Asia-Pacific keen on right policy, coordination for early rebound in tourism

In 2020, international arrivals plunged by 73 per cent from pre-pandemic levels in 2019, causing estimated losses of $2.4 trillion in tourism and related sectors, according to the report by UNCTAD and the UN's World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). It added that the sector is not expected to rebound fully until 2023.

Covid-19 vaccination and certificates are key to restoring confidence in foreign tourism, which provides a lifeline for many countries, especially small island states that rely heavily on the sector to provide jobs, it said.

The report sets out three scenarios for 2021, showing international tourism arrivals forecast to drop by between 63 per cent and 75 per cent from pre-pandemic levels, resulting in losses of between $1.7 trillion and $2.4 trillion. Tourism leaders from across Asia and the Pacific have met to plan the sector's restart and recovery even as borders remain closed throughout the region.The 33rd Joint meeting of the World Tourism Organisation's Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and its Commission for South Asia (14 September 2021) came on the back of a challenging year for the region. The first to feel the impacts of the pandemic, the tourism sector of Asia and the Pacific has also been the hardest hit, recording a 95 per cent fall in international arrivals in the first five months of 2021.

Coordinated restart and recovery

With the right policy measures and strong coordination, destinations can start safely welcoming back international visitors, thereby allowing tourism to deliver on its potential as a driver of recovery and inclusive growth.

With UNWTO data also showing that this region continues to have the largest proportion of destinations closed to tourists, the member States taking part in the virtual meetings focused on the coordination of policy measures and strategies to accelerate the recovery of tourism activities in the region. These include the phased lifting on travel restrictions and the introduction of travel corridors. Looking ahead, Members also agreed on the importance of upgrading the skills of the tourism labour force, as well as embracing innovation and digital transformation. UNWTO Secretary-General ZurabPololikashvili said: "The Asia and Pacific region has a proven record as a dynamic tourism destination. With the right policy measures and strong coordination, destinations can start safely welcoming back international visitors, thereby allowing tourism to deliver on its potential as a driver of recovery and inclusive growth."

Elections for the Future

The meetings attracted around 120 participants from 25 of UNWTO's 29 Member States in the region under the chairmanship of Malaysia and the Maldives. Ahead of the 24thsession of the UNWTO General Assembly (30 November – 3 December 2021), Marrakesh, Morocco) the meeting concluded with elections and nominations for positions within key UNWTO bodies. India and Iran were nominated to represent South Asia on the UNWTO Executive Council; Cambodia and Maldives were nominated to represent the region as Vice-Presidents of the 24th General Assembly, while Samoa and Bhutan will serve the members on the Credentials Committee.

Malaysia and the Maldives were nominated as Chairpersons to serve their Commissions for a second term, with Fiji and Japan appointed to play the role of Vice-Chairs for the Commission for East Asia and the Pacific, while Bangladesh and Iran will serve as Vice-Chairs for the Commission for South Asia. Finally, Maldives was nominated as the venue for the next joint meeting of the two commissions (CAP and CSA) in 2022, and Indonesia was endorsed as the host of World Tourism Day 2022. UNWTO has therefore designated World Tourism Day 2021 as a day to focus on Tourism for Inclusive Growth.

This is an opportunity to look beyond tourism statisticsand acknowledge that, behind every number, there is a person. The organisation invites its Member States, as well as non-members, sister UN agencies, businesses and individuals to celebrate tourism's unique ability to ensure that nobody is left behind as the world begins to open up again and look to the future. World Tourism Day, celebrated each year on September27, is the global observance day fostering awareness of tourism's social, cultural, political and economic value and the contribution that the sector can make towards reaching the Sustainable Development Goals.