unwto tourism value chain

Counting the Cost of COVID-19 on the Global Tourism Industry pp 27–51 Cite as

Global Tourism Value Chains, Sustainable Development Goals and COVID-19

• Godwell Nhamo 3 ,
• Kaitano Dube 4 &
• David Chikodzi 5  
• First Online: 20 September 2020

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6 Citations

This chapter presents a conceptual framework and setting for the book. This is informed by the desire to link three critical thematic areas, namely, (i) the global tourism value chains, (ii) COVID-19 and (iii) the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (AfSD) and the 17 embedded sustainable development goals (SDGs). Bringing in the SDGs adds value given that there are three SDGs (SDGs 8, 12 and 14) that make specific reference to tourism. Furthermore, COVID-19 negatively impacted many SDGs leading to governments, civic and private organisations revising budgets to channel resources towards “flattening” both the COVID-19 and economic curves. Understanding the global tourism value chains assists in opening up the complex tourism space and to systematically document COVID-19 impacts along with the industries within the value chain nodes. To this end, this chapter comes across mainly as an essay with heavy dependence on value add from the document and critical discourse analysis, as well as a meta-analysis of secondary data sources. The chapter is useful from both a theoretical and practical application points of view. A section bringing the nexus of the thematic focus areas is slotted in towards the end, with a critique of how the tourism sector should address shortfalls in relation to the SDGs within the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Nhamo, G., Dube, K., Chikodzi, D. (2020). Global Tourism Value Chains, Sustainable Development Goals and COVID-19. In: Counting the Cost of COVID-19 on the Global Tourism Industry. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-56231-1_2

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UN General Assembly Hosts Tourism for Sustainable Development Event

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• 17 Apr 2024

The United Nations General Assembly has held a second thematic event focused on tourism and the sector’s critical role in critical role of tourism in advancing sustainable development and resilience.

Organized by the President of the General Assembly in collaboration with UN Tourism , the event was held at the UN Headquarters within the framework of Sustainability Week. The presence of Member States, Observers, civil society organizations, and UN agencies reflected a growing collective commitment to harnessing the transformative power of tourism for inclusive and sustainable development .

The growing significance of the tourism sector for our societies and our economies brings with it extra responsibility. We cannot allow the lifeline of tourism to be cut again. Resilience in the tourism is not just a matter of planning or reacting to crises.

Addressing the General Assembly, UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “The growing significance of the tourism sector for our societies and our economies brings with it extra responsibility. We cannot allow the lifeline of tourism to be cut again. Resilience in the tourism is not just a matter of planning or reacting to crises. It is also about proactively addressing the underlying factors of those crises. Unsustainable consumption is leading to biodiversity loss, climate change and the emergence of pandemics. It's vital that we adopt policies that accelerate transformative change.”

The President of the General Assembly, His Excellency Dennis Francis, said: "We need a global tourism sector that is sustainable – one with deep local value chains that expand demand for locally made products and services in ways that also directly and positively benefit local communities; a sector that serves as a positive force for biodiversity conservation, heritage protection and climate friendly livelihoods."

High-level platform for statistics-led strategy

The thematic event provided a platform for Member States to share best practices, strategies, and innovative approaches to promote sustainable and resilient tourism, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Key highlights included:

• Fireside Chat: The Future of Tourism - Leaders from the tourism industry, academia, and civil society engaged in a dynamic discussion on the future of tourism and the need for innovative solutions to address emerging challenges and opportunities.
• Ministerial Roundtables : Discussions were held on the launch of the Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism and strategies for fostering resilient tourism in the face of global challenges. Ministers and high-level officials shared insights and commitments to advance sustainable tourism practices and policies.

In closing, the President of the General Assembly reiterated the importance of collaboration and partnership to address the complex challenges facing the tourism sector and reaffirmed the UN's commitment to supporting sustainable tourism as a catalyst for positive change.

In February, the UN General Assembly adopted a Resolution to declare 2027 as the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism . The resolution invites UN Tourism to work with Governments, UN agencies and international organizations to on the implementation of the themed year.

New York, U.S.A.

