KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Secretary Normal of the United Nations World Tourism Group (UNWTO), Zurab Pololikashvili, says Jamaica should be counseled for main the initiative to create a International Tourism Resilience Day.
Talking throughout a press convention, the Secretary-Normal, who arrived on the island Wednesday, mentioned he could be personally advocating for tourism leaders worldwide to fly to Jamaica yearly to rejoice International Tourism Resilience Day on February 17.
Citing the initiative as a necessary legacy challenge and an important instrument for making ready nations to higher take care of pandemics and pure disasters, Pololikashvili mentioned that if something, COVID-19 has taught the world the significance of preparation and counseled Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett for being the main proponent of creating resilient disaster facilities around the globe.
“The institution of the International Tourism Resilience Day displays Jamaica’s dedication to fostering a extra resilient and sustainable tourism panorama whereas additionally serving as a platform for sharing finest practices and experience in disaster administration,” the Secretary-Normal famous.
“Total, this initiative has garnered recognition and assist from key figures within the worldwide tourism neighborhood, signaling a collective effort to construct a extra resilient future for international tourism,” he added.
He additional famous that International Tourism Resilience Day goals to boost international preparedness and response measures for potential crises that would have an effect on the tourism business, emphasizing the significance of such proactive measures, particularly contemplating the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and different pure disasters.
“This was 1,000 % your (Mr. Bartlett’s) initiative to determine this present day, and I’ll suggest to take care of this present day and to rejoice yearly right here in Jamaica,” Pololikashvili instructed the gathering of key tourism stakeholders, reporters, and enterprise pursuits.
“It is going to be our legacy. Let’s make a distinction. Each seventeenth of February, we come to Montego Bay or to Kingston; you select [the location] and do it,” he added.
Pololikashvili, who’s visiting for the primary time, is right here because the keynote speaker on the second International Tourism Resilience Convention scheduled for February 16 and 17 on the Montego Bay Conference Centre within the western parish of St. James.
The 2-day convention will embrace panel discussions, networking alternatives, shows, and debates on constructing resilience in tourism.
Key to these discussions is inspecting points central to future-proofing journey and tourism towards numerous disruptions.
Bartlett, for his half, believes the occasion may be very well timed, noting that it coincides with the primary anniversary of the United Nations declaration of February 17 as International Tourism Resilience Day yearly, a milestone achieved via Jamaica’s profitable lobbying efforts.
“We’d have seen the far-reaching impression of rising sea ranges only a few days in the past alongside Jamaica’s north coast and different islands. By the way, the convention being in Montego Bay, which was additionally affected, gives an important alternative to handle points associated to local weather change and resilience constructing in tourism. Now greater than ever, we should unite to search out sustainable options that safeguard our business and locations,” he identified.
He mentioned the convention, a collaborative effort among the many Ministry of Tourism, UN Tourism, and the International Tourism Resilience and Disaster Administration Centre (GTRCMC), guarantees two days of insightful discussions, partaking panels, and distinguished audio system.
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