G20 economies represent around 70% of global international tourism, making their endorsement critical to advancing global tourism priorities. The declaration highlights several key commitments, including enhanced air connectivity, increased market access, sustainable financing, support for digital transformation, and policies to ensure tourism benefits youth, women, vulnerable communities, and Indigenous Peoples.
UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili welcomed the outcomes, stating: “The G20 economies represent around 70% of international tourism, and so this clear recognition of our sector’s importance to shared prosperity and sustainability is hugely welcome. We are particularly encouraged to see G20 Leaders intent on better connectivity, accelerating innovation, ensuring no one is left behind, and placing tourism in national development strategies.”
He also congratulated South Africa’s G20 Presidency, applauding President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister Patricia de Lille for their leadership in elevating tourism within the Summit agenda.
Key tourism commitments in the G20 Declaration
The G20 Leaders committed to a coordinated effort to strengthen tourism’s contribution to sustainable development, including:
- Promoting tourism innovation and investment
- Enhancing air connectivity, expanding market access, and supporting new routes
- Advancing digitization for tourism MSMEs and start-ups
- Unlocking financing for sustainable tourism development
- Expanding opportunities for youth, women, local communities, Indigenous Peoples
- Developing inclusive and sustainable tourism practices
- Mobilizing public-private capital through sustainability-aligned investment frameworks
- Integrating tourism into national development strategies
In their declaration, G20 Leaders emphasized their “strong support for tourism innovation and investment, enhancing air connectivity, expanding market access, opening more routes, promoting sustainability, aviation safety and security, and developing inclusive, sustainable tourism practices.”
They further committed to fostering skills development and opportunities for under-represented groups with a practical, evidence-based approach.
UN Tourism’s role as Knowledge Partner
UN Tourism served as a Knowledge Partner during South Africa’s G20 Presidency, contributing to the work of the Tourism Working Group and the Tourism Ministers Meeting held in Mpumalanga last September. Discussions centered on:
- Digital innovation for travel and tourism MSMEs
- Tourism financing and investment for sustainable development
- Air connectivity for seamless travel
- Enhancing resilience and inclusivity in tourism
With G20 countries accounting for 3.1% of their collective GDP from tourism, 5% of exports, and 21% of service exports, the sector remains a major driver of economic performance and global mobility.
The recognition at the G20 Summit reinforces tourism’s strategic role in shaping a more sustainable and resilient global economy, while strengthening cooperation across public and private sectors to achieve long-term industry transformation.