Tourism, a ship of world peace and development

A customer is attracted by an agate necklace at a Russian booth during the Beijing International Tourism Expo that ended on Sunday in Beijing. [Photo by Feng Yongbin/China Daily]

Ladies and gentlemen,

The world today is not a tranquil place. In some parts of the world, conflicts and hotspot issues keep cropping up and the threat of terrorism simply gets more imminent. Peace and development are the shared aspiration of people of all countries. An environment of peace and development is needed for the development of tourism, which, in turn, will contribute to peace and development in the world. This conference, convened under the theme of "Tourism for Peace and Development", cannot be more relevant. The presence of nearly 1,000 guests from over 100 countries and international organizations shows the global recognition of the value of tourism, as well as the universal desire for a world of peace and development. China wishes to work with other countries in the spirit of openness, innovation, mutual benefit and win-win for all and jointly encourage inclusive and sustainable development of tourism worldwide. We hope that a new type of international relations of win-win cooperation will be fostered for the benefit of people of all countries. For that to happen, I wish to propose the following:

First, we need to conduct international tourism cooperation programs to lend impetus to world economic recovery. The lackluster global growth cries out for new growth drivers. Tourism, which is among the fastest growing and highly resilient of all sectors, plays a vital role in stimulating global economic recovery. According to the World Bank, one dollar of consumption in tourism can generate 3.2 dollars of growth globally. Tourism now contributes to about 10 percent of global GDP and some 30 percent of services exports worldwide. It surely stands out as the largest sector in the economic mix. In the next 15 years, the number of international visits worldwide will increase from 1.2 billion to 1.8 billion. For four years in a row, China has topped the global list of outbound travels. Last year, Chinese tourists spent more than $200 billion on overseas trips. To facilitate the development of tourism globally, the Chinese government proposes that international tourism cooperation programs be carried out to foster a more convenient travel environment. Countries are advised to make visa policies easier, streamline entry procedures, open more direct flights, provide more professional and people-oriented services for sightseeing and shopping, and act to protect the rights and interests of consumers.

Second, we need to increase North-South and South-South tourism dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation, as this facilitates implementation of the sustainable development agenda. The Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development adopted at the UN Summit on Sustainable Development last year has spelled out three major tasks for the next 15 years, namely eradicating extreme poverty, reducing inequality and injustice and combating climate change. Tourism is included in three of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The UN General Assembly has set the year 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.

Developed countries need to increase official development assistance and aid for trade to least developed countries to help them build greater capacity in tourism development. Developing countries need to incorporate poverty reduction goals into their tourism policies. They need to create more jobs for their young and for women, aboriginals and disadvantaged groups through tourism development, and make sure that poor and far-flung areas get a fair share of the opportunities and benefits of tourism development. In the coming five years, China will conduct 50 international tourism cooperation programs with foreign countries, including programs on tourism resources development and protection, expert consultancy in tourism planning, training of Chinese-speaking tour guides and management personnel, and will offer 1,500 training opportunities in China for foreign countries.

Third, we need to make tourism a bond of peace, something that contributes to friendly exchanges and harmonious relations among the people and to open and inclusive development. Tourism helps deepen understanding, reduce prejudice and enhance inclusiveness. It thus has a special role to play in ensuring world peace. Countries need to step up tourism cooperation in various forms and at multiple levels, and need to deepen respect, accommodation and understanding of the different ethnic groups and cultures in the world, so as to strengthen the foundation for friendship. Countries and regions estranged in relations need to ease restrictions on personnel flows to allow cultural exchanges to break the ice in bilateral exchanges. Tourism was one of the first in China to be opened to the outside. For all countries, there is the shared responsibility to take effective measures to tackle emergencies, protect the safety of tourists and oppose terrorist acts against tourists. Let us act to foster a freer, safer and more convenient and more comfortable travel environment for all people in the world.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Over the years, the United Nations World Tourism Organization has played a positive role in expanding tourism exchange and cooperation and upholding peace and sustainable development. The Chinese government highly appreciates the UNWTO's role and has had fruitful cooperation with the UNWTO. China will continue to support and take an active part in the UNWTO's work, and will increase exchanges and cooperation with other countries in tourism. Together, we can make sure that tourism, the ship of peace and development, will sail far and take us to a better future.

Thank you.