Saturday, August 24, 2024 UN Tourism is recognizing the growing importance of tourism as a vital pillar for regional development, offering significant opportunities for economic growth and community empowerment. To harness this potential, UN Tourism has announced plans to expand its series of Investment Guides and Investment Forums, each tailored to highlight specific countries within the region. These guides will focus on identifying key competitiveness factors to create a compelling value proposition for investors, with a strong emphasis on green and sustainable investments, reinforcing a commitment to environmental stewardship.
According to UN Tourism Executive Director Natalia Bayona : “Investments in the tourism sector are critical to driving economic growth and job creation. Through these investments, destinations can develop sustainable infrastructure and improve the quality of life of local communities, promoting inclusive and resilient development”. Investments in Tourism: A Global Strategic Priority From 2019 to 2023, the tourism sector saw the announcement of 1,983 foreign direct investment (FDI) greenfield projects, amounting to a total capital investment of US$106.
7 billion. These investments have the potential to create nearly 260,000 jobs worldwide, highlighting the sector’s crucial role in driving economic growth and employment. In the same period, Latin America and the Caribbean announced 212 tourism investment projects, with a combined capital expendit.