The United Nations Tourism and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in Spain recently collaborated to explore the pivotal roles and formidable challenges of tourism within urban and territorial environments. Supported by the Basque Government’s Department of Territorial Planning, the collaborative effort was framed under the banner “Advancing Sustainable Urban Tourism: Developing Tools for promoting good practices in cities.”
This initiative brought together a diverse array of specialists from UN bodies, global institutions, governmental entities at various levels, academic circles, and the private sector. The assembled panel of Experts engaged in comprehensive discussions on how the tourism sector can contribute to the development of cities and communities that are more inclusive, secure, resilient, and sustainable, while also addressing the challenges associated with urban tourism.
Cities such as Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bilbao, Genoa, Medellin, Porto, Valencia, and Venice, alongside the Basque Country, showcased their respective strategies and actions aimed at fostering the exchange of knowledge and collaborative opportunities. Through the convergence of the mandates of UN Tourism and UN-Habitat, the discussion encompassed diverse perspectives on tourism’s multifaceted contribution to the social, economic, environmental, and cultural sustainability of urban areas.
Additionally, representatives from UNESCO, UNEP, and the OECD contributed valuable insights, enriching the dialogue on the intersection of cities, tourism, territories, economy, environment, culture, and heritage.
The objectives and outcomes of the Expert Group Meeting were multifaceted, focusing on identifying current challenges in sustainable urban tourism, understanding the role of tourism in the Urban Agenda, examining the latest trends and ongoing initiatives in urban tourism, exploring innovative approaches to promote sustainable tourism in urban contexts and territories, and devising strategies to integrate sustainable urban tourism into policies and plans at the urban and territorial levels.
Moving forward, the insights gleaned from the Expert Group Meeting are poised to inform and bolster the efforts of both UN Agencies in advancing sustainable and resilient cities and territories. These insights will serve as guiding principles for regional and local governments and other stakeholders as they navigate the challenges and opportunities associated with urban tourism. Furthermore, the conclusions drawn from the meeting will shape the discussions and events surrounding sustainable urban tourism at significant forums such as the 12th World Urban Forum (WUF 12) in Cairo, Egypt, and the Mayor’s Forum for Sustainable Urban Tourism, convened by UN Tourism.
