Sustainable tourism bid to help world’s poor
The World Tourism Organization (WTO) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) are to join forces to try to reduce worldwide poverty.
The two organisations believe sustainable tourism can play an important role in improving conditions in some of the world’s most poorest countries and have formed a new initiative, called ‘Sustainable Tourism as a tool for Eliminating Poverty’, (ST-EP), to progress this idea further.
The agreement was signed by WTO Secretary-General Mr Francesco Frangialli and his UNCTAD counterpart Mr Rubens Ricupero last week at a meeting in Alexandria, Egypt.
Mr Frangialli said tourism is a major, growing contributor to employment, wealth, investment and cultural understanding. He added: “Alleviating poverty has become one of the most important challenges of the 21st century.”
Further support for the ST-EP initiative will be raised at a WTO side event at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg later this year, when a publication on poverty alleviation through tourism will be presented.
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