium for member countries to share information, experiences, and concepts concerning their individual tourism industries. This gathering allows these nations to agree on crucial policy priorities that foster a fair and sustainable recovery of tourism.
As the world continues to deal with the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, such united efforts have become increasingly vital. The United Nations World Travel Organization (UNWTO) predicts that international arrivals will attain 80% to 95% of pre-pandemic levels by 2023.
Despite this positive outlook, it is crucial to acknowledge that current numbers still lag behind those before the pandemic. For instance, South Africa witnessed a 70.6% increase in international tourists from January to August 2023 compared to the same time frame in 2022. However, this number signifies a 19.0% deficit compared to 2019 levels.
The ongoing recovery process offers a distinctive chance for the travel and tourism sector to implement revolutionary changes, thereby building a more resilient and inclusive future. With international arrivals projected to reach 1.8 billion by 2030, the resulting growth must be sustainable, inclusive, and provide positive contributions to local communities, natural ecosystems, and cultural heritage.
The UNWTO’s One Planet Vision for a Responsible Recovery of the Tourism Sector calls for a strong, fair, and sustainable future for the industry. It encourages BRICS members to harmonize their tourism plans with six lines of action:
The crux of the issue lies in the necessity for a more equitable development model in the tourism sector. Such a model must involve stakeholders at various levels in its planning and execution. Moreover, it should offer decent working conditions and opportunities for all, including women, youth, people with disabilities, and indigenous communities.
The BRICS Tourism Ministers Meeting provides a crucial opportunity for member nations to collaborate, strategize, and exchange invaluable insights into the sustainable expansion of their tourism sectors. By aligning their goals with the principles of inclusiveness, sustainability, and equitable growth, BRICS countries can unleash the full potential of this dynamic industry.
In the end, the future of sustainable and inclusive tourism in BRICS countries depends on the combined ability of its members to adapt, innovate, and cooperate in pursuit of a common objective: shared prosperity and growth for all. As these nations continue to recover from the pandemic, the significance of sustainable and inclusive tourism cannot be overstated. By embracing this potential, BRICS countries can contribute to shaping a brighter, more equitable future for the global tourism industry.
BRICS countries are a consortium of five countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – with a joint aim of achieving common wealth and sustainable growth.
Sustainable and inclusive tourism is crucial for a more resilient and equitable future. The tourism industry has the potential to boost economies, generate jobs, and promote international relations, and BRICS countries can contribute to shaping a brighter future for the industry.
The BRICS Tourism Ministers Meeting provides a medium for member countries to share information, experiences, and concepts concerning their individual tourism industries. This gathering allows these nations to agree on crucial policy priorities that foster a fair and sustainable recovery of tourism.
The UNWTO’s One Planet Vision for a Responsible Recovery of the Tourism Sector calls for a strong, fair, and sustainable future for the industry. It encourages BRICS members to harmonize their tourism plans with six lines of action: public health, social inclusion, biodiversity preservation, addressing climate change, establishing a circular economy that benefits all, and dedication to equitable and transparent governance and financing.
The United Nations World Travel Organization predicts that international arrivals will attain 80% to 95% of pre-pandemic levels by 2023. However, current numbers still lag behind those before the pandemic.
The necessity for a more equitable development model in the tourism sector lies in involving stakeholders at various levels in its planning and execution. Moreover, it should offer decent working conditions and opportunities for all, including women, youth, people with disabilities, and indigenous communities.
By aligning their goals with the principles of inclusiveness, sustainability, and equitable growth, BRICS countries can unleash the full potential of their tourism sectors. Collaborating, strategizing, and exchanging invaluable insights into the sustainable expansion of their tourism sectors at the BRICS Tourism Ministers Meeting is an essential step in achieving this objective.
The future of sustainable and inclusive tourism in BRICS countries depends on the combined ability of its members to adapt, innovate, and cooperate in pursuit of a common objective: shared prosperity and growth for all. By embracing this potential, BRICS countries can contribute to shaping a brighter, more equitable future for the global tourism industry.
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