Shaikha Alnuwais (2nd from right), Secretary-General of UN Tourism: “The International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism 2027 will allow UN Tourism, as the leading international tourism organization, to support our Member States in positioning tourism as a truly transformative sector within the post-2030 agenda”- Image: UN Tourism
UN Tourism is leading the shift from dialogue to delivery as it begins preparations for the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism in 2027.
The United Nations General Assembly mandated UN Tourism with the implementation of the International Year. Now, with its launch of its new Road Map, the Organization has taken another step towards delivering on its responsibility. The Road Map is the product of a collaborative process, and was warmly welcomed by its Committee on Tourism and Sustainability (CTS).
UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Al Nuwais says: “Sustainability and resilience are not end goals, they are a continuous process. The International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism 2027 will allow UN Tourism, as the leading international tourism organization, to support our Member States in positioning tourism as a truly transformative sector within the post-2030 agenda.”
Meeting in Madrid, the Committee welcomed the clear commitment of the new leadership to begin the build-up to 2027 as strongly as possible.
Chair and Minister of Tourism of Costa Rica William Rodríguez López said: “As leaders of tourism, we consistently highlight the sector’s transformative potential and its critical role in national and global development agendas, including climate action and reflections beyond 2030. The International Year offers a unique opportunity to translate this shared understanding into more concrete and coordinated action.”
The Path to 2027
The process will be anchored in the Committee on Tourism and Sustainability, guided by a Steering Committee of Member States, informed through consultations held within the Regional Commission meetings and endorsed by the Executive Council.
The Committee on Tourism and Sustainability (CTS) is a subsidiary organ of the Executive Council, responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Organization’s programme of work in sustainable tourism.
The Committee on Tourism and Sustainability (CTS) was established, with the aim of replacing the former Sustainable Development of Tourism Committee (SDTC), at the 95th session of the Executive Council (Belgrade, Serbia, May 2013).
The Committee meeting in Madrid marked the beginning of a structured process through which Member States, acting through the Committee on Tourism and Sustainability, will guide the Road Map for the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism 2027 – Image: UN Tourism
Objective
The Committee’s principal role is to monitor the implementation of the programme of work under “Sustainable Development of Tourism”, assist the Secretariat in said implementation, and report and make recommendations to the Executive Council as well as other bodies of the Organization as required.
Members of the CTS
- Chair (2023-2027): Costa Rica
- Vice-Chair (2023-2027): Croatia
- State Members (2023-2027): Costa Rica, Croatia, Egypt, Fiji, Kenya, Portugal, Sri Lanka, Uruguay, Zimbabwe
- Representative of the Associate Members (2023-2027): Flanders
- Representative of the Affiliate Members (2025-2029): Chair of the Affiliate Members Board: NECSTouR, the Network of European Regions for Competitive and Sustainable Tourism
22nd Meeting of the CTS, Madrid
This meeting marked the beginning of a structured process through which Member States, acting through the Committee on Tourism and Sustainability, will guide the Road Map for the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism 2027. Discussions focused on the overall process, governance arrangements, core thematic areas and an implementation-oriented approach. The meeting also included a presentation on the emerging concept of regenerative tourism, highlighting the importance of developing a shared understanding grounded in sustainability principles and applicable across different national and regional contexts.
NAN/UN Tourism 23-2-26
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