UN Tourism and UNCTAD share roadmap for building a resilient industry

April 10, 2025

The tourism industry holds the potential to drive sustainable economic growth, but only if it embraces investment practices that align with the needs of the environment and society.

Aiming for a more sustainable and inclusive tourism industry, UN Tourism and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) have shared a roadmap for building a resilient, inclusive, and environmentally responsible tourism sector, through sustainable investments.

The joint ‘Guiding Principles for Sustainable Investment in Tourism’ is designed to guide policymakers and stakeholders in efforts to build a more comprehensive investment framework aimed at steering global tourism investments towards a more sustainable and inclusive future.

The 18 Guiding Principles create a pioneering framework for policies that aim to attract sustainable investment in tourism. They offer a roadmap to achieve a set of multifaceted objectives and are grounded in a comprehensive policy approach that integrates governance, economic, sociocultural, and environmental dimensions. The four constituent dimensions of the principles are connected and interacting and many of the principles mutually support one another. Investment in sustainable tourism takes all four dimensions into account and creates inclusive long-term growth that aligns in all aspects with the SDGs. The Guiding Principles:

Support the establishment, at the sub-national, national and international level of appropriate policies, guidelines, institutions and regulations, in accordance with national priorities and legislation, for promoting and supporting sustainable tourism development.
Advocate policies that attract responsible investments aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Underscore the importance of public-private partnerships, the integration of innovative technologies, and the engagement of local communities in decision-making processes.

UN Tourism Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili notes "the tourism sector holds the potential to drive sustainable economic growth, but only if we embrace investment practices that align with the needs of the environment and society. By implementing these Guiding Principles, we can foster a global tourism sector that is not only profitable but also sustainable and transformative. This approach will ensure that tourism contributes positively to the health of our planet, enriches the cultural fabric of our societies and drives long-term prosperity for future generations."

Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development adds "Tourism is a vital economic engine that fosters mutual understanding and sustainable development. By embedding sustainability in tourism investments, we can ensure that this sector becomes a catalyst for transformative and inclusive growth, benefiting economies and communities alike. The Guiding Principles offer a strategic roadmap for policymakers, investors and stakeholders to navigate the complexities of sustainable tourism investment."

Platforming tourism investments at the Annual Investment Congress (AIM)
The joint report was launched as part of the Annual Investment Congress (AIM), held in Abu Dhabi, (UAE) on 8th April 2025, within UN Tourism's ‘Ministerial Roundtable on Investment in Tourism: Shaping Tourism Investment Opportunities through Policy Innovation’ in collaboration with AIM and with the full support of UNCTAD. This marks the first time ever that UN Tourism and UNCTAD have collaborated on preparing a comprehensive investment framework aimed at steering global tourism investments towards a more sustainable and inclusive future.

UNCTAD and UN Tourism invite governments, investors, and industry stakeholders to adopt these principles in their policies and strategies. By doing so, they can ensure that the tourism sector thrives in a sustainable and inclusive manner, creating lasting positive impacts for generations to come.

Access the joint ‘Guiding Principles for Sustainable Investment in Tourism’

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