People and MSMEs as Agents of Tourism Transformation

As leaders of the G20 economies meet in Bali this week, UNWTO has stressed the importance of empowering grassroots actors as well as MSMES in order to drive sustainable and inclusive transformation and build greater resilience.

As the global community faces up to a range of challenges, including geopolitical tensions, rising energy prices and a climate emergency, UNWTO has placed tourism firmly on the G20 agenda. Small enterprises and local communities must be given the support they need to become true “agents of change.”

Speed up and scale up transformation

We are behind in progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. In fact, progress has actually been reversed in areas like gender equality

Over the course of 2022, UNWTO has worked with the G20 Tourism Working Group under the leadership of the Indonesian Presidency and the Minister of Tourism and Creative Industries, Sandiaga Uno, on Guidelines to make MSMEs and Communities agents of transformation. Released in September, on the occasion of the G20 Tourism Ministers’ Meeting, the Guidelines are built on five pillars,: 1. Human Capital; 2. Innovation, digitalization and the creative economy; 3. Women and youth empowerment; 4. Climate action, biodiversity conservation, and circularity; and 5. Policy, governance and investment.

Together, the Guidelines put people at the center of tourism’s recovery and future development. According to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, international tourist numbers worldwide are on track to reach around 70% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year. UNWTO recognizes the sector’s responsibility to make sure this recovery is translated into more decent jobs, increased investment in infrastructure, skills and talent for the digital and green transformations and women empowerment.

In a post-pandemic world, renewed governance, multilateralism and international cooperation are the only path to address a world in a poly interconnected crisis. Since the G20 economies represent 80% of global GDP, 60% of the world population and 76% of the tourism GDP worldwide, they are in a position to lead by example.