(ANSA) - ROME, SEPTEMBER 26 - The pandemic has had a huge social and economic impact on all nations and both the most advanced and developing economies have been put to the test. But undoubtedly the marginalized and most vulnerable groups have been hit hardest of all and it is for this reason that the World Tourism Day, which the United Nations celebrates every 27 September, is dedicated this year to inclusive growth ("Tourism for Inclusive Growth"). The official celebrations will be hosted this year in Ivory Coast but initiatives are planned all over the world and the UNWTO (the World Organization dedicated to UN tourism) invites everyone to share their party images, including suisocial, with the hashtag # WTD2021.
The restart of tourism will help to relaunch the recovery and growth and, according to the UNWTO, it is essential that the benefits that will derive are widely and equally enjoyed: an opportunity to look beyond the statistics and recognize that, behind every number, there is a person.
"Tourism - says the UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, in his message for World Tourism Day - continues to suffer enormously under the blows of Covid: in the first five months of this year, the arrivals of international tourists have decreased by an astounding 95 % in some parts of the world and forecasts suggest a loss of more than 4 trillion dollars of global GDP by the end of 2021. If this is a great shock for developed economies, for developing countries it is an emergency. " Guterres also underlines the environmental emergency linked to climate change that is severely affecting many of the main tourist destinations, in particular the small developing island states, where tourism represents almost 30% of economic activity. "With many millions of livelihoods in danger - he underlines - it is time to rethink, transform and safely restart tourism ".
By celebrating this day, we declare our commitment to ensure that, as tourism grows, the benefits it will bring will be felt at all levels of our broad and diverse industry, from the largest airline to the smallest family business.
"On this day - says the secretary general of UNWTOZurab Pololikashvili - we reaffirm our promise that, as we move forward and work to build a more prosperous and peaceful world through tourism, we will not leave anyone behind (Leave No One Behind). It is a timely commitment. necessary". "The pandemic in addition to the macro losses, such as jobs and turnover burned, and therefore the inevitable consequences on GDP - echoes Alessandra Priante, director of Europe of the UNWTO - has accentuated the difference in speed between nations. - is also the symbolic objective of this Tourism Day.
This sector is by definition very "horizontal" and therefore in some way inclusive. We cannot, and do not want to,really forget about anyone ".
"Tourism - underlines the president of Enit GiorgioPalmucci - is one of the highest expressions of inclusion and its tangible achievement that makes mixing its added value. It is also the crossroads between work and sustainable economies and therefore even more inclusive that work for all and everyone's favor ".
By narrowing the target on Italy, Coldiretti and Ixè publish the balance sheet on the summer season: 33.5 million Italians who decided to go on vacation for at least a few days in the summer of 2021 which shows substantial stability compared to last year (-1%), even if the foreigners failed to appeal.
"We always hope - said Bernabo Bocca, president diFederalberghi - to celebrate the recovery, no doubt cisarà but the problem is when. Foreigners still latitano and invari months of the year and in various places in Italy are key.
And the times are stretching ".
For the World Tourism Day, Google also revealed the ten most sought-after tourist destinations in Europe: Italy is the only country to place 3 destinations in the top, even if not on the podium, namely the Colosseum in fifth place, the Amalfi Coast in seventh, the Milan Cathedral at the ninth.
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