Leaders recognize importance of tourism on global economy
By Travel News
World leaders at the G20 summit in Mexico have for the first time recognised the importance of tourism as a driver of jobs, growth and economic recovery.
The Leaders’ Declaration from the annual meeting, this year held in Los Cabos, stated: “We recognise the role of travel and tourism as a vehicle for job creation, economic growth and development, and, while recognising the sovereign right of States to control the entry of foreign nationals, we will work towards developing travel facilitation initiatives in support of job creation, quality work, poverty reduction and global growth.”
Paddleboarding is a growing draw for tourists and locals in Lake Tahoe. Photo/LTN
This is the first time that tourism has been included in the G20 Leaders’ Declaration and is the culmination of long-term efforts by the industry, led by WTTC and UNWTO, to encourage world leaders to see the potential of tourism to create millions of new jobs and billions of dollars of GDP.
According to WTTC the industry directly will contribute $2 trillion in GDP and 100 million jobs to the global economy in 2012.
When the wider economic impacts of the industry are taken into account, tourism is forecast to contribute some $6.5 trillion to the global economy and generate 260 million jobs – or one in 12 of all jobs on the planet.
Research by UNWTO and WTTC, released at the T20 Ministers Meeting last May, showed that the G20 could boost their international tourist numbers by an additional 122 million, generate an extra US$ 206 billion in tourism exports and create over five million additional jobs by 2015 by improving visa processes and entry formalities.
