International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development
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| International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development | |
|---|---|
| Name | International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development |
| Duration | 2017 |
| Proclaimed by | United Nations General Assembly |
| Purpose | Promotion of sustainable tourism |
International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development The International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development was a United Nations observance proclaimed to highlight sustainable tourism's potential contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals and to coordinate action across international institutions. It aimed to mobilize stakeholders including the United Nations World Tourism Organization, World Bank, World Wildlife Fund, International Labour Organization, and national ministries to align tourism with targets from Agenda 2030, the Paris Agreement, and multilateral frameworks. The Year catalysed events, policy dialogues, and partnerships among cities, businesses, and civil society, linking heritage sites, protected areas, and development finance instruments.
Background and designation
The proclamation followed negotiations among member states in the United Nations General Assembly and technical input from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), with support from agencies such as United Nations Environment Programme, United Nations Development Programme, and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The designation drew on precedent observances including the International Year of Biodiversity, International Year of Forests, and the International Year of Volunteers, seeking coherence with resolutions from the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development and declarations adopted at summits like the Rio+20 Conference. Key sponsors included delegations from Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Nepal, and South Africa.
Objectives and themes
Primary objectives matched priorities in the Sustainable Development Goals (notably SDG 8, SDG 12, SDG 14, SDG 15), promoting inclusive growth, decent work, resource efficiency, and conservation of cultural and natural heritage. Themes emphasized linkages with climate change action under the Paris Agreement, biodiversity protection aligned with the Convention on Biological Diversity, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises through instruments like the International Finance Corporation and the World Bank Group's lending windows. Thematic pillars referenced standards from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, labour guidelines from the International Labour Organization, and heritage frameworks from UNESCO World Heritage Committee and the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Global activities and events
The Year featured high-profile events organized by UNWTO in partnership with hosts such as Qatar, Spain (Kingdom of Spain), Colombia (Republic of Colombia), and China (People's Republic of China), and coordinated regional programs with the African Union, the European Commission, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Activities included ministerial conferences with participants from Germany, Japan, Brazil, India, Canada, and Australia, capacity-building workshops led by the World Bank, technical assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organization, and private-sector summits convened with corporate partners like AccorHotels, Airbnb, and Marriott International. Cultural events engaged institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, the British Museum, and the Louvre, while conservation projects partnered with Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, and Wildlife Conservation Society. The Year also supported campaigns by non-governmental organizations including WWF, Greenpeace International, Oxfam, and CARE International.
Impact and outcomes
Reported outcomes included national tourism strategies revised or adopted by governments such as Mexico, Nepal, Rwanda, and Portugal; multi-year funding commitments from multilateral banks like the Asian Development Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank; and new certification initiatives promoted by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and the GSTC. Private-sector pledges came from hotel chains like Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, and InterContinental Hotels Group, and from airlines such as International Air Transport Association members including Lufthansa, Air France–KLM, and Emirates Airline. Academic outputs appeared in journals hosted by institutions such as University of Oxford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Cambridge, and Harvard University. Tourism-related metrics were incorporated into monitoring by UN Statistics Division and discussed at meetings of the World Economic Forum.
Participation and partnerships
The Year mobilized partnerships across UN agencies including UNEP, UNDP, UNESCO, ILO, and regional development banks like the African Development Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. City networks such as ICLEI, C40 Cities, and United Cities and Local Governments participated alongside national tourism boards from Thailand, Greece, Italy, and Peru. Philanthropic engagement included foundations like the Rockefeller Foundation, Ford Foundation, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation supporting research and community projects. The private sector engaged through multinationals like Tripadvisor, Expedia Group, Booking Holdings, and cruise lines associated with Carnival Corporation & plc. Labor and community stakeholders included trade unions such as UNI Global Union and community organizations represented at forums with groups like Slow Food International.
Criticism and challenges
Critics from academic and civil society sectors including researchers at University of California, Berkeley, London School of Economics, and United Nations University argued the Year risked greenwashing by enabling promotional campaigns by large corporations such as Airbnb and Uber Technologies, Inc. without sufficient regulation. Environmental groups including Greenpeace International and Friends of the Earth highlighted concerns about overtourism at sites like Machu Picchu, Venice, Galápagos Islands, and Mount Everest, and about impacts on indigenous communities represented through organizations such as International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs. Financial critics pointed to limited enforcement in financial commitments from institutions like the International Monetary Fund and unequal benefits documented in case studies from Barcelona, Cartagena, Colombia, and Bali. Operational challenges included data gaps noted by World Tourism Organization analysts and coordination issues among UN entities reported in evaluations by the Joint Inspection Unit.