Programme

The event will set the scene for a new framework for development through tourism to support Least Developed Countries, providing the opportunity to LDCs, UN agencies and key players of donor countries and other institutions to initiate an open dialogue for a more effective assistance.

A concrete deliverable will be presented in the format of a consolidated technical Portfolio of Services “Tourism for Development” aimed in particular at assisting LDCs, as well as other countries, to develop a tourism sector committed to national growth and local benefits that generates income and decent employment for communities while preserving the environment and culture of the destination.

The Tourism Special Event will be structured in the form of short forwarding-thinking presentations by the UN agencies followed by an interactive roundtable discussion to address tourism’s potential for development in LDCs and the range of technical assistance services that follow these main themes:

• Building good governance and sustainability in tourism development;
• Promoting domestic and foreign investment for sustainable tourism development;
• Fostering poverty reduction through linkages between the tourism sector and local suppliers of goods and services; and
• Supporting human resource development through improved education, training and decent work, including related capacity building, in the tourism sector.
• Existing financial mechanisms for LDCs, like the EIF (Enhanced Integrated Framework), will be presented within the Portfolio. EIF is an Aid-for-Trade partnership in action for the LDCs. It is a multi-donor programme, which supports LDCs to be more active players in the global trading system by helping them tackle obstacles to trade development, for example, vis-à-vis tourism.

Background

Tourism has been identified as a priority development sector in the majority of LDCs. Due to its capacity for creation of employment, poverty reduction, human development and environmental sustainability, tourism can benefit these countries in a number of ways offering an opportunity for all-inclusive growth. Worldwide, tourism revenues represent a significant share of national incomes, encompassing a 6% to 7% of the world’s employment, and US$ 1.1 trillion a year in export earnings. Development opportunities through tourism are on the rise in LDCs and represent an important factor for the overall national growth. In spite of its proven contribution to global economic growth and development, the sector still lacks political and economic recognition and support.

In response to the Recommendations resulting from the LDC IV High-Level Preparatory Meeting of Experts on Sustainable Tourism1, coordinated by UNCTAD (Caen, France), the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) with five other UN entities – International Labour Organization (ILO), International Trade Centre (ITC), UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and World Trade Organization (WTO) – has created the UN Steering Committee on Tourism for Development (SCTD). SCTD aims at advancing the role of tourism for development by providing integrated technical assistance to LDCs through existing and forthcoming financial mechanisms, building on the strengths and experiences of each agency. Aware of the importance of tourism in LDCs, the agencies of the UN Steering Committee on Tourism for Development (SCTD) will provide integrated support to LDCs in the area of tourism for sustainable development and poverty reduction.