At a press launch on 03FEB 2022, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, announced that the destination is partnering with the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) to launch Global Tourism Resilience Day at Expo 2023 Dubai on 17FEB 2023, the same date as Jamaica Day.
GTRCMC Executive Director, Prof. Lloyd Waller, explained that the organization focuses on preparing destinations for disruptions or crises that may arise, such as the pandemic.
Also speaking was Dr. Taleb Rifai, former Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and co-chair of the GTRCMC.
“Tourism is a very important sector, and the resilience of tourism has played a big role. Tourism is always coming back after a crisis,” Dr. Rifai said “But, with COVID-19…the most affected sector has been travel and tourism. We have suffered a lot for that.”
As the world recovers, Dr. Rifai says the industry should focus on resilience. He also praised Jamaica and the Caribbean as leaders in tourism resilience, with the sector’s ability to bounce back after storms.
“Over the past two years, the pandemic has tested this presumed industry resilience more than any previous disruptive event in modern history. It has forced all destinations, irrespective of size, location and attributes, into survival mode,” Minister Bartlett added.
“The industry cannot afford to be taken off-guard again. Instead, it is called upon to urgently adopt a methodological, collaborative and institutional approach towards resilience. Destinations need to build the skills and knowledge for anticipating, preparing, responding, managing and learning from all disruptive events to ensure they are ready for the next event,” Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism said.
As such, Jamaica and the GTRCMC is putting together a campaign to raise awareness and share knowledge for best practices of tourism resilience for “global sustainability,” to begin planning for potential future disruptions.
On Global Tourism Resilience Day, Jamaica and the GTRCMC will celebrate “the important tools, the critical processes, policies, experiences, system, stakeholders, and moments of tourism resilience on a global scale.” According to Minister Bartlett, the goal of the day is to assist countries around the world for tourism resilience.
“In this regard, Dubai Expo offers a perfect space to showcase our work and build global partnerships with key decision makers continuing our mission to provide guidance to global, regional, and national tourism stakeholders,” Dr. Rifai added.
Minister Bartlett also added that, leading up to Global Tourism Resilience Day, Jamaica and the GTRCMC would hold “a series of activities” to enhance its advocacy. In addition, Bartlett announced a structured program surrounding topics of tourism resiliency with a panel of experts streamed live.
The launch of the campaign begins at Expo 2022 in Dubai. Leading up to 17FEB 2023, the GTRCMC will hold discussions with global bodies such as the United Nations to address matters related to resilience.
More information on the Global Tourism Resilience Day is available at this link: https://resiliencecouncil.com/global-tourism-resilience-day-2022/
