Georgia hosts World Tourism Day 2024 summit
With the theme of ‘Tourism and Peace’
World Tourism Day 2024, a testament to the global interest in promoting peace through tourism, was hosted on September 27, 2024, by UN Tourism in Tbilisi, Georgia. The event brought together a diverse group of 500 participants from 51 countries, including 13 tourism ministers, all united under the theme ‘Tourism and Peace ‘.
The global gathering highlighted tourism’s potential to foster connections and bridge cultural divides, inspiring hope for a more harmonious world.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze represented the host nation alongside seven other ministers, emphasising the importance of tourism across various sectors.
“Without peace, there is no tourism,” stated UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, urging stakeholders to cultivate a “peace-sensitive tourism sector” that actively contributes to peacebuilding and conflict resolution. He emphasised the need for tourism education to serve as a foundation for understanding and cooperation.
The day’s activities included a ministerial debate, during which representatives from Georgia, Uzbekistan, Sierra Leone, and Bahrain shared insights on how peace and security underpin prosperity.
They illustrated how tourism can combat disinformation and mistrust while ensuring equitable distribution of its benefits. The dialogue stressed that tourism’s ability to connect people is essential for fostering global harmony.
To broaden the perspective, a private-sector panel explored how businesses can leverage their resources to promote stability and peace. Discussions centred around the crucial role of entrepreneurship and digital innovation in revitalising post-conflict regions and building resilience against future crises.
Message focus
Minister of Tourism of Jamaica, Edmund Bartlett, encapsulated the day’s message by asserting: “Tourism recognises differences; it embraces similarities. That is the essence of tourism’s power to make peace.” This emphasis on the private sector’s role empowers businesses and calls on them to take responsibility for promoting peace and stability.
Furthermore, Natalia Bayona, Executive Director of UN Tourism, emphasised the critical link between tourism investments and peace. She noted: “Tourism can transform post-conflict regions, create jobs, and foster entrepreneurial initiatives.” The private sector is called to commit its resources to cultivate peace and create opportunities in emerging and vulnerable areas.
As part of the World Tourism Day 2024 celebrations, UN Tourism unveiled its latest investment guidelines, ‘Tourism Doing Business: Investing in Georgia,’ showcasing the country as an attractive investment destination.
Georgia has experienced a remarkable average GDP growth rate of 5% over the past decade and reported Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows of $2.3 billion in 2022—the highest recorded amount. In 2023, despite a challenging international landscape, FDI remained strong at $1.9 billion.
These guidelines underscore Georgia’s thriving tourism sector, which boasts over 12,000 historical monuments and four UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The nation’s hospitality and real estate sectors have experienced significant growth, with 6.2 million international visitors in 2023, generating $4.1 billion in revenue.
The expansion of international brand hotels and a robust real estate market has attracted over $500 million in FDI in recent years, solidifying Georgia’s position as an attractive destination for international investors.
With these initiatives, World Tourism Day 2024 served not only as a celebration of tourism’s role in fostering peace but also as a call to action for the global community to invest in the future of tourism as a pathway to understanding, stability, and growth.
As the world moves forward, the commitment to a ‘peace-sensitive tourism sector’ stands as a beacon of hope for nations and communities striving for harmony through shared experiences and understanding.
Featured image: UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili addresses representatives from 51 countries at the official World Tourism Day celebration in Tbilisi, Georga, on September 27, 2024. Credit: UN Tourism
Last Updated on 2 months by Arnold Pinto
