India and Bhutan nominated as Vice-Chairs for South Asia.
Aiming to guide the tourism sector beyond recovery, UN Tourism has convened its member states from Asia and the Pacific and to focus on the long-term resilience and sustainability of the region.
In a press statement, UN Tourism says that the Asia-Pacific region has seen a return in international arrivals, reaching 316 million in 2024, or 87 pc of pre-pandemic figures. This marks an increase from the 66 pc recovery recorded at the end of 2023 and within the region, South Asia recorded the highest recovery rate at 92 pc.
It adds that Maldives reported 20 pc more international visitors than in 2019, followed by Japan at 16 pc, Fiji at 10 pc, and Sri Lanka at 7 pc. Indonesia, which hosted the meeting, received 13.9 million tourists in 2024, amounting to 86 pc of 2019 levels.
According to press statement, UN tourism says that in the Jakarta meeting, member states received updates on regional tourism development efforts. During the meeting, the Secretary-General’s report outlined progress across areas including tourism insights, investments, innovation, education, and operational support provided by the agency.
According to a press statement, the agency said that between 2018 and 2024, the Asia-Pacific region attracted over 640 greenfield tourism projects valued at USD 66 billion, accounting for over one-third of global capital expenditure in tourism investment.
During the commission meetings, UN Tourism emphasised the need for increased investment, particularly foreign direct investment in tourism projects that promote sustainability and resilience. Additionally, a first regional conference on “Tourism Policy on Circular Economy” was held, focussing on waste reduction, efficient resource use and restructured supply chains.
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According to a press statement, UN Tourism says that the Secretary-General noted plans to expand the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Nara, Japan, which will serve as a centre for a regional tourism resilience programme.
UN Tourism says that during the meeting, education and workforce development remained key themes. Updates were shared on initiatives such as the co-branded Master’s in Tourism Management with Beijing International Studies University, which offers 15 full scholarships per year. Another collaboration includes a Master’s in Digital Marketing and Analytics with the Macao University of Tourism.
The UN agency states that elections for key roles were held during the meeting for upcoming sessions. The Philippines and Maldives were nominated as Vice-Presidents for the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly.
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The Philippines was nominated to Chair the Commission for South Asia, while the Maldives was nominated to Chair the Commission for East Asia and the Pacific. Japan and Fiji were nominated as Vice-Chairs for East Asia and the Pacific. Additionally, India and Bhutan were nominated as Vice-Chairs for South Asia. Iran and India were nominated to represent the Asia and Pacific region on the UN Tourism Executive Council. All nominations will be ratified by the General Assembly.
Zurab Pololikashvili
“Our shared priorities will lay the foundations for a more resilient and sustainable tourism sector for Asia and the Pacific. At the heart of it all, however, is innovation and youth empowerment through training and education. Asia and the Pacific is one of the most dynamic regions on Earth. It is a hub of digital transformation, new ideas and innovators. And the future looks very bright indeed,” says Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General, UN Tourism.
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