Saudi Arabia calls for multi-lateral cooperation to drive sustainable tourism

Saudi Arabia calls for multi-lateral cooperation to drive sustainable tourism

Addressing an audience of UN Member States and specially invited participants, His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb underscored the the vulnerability of the sector to the effects of extreme weather and health related events in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. CO2 emissions from tourism are forecasted to increase by 25% by 2030 from 2016 levels, against the current ambition scenario. The need to scale up climate action remains critical and Saudi Arabia is stepping up to address these needs.

HE Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, said: “The tourism sector lost an estimated 62 million jobs globally during the global pandemic. COVID-19 highlighted the vulnerability of the sector – not only to pandemics, but also, to the effects of extreme weather.

Addressing climate change is at the heart of building a more resilient tourism industry, and there is no resilience without sustainability. We must work collaboratively to put sustainable and resilient tourism at the heart of inclusive recovery to ensure long-term sector resilience – for people and planet. Only by doing these things together will we ensure a better and more resilient future for the millions of people around the world who rely on tourism.”

As one of the hardest-hit