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First World Conference on Tourism for Development

Beijing, China, 19 May 2016
Keynote address by Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Secretary-General

HE Premier Li Keqiang

Thank you for being with us and for your unwavering commitment to tourism.

Due to the support that the sector has at the highest level, China has become
a leader in world tourism and an example to all in the international community.

Indeed, the world looks up to China and the message coming out of China at
this moment is that tourism can be an effective tool to build a better future for
people and planet.

The holding of today’s Conference in Beijing is a reflection of that message

and we thank you for that.

HE President Filipe Jacinto Nyussi, President of the Republic of

Mozambique

It is a great honour to welcome you among us.

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The example of Mozambique is an inspiration to all and a testimony that

tourism when taken as a priority yields immense benefits to the people of this
world.

Mr. Li Jinzao, Chairman of the China National Tourism Administration,

Thank you and your team for making this event possible.

China has been a strong partner of UNWTO ever since China joined our
Organization and we thank you for that.

Mr Wu Hongbo, United Nations Under-Secretary General

Thank you for joining us today on behalf of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki

moon.

UNWTO as the United Nations specialized agency for tourism is committed to

uphold its mandate of (and I quote) “promoting tourism with a view to
contributing to economic development, international understanding, peace and
prosperity”.

Excellencies, Honourable Ministers,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen, dear friends,

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 Ni hao, good morning and welcome to the First World Conference on

Tourism for Development.

 I’d like to start by thanking all for joining on this occasion.

 It is very encouraging to see such a gathering of leaders in travel and

tourism from around the world.

 Thank you, Excellencies and Ministers, for your support and participation
today.

 I would like to thank especially our host, the Government of the People’s
Republic of China - Mr. Li Jinzao and the China National Tourism
Administration - for their leadership in hosting this inaugural conference
with UNWTO.

 There could be no better place to hold the First World Conference on

Tourism for Development than China.

 Over the last decade, China has become a world leader in tourism.

 China is today the first tourism source market in the world in terms of
spending and trips.

 China is also the 4th most visited country in the world and the biggest
domestic market.

 In a strong recognition of the contribution of tourism to development, China

has long placed tourism at the centre stage of its development.
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 More recently, China as set as an objective to lift 17% of the country’s

impoverished population out of poverty through tourism by 2020.

Dear friends,

 We are living in the age of travel.

 International tourists have grown from 25 million in 1950 to 1.2 billion

(1.184 million) in 2015.

 Tourism now counts for one in every 11 jobs worldwide, 10% of global
GDP, 7% of world exports and 30% of services exports.

 And let’s not forget tourism’s immense human impacts.

 Tourism creates opportunities for communities around the world to leave

poverty behind and hope for a better live.

 In a multicultural, multiethnic society, tourism builds bridges among people,

fosters mutual understanding and ultimately becomes a pillar of peace –
one can never ate someone who hosts us in their home.

 This is why today we gather here to talk about tourism and development
but also about tourism and peace.

Dear friends,

 There is no peace without development and no development without

peace.
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 In 2015, all members of the United Nations – 193 countries – agreed to

adopt 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aiming by 2030 to build
a better future for people and planet.

 Tourism is included in three of these Goals (Goals 8, Goa l12 and Goal 14)
for its contribution to economic growth and jobs, sustainable production
and consumption and marine conservation.

 So what does this universal agenda mean for our sector?

 How do we ensure tourism is cleaner, more inclusive, more ethical and

leads to greater community development and prosperity everywhere in the
world?

Dear friends,

 As we gather at the first high level event on tourism and the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development, allow me to highlight four key areas in which
tourism can contribute to more sustainable and inclusive societies, if we
work together:

1. Tourism creates jobs and new opportunities

 Tourism contributes to inclusive growth because it provides diverse

employment opportunities to so many.

 Women. Young people. Communities in rural areas and many in Least

Developed Countries can particularly benefit from the opportunities created
from tourism.

 Tourism is fundamentally a people sector.

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 To grow and prosper, we need to invest equitably in people; we need to

create decent jobs and promote equality.

 We cannot afford to leave anyone behind.

2. Tourism boosts economic growth and fosters development

 Tourism has become a stronghold for developing, emerging and advanced

economies alike.

 In Europe, tourism is today one of the pillars supporting the economic

recovery.

 In Asia, tourism is at the forefront of the development agenda for many

economies, including China.

 In Africa, tourism is increasingly recognised as a tool for inclusiveness and

development.

 Yet, despite its proven impact and development potential, tourism does not
benefit yet from the appropriate level of international financing for
development.

 I take this opportunity to pledge to governments to give tourism its due

recognition in the development frameworks at the national and international
levels.

 If global donors provide more financial support, policies can be bolstered,

more investment will be forthcoming and tourism’s development impacts will
multiply.
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3. Tourism builds peace and understanding

 At the heart of the power of tourism is its ability to foster peace,

understanding and social integration.

 In this globalized world, people are travelling more widely and encountering
more cultures than ever before.

 In a world of discord, these connections are opportunities to create more

inclusive, peaceful, stable and equitable societies.

4. Tourism can be a leader in protecting our planet

 Climate change is one of the key challenges of humanity.

 Last December, world leaders have finally come together to approve a new
framework to fight climate change.

 The Paris Agreement is a milestone and tourism needs to take a

leadership role in fighting climate change.

 Some countries have already made low-carbon tourism development

crucial to their sustainable development agenda.

 In this regard, I want to praise China for its leadership and vision.

 Today, China hosts eight Sustainable Tourism Observatories under the

auspices of UNWTO – the highest number in any country.
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 If tourism is to lead in sustainable consumption and production we need to

step up our policies and business strategies including a serious monitoring
of the impacts the sector has on the ground.

Dear Friends,

 The United Nations declared 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable

Tourism for Development.

 This is the perfect opportunity to uphold the value of tourism to realizing the
Sustainable Development Goals.

 A golden opportunity to promote the value of tourism to economic growth,

development, cultural and environmental protection, mutual understanding
and peace.

 In Africa they say that “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to
go far, go together”.

 Building a more sustainable future demands innovation, collaboration and a

cross-cutting approach to tourism development.

 Together I know we can make of tourism a force for the good of

people and planet.

 I wish you all a highly successful Conference.

Thank you.