Policy Recommendations for Tourism Sector's Role in Global Recovery from COVID-19 Pandemic

Strategic Insights -

A technical meeting on Covid-19 and sustainable recovery in the tourism sector, organized by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), has set forth policy recommendations to help the tourism sector play a major role in global recovery. The meeting emphasized the need for policies that focus on tourism recovery that is inclusive, sustainable, and resilient. Priorities include support for a just transition towards formality in the tourism sector, promotion of decent jobs and sustainable enterprises, and adequate protection for all workers. The meeting brought together representatives from 86 governments, 12 employers, 22 workers, and 10 international organizations to discuss a sustainable and resilient recovery.

Key Takeaways:

  • The ILO's Guidelines on decent work and socially responsible tourism should be implemented to promote coherent policies.
  • The tourism sector is a major driver of economic growth, enterprise development, and job creation, particularly for women, youth, migrant workers, and local communities.
  • Women accounted for more than 50% of workers in the sector in 2019, and the majority of all workers in tourism were aged under 35.
  • Informal or casual employment frequently involves women, young people, indigenous and tribal peoples, migrant workers, and local communities.
  • The pandemic has exacerbated decent work deficits in the tourism sector, many of which existed before its outbreak.
  • Social dialogue, based on freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, is key to improve working conditions, wages, occupational health and safety, social protection, gender equality, and technical vocational education and training.
  • Policies that promote an enabling environment for entrepreneurship and sustainable tourism enterprises, invest in the development of a skilled tourism workforce, and facilitate the transition from the informal to the formal economy are key to a human-centred, inclusive, sustainable, and resilient recovery.

Statistics:

  • The tourism sector accounted for one in 10 jobs worldwide and about 10% of global GDP before the Covid-19 crisis.
  • Women accounted for more than 50% of workers in the sector in 2019.
  • The majority of all workers in tourism were aged under 35.
  • Informal employment involves women, young people, indigenous and tribal peoples, migrant workers, and local communities, who are disproportionately affected.
  • The impact of the pandemic on enterprises, especially MSMEs, is unprecedented.
  • The pandemic has exacerbated decent work deficits in the tourism sector, many of which existed before its outbreak.

Sources:

  • ILO technical meeting on Covid-19 and sustainable recovery in the tourism sector
  • International Labour Organisation (ILO)
  • International Organization of Employers (IOE)
  • International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
  • World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
  • World Health Organization (WHO)
  • United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
  • United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
  • Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)