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• Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism (MST)
• Sustainable tourism development
• Video: High-Level Thematic Event on Tourism - General Assembly
• Tourism 4SDGs

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What is the “tourism value chain”?

Tourism value chain

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) defines the Tourism Value Chain (2018) as:

[…] the sequence of primary and support activities which are strategically fundamental for the performance of the tourism sector. Linked processes such as policy making and integrated planning, product development and packaging, promotion and marketing, distribution and sales and destination operations and services are the key primary activities of the tourism value chain. Support activities involve transport and infrastructure, human resource development, technology and systems development and other complementary goods and services which may not be related to core tourism businesses but have a high impact on the value of tourism.

In other words, the Tourism Value Chain is the sequence of all the activities that provide service or products to the tourist. You can visualise it here .

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• TOURISM AND FOOD

This repository aims at supporting stakeholders accelerate the sustainable management of food in tourism. The repository places a strong emphasis on food waste reduction as a lever for more sustainable food management in tourism. It also includes relevant documents on sustainable procurement, sustainable diets and sustainable consumption. Food waste reduction has potential to reduce economic, social and environmental costs. In addition, food waste has been identified as an entry point for circular approaches in the tourism sector and can therefore result in diversified income streams, while enhancing the linkages with local communities, creating added value for guests and curbing CO2 emissions.

The resources are available in these categories:

1. Case studies on food waste reduction 

2. Procurement Factsheets

3. Guidelines on food waste reduction in hospitality and food service

4. Guidelines on sustainable food management

5. Training materials for sustainable management of food in tourism

 * Events and webinars on implementing the GLOBAL ROADMAP FOR FOOD WASTE REDUCTION IN THE TOURISM SECTOR  available here.

Please scroll down to see all resources.

DISCLAIMER: The information and materials contained in this Repository site are collected by One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme and UNWTO for general information purposes only. They are provided for use on an “as is” and “as available” basis, without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including, without limitation, warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, the data, findings, interpretations, conclusions or other information expressed in the materials therein provided do not necessarily represent the views of One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme, UNWTO or its Member States.  One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme and UNWTO do not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any of these data, findings, interpretations and conclusions or other information provided by any other Third Party. Reliance upon any such data, findings, interpretations, conclusions, or other information shall also be at the user’s own risk.

Read the full disclaimer here .

1. Case studies on food waste reduction

Case studies on food waste reduction

As part of the GLOBAL ROADMAP FOR FOOD WASTE REDUCTION IN THE TOURISM SECTOR, a collection of case studies has been assembled. These case studies aim to offer valuable insights to the tourism stakeholders on how to make a contribution towards a more sustainable and regenerative global food system.

2. Procurement factsheets

Given the importance of sustainable procurement as a strategy to transition to a more sustainable management of food, a series of 9 factsheets highlighting the challenges and opportunities deriving from procurement of different types of food were produced. The “Procuring Food Sustainably” factsheets focus on the climate footprint of food; the water footprint of food; fish and seafood; meat and dairy; organic produce; fair trade products; eating habits and strategies and plans.

3. GUIDELINES ON FOOD WASTE

Global Roadmap for Food Waste Reduction in the Tourism Sector

This Global Roadmap for Food Waste Reduction provides a consistent framework to accelerate food waste reduction in tourism through prevention, redistribution and diversion from landfill (circulation/valorization). It highlights best practice and...

Sustainable Tourism

FOODPRINTS CALCULATORS

Sustainable food production and consumption is one of the most important levers to protect planet and people. One reason for...

A toolkit for communication food waste to guests

Author: WWF This toolkit was put together by World Wildlife Fund to provide better tools and resources for communicating with...

BUFFET - Building and Understanding for Food Excess in Tourism

Author: The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) https://www.pata.org/food-waste/

Manual: Sustainable Food Tools – Ways to Communicate with Guests

The manual is freely available to the tourism industry. Through the use of these tools hotels' commitment to sustainable food...

Hotel Kitchen - Toolkits

Authors: World Wildlife Fund (WWF), American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA), The Rockefeller Foundation Understanding...

