Sustainable, Resilient, and High Economic Growth Tourism

Today, February 17th, marks "World Tourism Resilience Day," proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2023. This recognition and effort, spearheaded by the Jamaican government, aims not only to highlight the need to foster resilient tourism development to address the negative impacts of the industry but also to consider the vulnerability of the tourism sector to climate and economic emergencies.

Tourism is not only an industry that involves traveling by different means of transport to exotic, cultural, and major metropolis destinations, but it also has the power to increase the purchasing power of a large number of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.

These economic increases can represent significant benefits for various economies. To put it in perspective, in upper-middle-income and high-income countries, they represent one of the most important pillars for mobilizing billions of dollars; as well as an increase in the dissemination of cultural, gastronomic, and sporting aspects; and a beneficial investment plan for infrastructure development.

On the other hand, for low-income countries, tourism has sometimes become a lifeline for their fragile economies, providing ample opportunities for cultural exchange and learning.

In 2025, according to figures from the World Tourism Organization, France continued to be the most visited country by international tourists, while the United States ranked third, Mexico sixth (the only Latin American country in the top 10), Greece ninth, and Japan tenth.

At Wwwhai, we encourage households, businesses, individuals, and organizations to foster a culture of sustainable tourism that reduces carbon footprints and increases travel awareness. More resilient tourism will have the capacity to stimulate environmental responsibility and the conservation of our ecosystems.