Recovery of Tourism in the Americas – Tourism Leaders Meet

Last Friday May 7th, 2021, Anasha Campbell (Nicaragua’s Minister of Tourism) attended as a virtual participant a meeting of the Ministers of Tourism of the Americas. The theme of the meeting was “Towards the Recovery of Tourism in the Americas”.

The meeting was hosted by Luis Abinader, President of the Dominican Republic and Minister of Tourism David Collado. It was held at Punta Cana, a tourist region known also as La Costa del Coco and situated at the most easterly point of the Dominican Republic.

Convened by the United Nations World Tourism Organization – UNWTO and with the Secretary General of UNWTO Zurab Pololikashvili in attendance, the meeting aimed to address the member states issues relating to strategies to restart tourism.

At the conclusion of the meeting, members signed the “Declaration of Punta Cana” to reaffirm the responsibility and commitment to the fast, safe and sustainable recovery of the tourism sector.

Although they have not all been published in point form, the group consensus came down to ten points of agreement where joint efforts are established to achieve the recovery of tourism, such as;

• Asking the governments of the continent to support the tourism sector of the regional economy by prioritizing the adoption and dissemination of unified international protocols for biosafety and travel facilitation for the safe restart of tourism.
• Promoting public-private alliances and governance mechanisms through cooperation, analysis and the generation of policies and joint actions between all national and regional sectors.
• Adopt national and international policies and increase coordination in all sectors and between borders, to restore the confidence of travelers and the business environment, stimulate demand and accelerate the recovery of tourism.
• In the final declaration of the meeting, the participants reaffirmed the responsibility and commitment of all governments and international organizations to provide support to tourism to ensure its rapid, effective, safe and sustainable recovery.

The meeting was attended by representatives of tourism from Mexico, Brazil, Panama, Venezuela, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Haiti, Bolivia and Barbados.

About the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is the United Nations specialized agency fostering tourism as a vehicle for equal, inclusive and sustainable development. Working with its Member States, international organizations and the private sector, UNWTO promotes safe and seamless travel for all. UNWTO also works to make tourism the foundation of trust and international cooperation and a central pillar of recovery. As part of the wider UN system, UNWTO is at the forefront of global efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including through its ability to create decent jobs, promote equality and preserve natural and cultural heritage.