MANILA — The United Nations World Tourism Organization is urging countries to raise the level of assistance in tourism.
This, according to UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai is to “further harness its vast potential for stimulating green growth and inclusive development worldwide, particularly for the countries most in need.”
He said that the tourism sector is important for less developed countries (LDCs).
The LDCs received 24 million international visitors and earned $18 billion from international tourism in 2013.
“This represented eight percent of total exports of goods and services of LDCs, and 12 percent for the non-oil exporters among them,” Rifai said.
But despite its encompassing socio-economic impact, the industry still receives limited attention as a tool for development.
Rifai added that it is important to grab that chance of elevating the level of attention given to the tourism industry as countries “move forward to adopt a new sustainable development agenda.”