The global tourism sector is experiencing a robust resurgence, underscoring its resilience and significant contribution to the world economy. Over the past five years, 2,242 greenfield foreign direct investment projects have been announced in the tourism sector globally, representing announced investment of USD 122.1 billion and expected to create more than 295,000 jobs. At the same time, the tourism investment landscape is evolving. Investment opportunities increasingly extend to areas such as digital travel services and smart destinations, cultural and creative tourism, gastronomy and food tourism linked to agriculture and local value chains, and wellness and nature-based tourism. Emerging trends can help destinations diversify their tourism offer, increase local value creation and connect tourism more effectively with local value creation. Harnessing these opportunities requires investment frameworks that encourage innovation while ensuring that tourism development contributes to economic, social and environmental objectives. UNCTAD and UN Tourism have established a shared roadmap for building a resilient, inclusive and environmentally responsible tourism sector through sustainable investment. Their joint Guiding Principles for Sustainable Investment in Tourism are designed to help policymakers and stakeholders develop comprehensive investment frameworks and steer tourism investment towards sustainable and inclusive outcomes. The event will bring together investment and tourism policymakers, investors and tourism-sector innovators to examine emerging areas of investment, discuss the policies and financing mechanisms required to develop them sustainably, and exchange experiences and good practices in implementing effective tourism investment frameworks.
Questions for discussion
- How is the tourism investment landscape changing, and which emerging areas offer the greatest opportunities for sustainable and inclusive investment?
- How can governments attract investment in digital tourism services, smart destinations and innovative tourism business models while ensuring sustainable outcomes
- What policies and financing mechanisms can connect major tourism investments with local entrepreneurs, creators, food producers and small and medium-sized enterprises?
- How can the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Investment in Tourism help governments facilitate investment in these emerging areas?
- What forms of technical assistance and capacity-building are needed to translate the Guiding Principles into investible projects and effective national policies?