UN Tourism Members Promote Investment and Education as International Arrivals to the Americas Grow
The 69th meeting of the UN Tourism Regional Commission for the Americas brought together prominent representatives of countries of the region in the Cuban city of Varadero. The meeting addressed the challenges and opportunities of the tourism sector that the region is facing.
The meeting was held in a positive context, as data for 2023 shows an 88% recovery in international arrivals, compared to the results recorded before the pandemic. This percentage translates to 1.3 billion trips globally, which is 34% more than in 2022.
In the case of the Americas, the UN Tourism Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili, highlighted the good figures recorded, which even exceeded the global average: “The region recovered 90% of pre-pandemic levels in 2023. In addition, only four subregions around the world have increased the number of arrivals compared to the 2019 figures, with two of them belonging to the region’s area of influence: Central America and the Caribbean, with growth of 5% and 1% respectively. For its part, South America almost reached the results of 2019, recovering 94% of arrivals, while North America registered 87%. These figures lead us to consider a new scenario for tourism in the Americas."
The investment framework in the region
For its part, South America almost reached the results of 2019, recovering 94% of arrivals, while North America registered 87%. These figures lead us to consider a new scenario for tourism in the Americas.
Tourism investment was one of the main topics of the Regional Commission, taking into account that, between 2018 and 2023, Latin America and the Caribbean received 359 greenfield foreign direct investment (FDI) projects, which totalled 29.526 billion US dollars and represent more than 115,000 jobs.
During the meeting, the specific case of Cuba was presented. The country is among the ten leading countries in terms of receipt of investment announcements in the tourism cluster. This list is headed by Mexico (109 projects announced) and Colombia (45), followed by Brazil and the Dominican Republic (with 33 each), Peru (30) and Argentina (24). This is followed by Cuba, Costa Rica and Chile with the same number of projects (17 each) and Ecuador with 6 initiatives.
Likewise, in the presentation of the data, the importance of Latin American and Caribbean countries as investors in the Americas was also evident, since, in the same period between 2018 and 2023, entrepreneurs of the region made 80 greenfield foreign direct investment announcements, for a total of 3.898 billion US dollars.
Education and technical training to create value in tourism development
Education was another of the topics addressed at the meeting. Training plays a crucial role in empowering people with the skills and knowledge that tourism demands. These training activities allow them to evolve in their professional careers and move towards an improvement in employment, which has a direct impact on the development of the sector.
Latin America has been able to recognize the importance of initiatives aimed at education and technical training promoted by associations, educational institutions, government agencies and private sector actors. In this way, it is intended to promote tourism growth that preserves cultural heritage and protects natural resources.
In this regard, Natalia Bayona, Executive Director of UN Tourism assured: “Education is key for UN Tourism and is also present in relations with Cuba. In fact, the Organization has awarded a total of 960 scholarships in the region for online courses in our Tourism Online Academy, the virtual teaching platform with free and accessible courses for everyone. Of the total, 30 scholarships have gone to Cuba, the host country."
Tourism Law Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean
Uruguay's candidature to host the office of the Tourism Law Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean in Montevideo was also considered on the agenda of the conference.
This entity, created jointly by UN Tourism and the Inter-American Development Bank, will be in charge of managing a pioneering digital tool that allows – in a continuous and systematic way – to collect, analyse, update and disseminate tourism regulations. The platform, which is being developed with the support of a network of academic collaborators and experts in Tourism Law, will include both the current regulations in the region and those that are in the process of development.
Preparations for World Tourism Day
The regional meeting closed with a review of the preparations for World Tourism Day, which will be celebrated on 27 September. In 2024, Georgia will host this celebration, which will take place under the theme 'Tourism and Peace' to highlight the role that the sector can play as a vehicle for agreement and an instrument of harmony.
The 69th meeting of the UN Tourism Regional Commission for the Americas
Varadero, Cuba
The 69th meeting of the UN Tourism Regional Commission for the Americas
Varadero, Cuba
The 69th meeting of the UN Tourism Regional Commission for the Americas
Varadero, Cuba
The 69th meeting of the UN Tourism Regional Commission for the Americas
Varadero, Cuba
The 69th meeting of the UN Tourism Regional Commission for the Americas
Varadero, Cuba
The 69th meeting of the UN Tourism Regional Commission for the Americas
Varadero, Cuba
Related links:
- Download News Release on PDF
- International Tourism to Reach Pre-Pandemic Levels in 2024
- 69th Meeting of UN Tourism Regional Commission for the Americas
- Tourism Online Academy
