The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development covers 17 goals, the eighth of which is "decent work and economic growth", namely: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all. 

Under this major goal, there are twelve targets, the ninth of which is "By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products".

● Current Situation

About the World

Global Tourism Expected to Fully Recover in 2023

Tourism is one of the world’s most important economic sectors. It employs one in every ten people on Earth and provides livelihoods to hundreds of millions more. However, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism could result in a more than $4 trillion loss to the global economy and 100-120 million direct tourism jobs are at risk. Tourism experts do not expect a return to pre-COVID arrival levels until 2023 or later.

Between January and May, international tourist arrivals were 85% below 2019 levels (or a 65% drop on 2020). Despite a small uptick in May, the emergence of COVID-19 variants and the continued imposition of restrictions are weighing on the recovery of international travel. Meanwhile, domestic tourism continues to rebound in many parts of the world.

Text and photo source: unwto.org

About China

Tourism Contributes to Poverty Alleviation

 Photo source: chinanews.com

As one of the fastest growing industries, tourism not only provides a large number of employment opportunities, changes people's lives, affects economic and social development, but also undertakes more important social responsibilities. Since 2011, China has helped more than 10 million people to alleviate poverty through rural tourism, accounting for more than 10% of the poor. China's leisure agriculture and rural tourism have received more than 3 billion tourists a year, with the revenue of more than 800 billion RMB. Tourism poverty alleviation has upgraded tourism industrial structure.

Text source: people.cn

●  Cases

About the World

Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia/Madrid, Spain, 26 May 2021 – The search is on for the best examples of rural villages harnessing the power of tourism to provide opportunity and safeguard their communities, local traditions and heritage. The initiative of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) will identify villages taking innovative and transformative approaches to tourism in rural areas in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

With the vision of making tourism a positive force for transformation, rural development and community wellbeing, ‘Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO’ aims to maximise the contribution of the sector to reducing regional inequalities and fighting against rural depopulation. It also seeks to advance the role of tourism in valuing and safeguarding rural villages along with their associated landscapes, knowledge systems, biological and cultural diversity, local values and activities, including gastronomy.

The launch of the ‘Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO’ initiative takes place on the occasion of the opening of UNWTO’s first Regional Office in the Middle East (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), underscoring the focus of the Office on, among other issues, the role of tourism in rural development. 

Text and photo source: unwto.org

World Heritage and Sustainable Tourism

World heritage is highly related to tourism. Tourism is also considered to be the most effective and most effective way to promote and make use of world heritage. UNESCO made the "World Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Plan" to promote sustainable development of cultural heritage, which can reduce poverty, bring local employment, improve living conditions of local residents and promote sustainable social development.

 Photo source: ifeng.com

Europe manages its heritage protection by the means of commercialization and modernization. European cultural heritage is oriented to people and contemporary life, and restoration and utilization of heritage is full of contemporary and commercial behavior. Maastricht Paradise Bookstore in the Netherlands used to be the well-known Dominican church built in 1294. It has been used as a warehouse, archives and even a large bicycle parking lot. It attracts many tourists since it was re-built into a bookstore and is now famous all over the world.

Text source: 163.com

About China

OCT - Global Tourism Leader

OCT Group has always adhered to the concept of "ecological and environmental protection is the most priority" for urban construction. On its six square kilometers tourism resort in Shenzhen, OCT Group has built public cultural places such as ecological squares, theme parks, country parks, wetland parks, sculpture corridors, fountain corridors, bicycle greenways and etc, making the city more attractive and vital. It is an ideal urban area that includes multiple business forms such as residence, cultural innovation, tourism and commerce.

 Photo source: baidu.com

Since 2004, OCT has re-built old factories in the eastern part of Shenzhen where used to be industrial areas. For the past ten years of construction, OCT has built the abandoned factories into an innovative and dynamic OCT culture park that has been attracting cultural creation and design companies to move in. Currently, there are about 300 companies and art institutions have their offices and operate in the park, which has brought about over 5,000 employment opportunities. 

Text source: chinaoct.com

Sustainable Development Hotel to Build Green and Low-carbon Greater Bay Area

Sustainable travel is not only the sustainable development of scenic spots , but also embraces the original ecological experience of the destination and integrates into nature, culture and community with gratitude and respect. As a crucial link in tourism, many hotels have long adhered to the concept of "development with environmental protection" to contribute to "sustainable tourism".

 Photo source: bing.com

With its goal of building the most sustainable resort hotel, MGM hotel in Macao strictly follow the green building standard. Its skyline plaza enables guests to experience the beauty of nature in an environment full of natural light, and the plant wall around Shibo Plaza can effectively improve air quality and provide natural heat dissipation. Such large scale of green building is rare in the world. It invests in world-class equipment and shows a high level in energy management, reuse of water resources and promotion of green and low-carbon life. It is a model of global green hotel and plays a positive exemplary role in Greater Bay Area. 

Text source: Global Travel Daily

●  Background

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Initiated by the United Nations

On 1 January, 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including 169 targets, of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit — officially came into force. Countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.