The 22nd high-level meeting session of UNWTO: Tourism as Key Contributor to All SDGs

    The 22nd high-level meeting session of the UNWTO General Assembly was convened in Chengdu, China, from 13-16 September 2017. 

   On 15 September 2017, the UNWTO General Assembly culminated in the approval of the UNWTO Framework Convention on Tourism Ethics. The Framework Convention aims to “promote responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism through the implementation of the ethical principles in tourism,” and acknowledges tourism as a “factor of sustainable development.”
   On 16 September 2017, member States adopted the Chengdu Declaration on ‘Tourism and the SDGs: Journey to 2030.’ The UNWTO member States produced recommendations to governments, businesses and related stakeholders with regards to an integrated approach on tourism and SDG objectives development of policy formulation, initiative development, projects and researches. The purpose of which is to enhance the value of tourism as a key contributor to the achievement of the SDGs.
   Though some SDGs are featured in tourism contribution to society, such as SDGs 8 (decent work and economic growth), 12 (responsible consumption and production) and 14 (life below water), the Declaration recognizes that tourism has the potential to contribute to all 17 SDGs.
   The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development including its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets was adopted on 25 September 2015 by Heads of State and Government at a special UN summit. The Agenda is a commitment to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development by 2030 world-wide, ensuring that no one is left behind. The adoption of the 2030 Agenda was a landmark achievement, providing for a shared global vision towards sustainable development for all.

   1. http://planeta.com/wtd2017/

   2. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/sustainable-development/SDGs/index_en.htm

Chien Thang