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1 Jan, 2016

International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, 2017: Full text of UN General Assembly resolution

The following is the full text of the Resolution declaring 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, as adopted by the UN General Assembly on 22 December 2015:
The General Assembly,Reaffirming its resolutions 53/199 of 15 December 1998 and 61/185 of 20 December 2006 on the proclamation of international years, Economic and Social Council resolution 1980/67 of 25 July 1980 on international years and anniversaries, particularly paragraphs 1 to 10 of the annex thereto on the agreed criteria for the proclamation of international years, as well as paragraphs 13 and 14, which state that an international year should not be proclaimed before the basic arrangements necessary for its organization and financing have been made,

Recalling the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, entitled “The future we want”,1 as endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 66/288 of 27 July 2012, which recognizes, inter alia, that well-designed and well-managed tourism can make a significant contribution to the three dimensions of sustainable development, has close linkages to other sectors and can create decent jobs and generate trade opportunities,

Reaffirming its resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015, entitled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, in which it adopted a comprehensive, far-reaching and people-centred set of universal and transformative Sustainable Development Goals and targets, its commitment to working tirelessly for the full implementation of this Agenda by 2030, its recognition that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, its commitment to achieving sustainable development in its three dimensions — economic, social and environmental — in a balanced and integrated manner, and to building upon the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals and seeking to address their unfinished business,

Reaffirming also its resolution 69/313 of 27 July 2015 on the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, which is an integral part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, supports and complements it, helps to contextualize its means of implementation targets with concrete policies and actions, and reaffirms the strong political commitment to address the challenge of financing and creating an enabling environment at all levels for sustainable development in the spirit of global partnership and solidarity,

Recalling that the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011-2020 (Istanbul Programme of Action)2 adopted by the Fourth

United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, as endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 65/280 of 17 June 2011, supports the efforts of the least developed countries to develop a sustainable tourism sector, in particular through infrastructure and human capital development, increased access to finance and enhanced access to global tourism networks and distribution channels,

Recalling also that the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway,3 adopted by the third International Conference on Small Island Developing States, as endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 69/15 of 14 November 2014, recognizes that sustainable tourism represents an important driver of sustainable economic growth and decent job creation,

Recalling further that the Vienna Declaration4 and the Vienna Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries for the Decade 2014-2024,5 adopted by the second United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, as endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 69/137 of 12 December 2014, recognizes that tourism can play an important role in building the economic sector, providing employment and generating foreign exchange,

Reaffirming the importance of supporting the African Union’s Agenda 2063, as well as its 10-year plan of action, as a strategic framework for ensuring a positive socioeconomic transformation in Africa within the next 50 years, and its continental programme, embedded in the resolutions of the General Assembly on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, which promotes sustainable tourism,

Recalling its resolutions 2148 (XXI) of 4 November 1966, entitled “International Tourist Year”, 53/200 of 15 December 1998, entitled “Proclamation of 2002 as the International Year of Ecotourism”, 65/148 of 20 December 2010, entitled “Global Code of Ethics for Tourism”, 68/207 of 20 December 2013, entitled “Sustainable tourism and sustainable development in Central America”, and 69/233 of 19 December 2014, entitled “Promotion of sustainable tourism, including ecotourism, for poverty eradication and environment protection”,

Taking note of the resolution adopted by the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization at its twenty-first session, held in Medellin, Colombia, from 12 to 17 September 2015, on the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, 2017,6

Welcoming the efforts of the World Tourism Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and others to promote ecotourism and sustainable tourism worldwide,

Welcoming also the adoption of the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production patterns by the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in 2012 and the launching of the sustainable tourism programme of the framework, and encouraging further implementation through capacity-building projects and initiatives to support sustainable tourism,

Recognizing the importance of international tourism, and particularly of the designation of an international year of sustainable tourism for development, in fostering better understanding among peoples everywhere, in leading to a greater awareness of the rich heritage of various civilizations and in bringing about a better appreciation of the inherent values of different cultures, thereby contributing to the strengthening of peace in the world,

Recognizing also the important role of sustainable tourism as a positive instrument towards the eradication of poverty, the protection of the environment, the improvement of quality of life and the economic empowerment of women and youth and its contribution to the three dimensions of sustainable development, especially in developing countries,

1. Decides to proclaim 2017 the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development;

2. Invites the World Tourism Organization, mindful of the provisions contained in the annex to Economic and Social Council resolution 1980/67, to facilitate the organization and implementation of the International Year, in collaboration with Governments, relevant organizations of the United Nations system, other international and regional organizations and other relevant stakeholders;

3. Stresses that the costs of all activities that may arise from the implementation of the present resolution that are above and beyond the activities currently within the mandate of the lead agency should be met from voluntary contributions;

4. Encourages all States, the United Nations system and all other actors to take advantage of the International Year to promote actions at all levels, including through international cooperation, and to support sustainable tourism as a means of promoting and accelerating sustainable development, especially poverty eradication;

5. Requests the World Tourism Organization, mindful of the provisions of paragraphs 23 to 27 of the annex to Economic and Social Council resolution 1980/67, to inform the General Assembly at its seventy-third session on the implementation of the present resolution, elaborating on the evaluation of the International Year.

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1 Resolution 66/288, annex.

2 Report of the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, Istanbul, Turkey, 9-13 May 2011 (A/CONF.219/7), chap. II.

3 Resolution 69/15, annex.

4 Resolution 69/137, annex I.

5 Ibid., annex II.

6 World Tourism Organization, document A/RES/653 (XXI).