UN Tourism recently unveiled a new roadmap outlining preparations for the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism 2027, marking a shift from policy dialogue to concrete action as mandated by the United Nations General Assembly.

On February 2, the roadmap, presented in Madrid, sets out the framework through which UN Tourism will coordinate efforts with its member states to position tourism as a driver of sustainable development and resilience in the years leading up to 2027. The organization's Committee on Tourism and Sustainability (CTS) broadly supported the plan's development through a collaborative process.

UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Al Nuwais said sustainability and resilience must be understood as ongoing processes rather than fixed objectives. “The International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism 2027 will allow UN Tourism, as the leading international tourism organization, to support our member states in positioning tourism as a truly transformative sector within the post-2030 agenda,” she said.

The CTS, which met in Madrid, welcomed the roadmap and praised UN Tourism’s engagement with member state priorities. The committee also noted the emphasis placed by the organization’s new leadership on building momentum well in advance of 2027.

William Rodríguez López, chair of the committee and Costa Rica’s minister of tourism, said the initiative offers an opportunity to convert long-standing commitments into coordinated action. “As leaders of tourism, we consistently highlight the sector’s transformative potential and its critical role in national and global development agendas, including climate action and reflections beyond 2030,” he said. “The International Year offers a unique opportunity to translate this shared understanding into more concrete and coordinated action.”

UN Tourism states that a steering committee of member states will guide the preparation process, anchoring it within the CTS. The organization's executive council will oversee and endorse consultations held during regional commission meetings to gather input.

The Committee on Tourism and Sustainability, a subsidiary body of the executive council, is responsible for monitoring the implementation of UN Tourism’s programme of work on sustainable tourism.

UN Tourism said the roadmap is intended to help align national and regional initiatives ahead of 2027, providing governments and industry stakeholders with a clearer framework to advance sustainability and resilience in global tourism.

Source: UN Tourism Press Release