Messages, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili
According to research carried out by UNWTO and FAO, mountain tourism accounts for between 9 and 16% of international tourist arrivals worldwide. That means that as many as 375 million tourists visited mountain tourism destinations in 2019 alone. But we cannot forget that for many communities, tourism is more than numbers; tourism is their livelihood, and as such, we have a shared duty to ensure the return of international travel brings inclusive and sustainable opportunities for all.
Promoting sustainable practices can increase and diversify household incomes, enhance job opportunities, build robust micro-economies and revitalize products and services. At the same time, it can build resilience and protect the fragile mountain ecosystems and their unique heritage. Achieving this will require ensuring that communities are at the heart of mountain tourism development. They are undoubtedly best-placed to measure and manage the impacts of tourism in mountains, as well as the adequate management of resources, and to develop a definition of sustainable tourism planning and management policies and strategies.
UNWTO has long worked with the Government of Andorra to jointly address the key priorities for mountain tourism development. Organized in the framework of the Five Years of Action for the Development of Mountain Regions, this 2024 Congress provides a leading platform for product diversification by including in its scope a new segment: wellness tourism, a major trend and opportunity for mountain areas.
Aiming to serve as a roadmap for the sector to chart the future of mountain destinations, the 12th World Congress on Snow, Mountain and Wellness Tourism will feature examples of innovation, best practices and creative initiatives from all over the world that can serve as inspiration to grow stronger and better for the benefit of local communities everywhere.
I look forward to seeing you in Andorra!
UNWTO Secretary-General
Tourism has been one of the sectors worst affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The sudden and unprecedented fall in international arrivals has had a profound impact at many levels, damaging economies, livelihoods, public services and opportunities all around the world.
It is also irrefutable that, over recent decades, tourism has been one of the fastest growing socio-economic sectors. It has become increasingly recognized as a vital contributor to job and wealth creation, to environmental protection and to poverty alleviation. All this makes tourism a powerful force for the advancement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Today, the role of tourism for development in mountainous regions is more relevant than ever. As the sector restarts and people look to less-populated destinations and open-air experiences and activities, tourism can help mountain communities recover from the social and economic impacts of the pandemic and build for the future.
In a time of unprecedented challenges, we now have a chance to rethink the contribution of tourism to mountain development. It is essential that we work together to find concrete solutions to build back better while making tourism a pivotal tool for more sustainable, inclusive and resilient destinations and communities through innovation, digitalization, sustainability, and partnerships.
UNWTO has long stood alongside the Government of the Principality of Andorra as we jointly address the key priorities in mountain tourism development. As the world begins to open up again and looks to the future, this 2022 Congress is an important step in the roadmap for the sector to regain its unique status as a source of hope and opportunity for all.
I trust that the 11th edition of the World Congress on Snow and Mountain Tourism will give us the opportunity to come together again to enhance the values of sustainability, innovation, quality and creativity in all parts of the mountain tourism value chain. Only this way will our sector stand ready to respond to the current challenges and advance into a more sustainable and inclusive future model.
See you in Andorra!