For the first time, G20 world leaders Officially recognized the critical role that travel and tourism has in fuelling job growth and economic development. The summit included a commitment from leaders of the G20 nations to promote initiatives that facilitate more efficient immigration procedures in order to expand tourism.
The G20 Leaders Declaration written at the G20 Summit in Los Cabos, Mexico, states that: “We recognize the role of travel and tourism as a vehicle for job creation, economic growth and development and, while recognizing the sovereign right of states to control the entry of foreign nationals, we will work toward developing travel facilitation initiatives in support of job creation, quality work, poverty reduction and global growth.”
Mexico’s Secretary of Tourism Gloria Guevara said that the inclusion of tourism on the agenda of the G20 Leaders’ Summit represented an unprecedented breakthrough for the enhancement of the tourism industry globally.
Last month the Tourism Ministers of the G20 nations and the European Union converged on the Yucatan for the 4th Meeting of Tourism Ministers (T20) and forged the “Merida Declaration,” a policy proposal submitted to the G20 Leaders that suggests implementing streamlined procedures for obtaining visas to boost international tourism.
Research by UNWTO and WTTC, released at the T20 Tourism Ministers Meeting last May, indicated that the G20 group of nations could boost their international tourist numbers and generate more than 5 million jobs.
