Tourism is a cross cutting industry to achieve SDGs

Ranjan K Baruah *

People love to travel to new places and explore new sites and locations. Traveling means business for many as one person going from one place to another needs logistics and other support. This way tourism supports millions of direct and indirect jobs all over the world, in particular for women and young people. One can find tourists all over the world including developed or developing nations.

We should know that for many developing countries, including the least developed countries, Small Island developing states, countries in Africa and middle-income countries, tourism is a major source of income, foreign currency earnings, tax revenue and employment.

Because tourism connects people with nature, sustainable tourism has the unique ability to spur environmental responsibility and conservation and accounts for over 20 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP).

The economic contribution of tourism (tourism direct GDP) was estimated at $1.9 trillion in 2021, higher than the $1.6 trillion recorded for 2020, but still well below the pre-pandemic value of $3.5 trillion.

Sustainable tourism, including ecotourism, is a cross-cutting activity that can contribute to the three dimensions of sustainable development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) by fostering economic growth, alleviating poverty, creating full and productive employment and decent work for all.

North Eastern region being a hot spot eco tourism brings more opportunity for young people to take up tourism as their career choice for livelihoods.

Though anyone may choose tourism as a career, one may choose to study courses designed to make a profession in the tourism industry. There are courses like Bachelor of Tourism Studies, Bachelor of Tourism Management, MA in Tourism Studies or Tourism Management, MBA in Tourism, Diploma and Advance Diploma related to Tourism and Hospitality, etc.

There are also shore term skill training courses related to tours and tourism imparted by different academic institutions in different parts of the country. There are specialized institutes like Indian Institutes of Tourism and Travel Management which offer courses specially designed for Tourism.

There is no doubt that tourism can also play a role in accelerating the change to more sustainable consumption and
production patterns and promoting the sustainable use of oceans,
seas and marine resources,
promoting local culture,
improving the quality of life and
the economic empowerment of women and young people, indigenous peoples and local communities
and promoting rural development and better living conditions for rural populations,
including small-holder and family farmers.

We need to bring more awareness related to use of sustainable and resilient tourism as a tool to foster sustained and inclusive economic growth, social development and financial inclusion, enables the formalization of the informal sector, the promotion of domestic resource mobilization and environmental protection and the eradication of poverty and hunger, including the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and natural resources and the promotion of investment and entrepreneurship in sustainable tourism. Trained and qualified people can contribute in this way.

There are international events and activities related to tourism like celebrating tourism day. Apart from that, Global Tourism Resilience Day is observed on 17 February which was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in resolution A/RES/77/269, aims to emphasize the need to foster resilient tourism development to deal with shocks, taking into account the vulnerability of the tourism sector to emergencies.

Jobs in the tourism sector may be in the government sector like becoming officials with the tourism department, becoming tourist guides, working in tour agencies, managing home stays, managing activities related to tourism at different sites or locations, etc. One may be self employed in this industry as we need minimum investment to be a tour entrepreneur.

National Parks, heritage sites are already there so what we need is to manage people well and make their tours comfortable.


(With inputs from UN publication)