Study on tourism’s commitment to sustainable development underway

The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), in collaboration with the UNWTO Affiliate Members Working Group on SDGs Support, has launched a major new survey to assess how the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been incorporated into tourism, practices, plans and strategies in destinations across the world.

As the United Nations specialised agency responsible for promoting tourism as a tool for sustainable development, UNWTO is supporting the tourism sector to become an effective contributor to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).

The 17 SDGs are geared towards reducing poverty and fostering sustainable development worldwide. With the sustainability agenda an increasingly important part of tourism practice, this new study from UNWTO will analyze how the SDGs are influencing practices and policies among its global network of Affiliate Members, drawn from the private sector, civil society, NGOs and academia, to provide their unique insights into the advances being made right across the sector.

Launching the survey, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “2020 will mark the beginning of the decade of action towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and we have 10 years left to make the future we want. Tourism plays a vital role in the achievement of the SDGs and we believe the outcomes of this survey will contribute to further empower tourism stakeholders to incorporate sustainability measures and policies in their daily work and objectives,” he added.

The survey aims to determine the current levels of awareness and engagement of the tourism sector regarding the 2030 Agenda and achieving its 17 SDGs, identify current business policies and strategies addressing the SDGs and also identify best practices and activities addressing the SDGs.

The private sector, academia, civil societies and associations play a significant role in the achievement of the SDGs and they are invited to be part of the momentum for the achievement of the SDGs and share their work through this survey.