The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Economic Development Department is building a resilient tourism industry from readiness for disasters and crisis risks to post-crisis recovery. In perfect partnership, the Global Tourism Resilience & Crisis Management Center (GTRCMC) facilitates business continuity, global sustainability, and economic growth in the tourism eco-system by helping tourism stakeholders to prepare for, manage, and recover from a crisis.
As the founder of GTRCMC, Hon. Bartlett shared his thoughts and insights at this vital event on Tourism Futures: Resilience, Sustainability and Development:
Developing regions including the Caribbean confront distinct vulnerabilities that have led to constrained and precarious development pathways for their populations. These challenges include limited resource bases, acute environmental volatility, small population sizes, underdeveloped markets, external dependence, vulnerability to external shocks and generally small, undiversified economies. At the same time, the combined destabilizing effects of phenomena such as globalization, climate change, neoliberalism and the recent COVID-19 pandemic have greatly amplified existing vulnerabilities.
In the face of dynamic threats, developing regions are being especially encouraged to prioritize sustainable development, emphasizing the imperative of harmonizing development approaches and aligning all facets of development. The tourism industry remains one of the key pathways for realizing the sustainable development priorities of many developing regions, especially Small Island Developing States.
Tourism: A Pillar of Sustainable Development
Generally, the tourism sector is regarded as a strong pillar of sustainable development because it produces an enormous global economic impact by creating local economic value through its many linkages that sustain the livelihoods of millions globally. The value chain of the tourism industry quite often incorporates several other segments of national economies with which the sector maintains vital economic linkages including manufacturing, agriculture, transportation, attractions, gastronomy, services and the cultural and creative industries.
Tourism is also aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in general areas such as: the promotion of inclusive and sustainable economic growth; social inclusiveness, employment and poverty reduction; resource efficiency, environmental protection and climate change; cultural values, diversity and heritage and mutual understanding, peace and security.
Tourism has been specifically aligned with the promotion of SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth); SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production) and SGD 14 (life below water).
SDG 8.9 also directly references tourism. It states: “By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.”
So too does SDG 12.B which states: “Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.”
Furthermore, SDG 14.7 states: “By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island Developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism.”
Ironically, while tourism is recognized as a catalyst of sustainable development, the tourism and travel industry, characterized by its emphasis on exceptional hospitality, customer satisfaction and the creation of unique experiences has traditionally demonstrated excessive patterns of resource use, service delivery and consumption, which have posed challenges to the pursuit of sustainable development. At the same time, the global tourism industry has to confront its own harsh realities and uncertainties.
