Abstract
According to the World Tourism Organization (WTO), the total number of international tourists worldwide in 2023 was approximately 1.3 billion. This represents a significant recovery from the pandemic, reaching around 88% of pre-pandemic levels. Future projections estimate that the total number of international tourists worldwide will reach 1.8 billion by 2030. This represents a significant increase from the pre-pandemic level of 1.5 billion international tourist arrivals in 2019. Up to now, Sustainable Tourism has played an important role in ensuring that the environmental, social and cultural impacts of tourism are reduced. However, travel & tourism growth is outpacing that of the global economy, and while WTTC data shows that the sector’s environmental footprint is being decoupled from its economic growth, we must accelerate this trend to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Paris Climate Agreement and Convention on Biological Diversity. My presentation will demonstrate how, it is essential, that together, we ensure that tourism growth is sustainable & inclusive, contributing positively to the communities and natural ecosystems. I will also address the shifts in the Sustainable tourism industry that are growing due to current traveler preferences and industry standards.
Presenters
Hitesh MehtaPresident, Executive in Residence, Global Sustainable Tourism Program, HM Design
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Sustainability, Tourism, International