Toolbox: Tackling waste in tourism and events

Author: makesense with the support of SUEZ.

4. GUIDELINES ON SUSTAINABLE FOOD MANAGEMENT

World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) Palm Oil Buyers scorecard

Creating a sustainable palm oil industry that respects forests, natural ecosystems and human rights requires bold and...

World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) Seafood Guides

Messy but Worth It! Lessons Learned from Fighting Food Waste

Author: Food Waste Reduction Alliance This guide is for anyone in the food industry who’s trying to reduce food waste. It’s a...

Playbook for Guiding Diners toward Plant-Rich Dishes in Food Service

Author: World Resources Institutes This playbook outlines effective behaviour change strategies that food service companies...

Food waste reduction on cruise ships - A project report & implementation guide

Authors: Futouris, TUI Cruises, TUI Care Foundation, United Against Waste, sea chefs This guide joins the existing...

Addressing Food Waste in the Hospitality & Foodservice sector

Author: Winnow It includes why kitchens waste so much food and what can be done to reduce it? It is a common misconception...

The ultimate guide - How to reduce food waste in the hospitality and food service sector

Authors: Stop Food Waste, The European Union, The Government of Scotland The guide provides information on how to stop...

Sustainable Food Manual for Tourism Providers

Through food consumption, it is not only possible to support tourists' health and well-being while on holiday, but also to...

Fighting Food Waste in the Tourism Sector

Online Training Series on Alimentación sostenible en el turismo (in Spanish)

Online Training Series on Sustainable Food in Tourism: Waste Management

Online Training Series on Sustainable Food in Tourism: Service and Guest Communication

Online Training Series on Sustainable Food in Tourism: Procurement

Online Training Series on Sustainable Food in Tourism: The Fundamentals

How to embed sustainable food practices throughout hotel operations

Hotel Kitchen - Videos to Help Train Your Staff to Cut Waste

Authors: World Wildlife Fund (WWF), American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA), The Rockefeller Foundation.

Eat with Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas

Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas organized tarinings for their hosts on food waste and zero food waste in the kistchen. Eat...

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Why the Future of Sustainable Tourism Might be Rural

S ustainable tourism is becoming not only a much-needed trend within the global travel and tourism industry, but also a necessity. From hotels taking steps to measure and reduce their energy, waste and plastics consumption to tour operators becoming certified B corporations , there’s no shortage of opportunities the industry is taking to become better for everyone. 

Yet as the industry continues becoming more thoughtful about its impact on the world, there’s one growing method to combat overtourism, encourage completion of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and support local economies and traditional ways of life: rural tourism.

Rural tourism, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) new publication, “ Tourism and Rural Development: A Policy Perspective, ” is defined as “a type of tourism activity in which the visitor’s experience is related to a wide spectrum of products linked to nature activities, agriculture, ways of life and rural cultures…Rural tourism activities take place in non-urban settings with the following characteristics: 1. low population density, 2. landscapes and land use planning where agriculture and forestry prevail, and 3. Social structures and traditional ways of life.”

Why might rural tourism become a disrupting force for good in the industry? 

Supporting the Common Good

Rural tourism can help support rural communities in a few ways, but especially so by encouraging community-based tourism and creating economic opportunities in areas that currently experience “employment droughts,” a systemic lack of jobs that lead many people to move into cities for better employment opportunities. 

“People in rural areas are twice as likely to be in informal employment as those in urban areas. By 2050, the percentage of people living in rural areas will be less than half of 1950. The labor force participation rates for women are significantly lower than for men in rural areas,” said Sandra Carvão, Chief of Market Intelligence and Competitiveness at the World Tourism Organization. 

“...Tourism can help rural development as a proven tool for economic diversification and benefits sharing throughout the value chain and as a major employment engine with a multiplier effect on other sectors that contribute to rural development,” she continued. “Tourism in rural areas can particularly benefit traditionally disadvantaged groups such as women, youth and Indigenous Peoples.” 

But how would an increase in tourism in rural areas help the people who live there? 

