APEC Tourism Ministers Issue Declaration
Tourism Ministers from the APEC member economies issued a declaration following their just concluded meeting in Lima on connecting Asia-Pacific tourism through travel facilitation.
The declaration reflects the outcomes of the APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting chaired by Magali Silva Velarde-Alvarez, Peru’s Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism. It describes joint actions to be taken forward by APEC economies to further enhance economic development through travel and tourism in the APEC region.
Click here to view APEC Tourism Ministers’ Lima Declaration
The declaration notes that in 2015, travel and tourism accounted for USD 1.2 trillion of the region's GDP, supported 48 million jobs directly and contributed 5.5 per cent of the region’s exports, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. It furthermore indicates that every ten per cent increase in tourist arrivals is associated with a 1.2 per cent increase in exports and a 0.8 per cent increase in imports, reflecting APEC Policy Support Unit industry analysis.
The declaration highlights that tourism is fundamental for inclusive growth when making responsible use of the environment, respecting host communities’ authenticity and equitably distributing socio-economic benefits.
Emphasis is on fostering efficient and secure travel that could greatly help APEC economies achieve their shared target of 800 million international tourists among them by 2025. This would double their current international tourist numbers.
“The Declaration we have jointly adopted will guide the continued expansion and competitiveness of tourism in the region so that it offers even greater benefits to our economies,” explained Minister Silva, in remarks after the meeting.
“Our ultimate goal is to further position tourism as a driver of economic, human, social and cultural growth for our people,” she noted, pointing to Peru’s historic capital city and gastronomic center as an example of the richness that the region offers visitors.
Particular areas of focus include enhancing international and domestic air connectivity, implementing travel facilitating measures, development of labor skills and workforce programs, small business and entrepreneurship development for inclusive tourism growth, and close collaboration with the private sector and academia.
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