SLHTA’s President Remarks on World Tourism Day 2020 – SLHTA News (26th September 2020)

This year’s theme is “Tourism and Rural Development”.

 “Tourism and Rural Development” and this day of observation comes at a critical moment, as countries around the world look to tourism to drive recovery from the effects of the pandemic, including in rural communities where the sector is often a leading employer and economic pillar.

In a recent release of a landmark Policy Brief on tourism from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, he explained that “for rural communities, indigenous peoples and many other historically marginalized populations, tourism has been a vehicle for integration, empowerment and generating income.”

Zurab Pololikashvili, the UNWTO Secretary-General, said that “Tourism helps rural communities hold onto their unique natural and cultural heritage, supporting conservation projects, including those safeguarding endangered species, lost traditions or flavours….READ MORE