At the initiative of Uzbekistan, 2027 will be declared the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism

On February 26, at the UN headquarters in New York City, the resolution “2027 - the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism” was unanimously approved by the General Assembly of the Organization.

The resolution initiated by the Republic of Uzbekistan was co-sponsored by more than 80 member countries of the Organization.

Experts from such leading countries as Russia, China, the United States, Turkey, Germany, the United Kingdom, the EU delegation, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Egypt, Brazil, and Argentina actively participated in consultations on agreeing on the text of the document. Representatives of the UN member States noted the timeliness and relevance of the submission of this resolution.

The main purpose of the document is based entirely on the thesis put forward by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the Samarkand session of the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in October 2023 on the sustainability and flexibility of the tourism sector to new problems and challenges of our time.

The resolution enshrines the principles voiced by the head of our state on the important role of tourism in preserving the rich cultural heritage of various civilizations, strengthening peace and tolerance, and respecting the values of peoples.

Special attention is paid to the development of "green" tourism to preserve ecology, biodiversity and reduce atmospheric pollution.

The document decides to declare 2027 the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism and calls on UNWTO, together with governments, UN agencies, and regional organizations, to take comprehensive measures to ensure its successful implementation.

The resolution emphasizes the importance of developing sustainable tourism, including ecotourism, which can contribute to achieving the SDGs, economic growth, full employment, as well as rural development and improving the living conditions of rural populations.

The resolution recommends that all stakeholders actively promote sustainable and resilient tourism as an important tool for eradicating poverty, encouraging the participation of women, youth, the elderly and the disabled, expanding economic opportunities and creating decent jobs and sources of income.

The document decides that UNWTO should inform the UN General Assembly at its 83rd session (2028) on the implementation of this resolution, paying special attention to the assessment of the International Year.

According to experts, the resolution put forward by Uzbekistan will mark the beginning of a new stage in the development of the tourism industry at the global level.