UN Agencies Join Forces to Drive Sustainable Urban Tourism for Resilient Cities
UN Tourism, UN-Habitat, and UNESCO have united at the World Urban Forum to lead a side event on “Urban Tourism: Policies and Governance for More Sustainable, Inclusive, Creative, and Resilient Cities.” This event marks the first collaboration of these three UN agencies at the forum, aiming to foster cooperation for sustainable urban tourism.
Building on prior initiatives, the event highlighted conclusions from a recent Expert Group Meeting, supported by the Basque Government, that gathered global experts in Bilbao to discuss best practices in urban tourism governance. Representatives from governments, academia, the private sector, and civil society exchanged insights on policies that make urban tourism beneficial and inclusive for all communities.
City leaders from Spain, Portugal, and South Africa shared their approaches to using tourism as a tool for economic and social growth. They discussed tourism's role in revitalizing urban infrastructure, enhancing accessibility, preserving cultural assets, and boosting creative industries, thereby transforming cities into more vibrant, sustainable spaces.
The leaders underscored the need for sustainable tourism development, emphasizing a comprehensive approach that considers economic, sociocultural, and environmental impacts. They called for multisectoral governance that integrates tourism with urban planning, ensuring it serves diverse stakeholders, especially local communities.
In support of this, UNESCO will soon launch “Urban Solutions: Culture-Driven Sustainable Urban Tourism” in collaboration with UN Tourism and UN-Habitat. This initiative focuses on integrating cultural heritage and creativity into urban tourism strategies to drive inclusive growth and positive change.
The three UN agencies remain committed to collaborating across tourism, territorial planning, and cultural preservation to build more resilient, inclusive cities that align with the SDGs and the New Urban Agenda.
