The role of tourism in
Island Destinations as a means to promote economic growth and sustainable
development is the main topic of the Conference on Sustainable Development of
Tourism in Islands, organized jointly by UNWTO and the government of France (Reunion
Island , France
Critical issues for island
destinations, including sustainable tourism development, climate change, and
connectivity, branding and the role of regional cooperation will be addressed
at the Conference. The event will provide an opportunity to share and further
knowledge on tourism in islands with the international community at ministerial
and expert levels and will set the agenda for the contribution of tourism to
sustainable development in islands.
“Tourism is one of the
most promising options for economic growth and development in small islands,
particularly when planned and managed according to the principles of
sustainability,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai. “This conference
will help realize tourism/s great potential to deliver sustainable development
and livelihood to local communities,” he added.
“The undeniable natural
attractiveness of islands has led to a strong increase in tourism demand in
most of the cases. This pressure can cause irreparable damages to the natural
environment. Reconciling tourism and environmental preservation is the main
challenge of small Islands.“ said Pascal Faure, Head of the Directorate General
for Competitiveness, Industry and Services, Ministry of Handicraft, Trade and Tourism , France
“For several years now,
and particularly in the last three years, we have placed tourism as a priority
for our development”, said Didier Robert, President of the Region La Reunion.” “I believe
tourism is the most promising sector for our island in terms of business and
job creation for the next 20 years” “In this context, we face a double
challenge – to develop tourism as a means of creating wealth, jobs, and
improving the lives of people and promote sustainable tourism”, he added.
International tourism
plays a central role in the economies of islands, being one of the main
economic activities that provides job opportunities, improves livelihoods and
generates foreign exchange earnings. The UNWTO report, Challenges and
Opportunities for Tourism Development in Small Island Developing States (SIDS),
showed an accelerated growth of international tourism in many small islands
over the last decade, increasing by over 12 million to reach 41 million in
2011. The tourism sector accounts for more than half of the exports of at least
12 SIDS and over one quarter of the GDP in at least seven of them.
The conclusions from the
Conference on Sustainable Development of Tourism in Islands shall serve as a
guide for tourism authorities and relevant destinations as well as key input
for the Third International Conference on SIDS in Samoa in September 2014,
called for by the United Nations as a follow up to the Rio+20 Conference.