It’s simple: more tourism means more job opportunities for both men and women and, on the local scale, to create community-based tourism initiatives that ensure they retain the power and agency over the industry.Community-based tourism is a way for rural communities to directly own and manage the tourism industry in their region. One great example of this is the UNWTO’s Best Tourism Village of Puqueldón, Chile , in which the community operates sixteen lodges for travelers and offers immersion experiences like the Native Potato Route, in which travelers can learn about the importance of the root vegetable from the women who cultivate it. 

Generating more job opportunities and revenue streams for rural communities also allows for greater development in areas where there has traditionally been a lack of resources, such as education or conservation. 

Combatting Overtourism

In cities and destinations across the globe, overtourism can take a detrimental toll on the local population and environment.

We’ve all read the headlines about Venice’s efforts to combat overtourism in the popular Italian city. Yet it’s not just an issue in Venice: Portugal recently passed a law limiting the number of homes that foreigners can purchase to turn into vacation rentals, after the trend began pricing out the local population. 

And in 2018, Thailand’s famous Maya Bay closed after its ecosystem collapsed from the 5,000 tourists that visited the destination each day. The destination reopened in 2022 following the planting of new coral and infrastructure upgrades, but with a largely reduced daily capacity limit to ease the stress tourism had placed on local wildlife. 

By encouraging rural tourism, travelers will be interested in visiting less-visited destinations. The UNWTO’s Best Tourism Villages offer unique — and more responsible — alternatives to the world’s most popular destinations. 

Fostering Sustainability

Lastly, growing rural tourism across the globe can also foster sustainability on a local scale. 

This can happen in a few different ways. Communities located within or around beautiful natural resources, biodiverse regions of the world or already established parks or reserves are encouraged by travelers’ interest in visiting them. In this way, tourism has a symbiotic relationship with preservation initiatives. 

“...Our Best Tourism Village Batu Puteh in Malaysia is a fine example of community-participation being indispensable to rural tourism,” said Carvão. “In the protected forest reserve around the village, a group of youth from the Batu Puteh community are involved in conserving and promoting the ecosystem and local culture, including language and traditional knowledge, music and dance.”Another, broader example, of rural tourism enhancing sustainability is in Rwanda , which has gained international recognition for its effort. The country has not only expanded its protected areas, but encourages the communities near protected areas to participate and value conserving its rich biodiversity, including its famous gorilla population. Additionally, the expansion of these parks has grown employment opportunities for locals as park rangers and guides. 

Tourism in rural areas can also support their sustainable development in sectors like infrastructure. Communities can use funds generated by tourism to fund renewable energy projects, for example, decreasing reliance on fossil fuels. 

But Will The People Come? 

We think yes, but not all travelers will hop on board. 

Issues of accessibility and infrastructure will always deter travelers who are daunted by transiting between one destination to another in a foreign country, or who desire their familiar creature comforts. 

Likely, it’ll be the adventurous travelers, the ones more interested in immersive travel experiences unlike any other and those who feel like they’ve already seen it all and want something off the beaten path who will help build this important travel sector. 

“An increasing number of people are seeking sustainable, authentic, unique travel experiences and local lifestyles,” said Carvão. “They want to experience natural, unspoiled landscapes and stay in authentic accommodation as they seek to travel with a purpose and meet local people. This is beneficial for our rural communities as they can provide travelers with these experiences, which in turn create new jobs, improve livelihoods and help fight depopulation in rural areas.”   

The UNWTO now offers a list of recognized destinations, called Best Tourism Villages , where communities are already participating in rural tourism initiatives. Travelers can search the website to find villages from Spain to Malaysia and beyond, and read about what they offer the discerning traveler who chooses to visit. 

Tour operators are the ones leaning into rural travel more so than most other travel sectors. Companies like Intrepid Travel and G Adventures have created their entire ethos around travel that does good for local communities, and many of their tours offer a combination of popular destinations mixed with more unique, community-centric or rural-based tourism offerings, ranging from sharing a traditional meal with locals in Egypt to supporting a women’s pottery initiative in Mexico. 

Rural tourism is not just an antidote to overtourism: it’s sustainable, immersive, community-based tourism at its best, and we can’t wait for travelers to experience it for themselves.