UNWTO HOLDS FIRST VIRTUAL JOINT MEETING OF THE COMMISSION FOR EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

02/07/2020

For the first time in history, the 32nd Joint Meeting of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and the Commission for South Asia (32nd CAP-CSA), was held virtually.
 
The COVID-19 outbreak, with its unprecedented global travel restrictions, made it necessary to cancel the physical 32nd Joint Meeting in Sri Lanka this year, and to hold it virtually.
 
Given consideration to the pandemic, the 32nd Joint Meeting focused on the impact of COVID-19 on the global tourism sector and the key recommendations for recovery.
 
The Joint Commission Meeting preceded with communications by Sri Lanka as the designated country of the Joint Meeting, followed by the Chair (Maldives) and Co-Chair (Malaysia) of the Joint Commission.
 
High-level dignitaries, including the Secretary General of UNWTO, H.E. Zurab Pololikashvili, and regional Tourism Ministers, were amongst those in attendance.
 
Fiji was represented by the Minister for Commerce, Trade, Tourism, and Transport, Hon. Faiyaz Siddiq Koya.
 
During the Ministerial intervention, Minister Koya highlighted Fiji’s quick response in containment and gradually resuming economic activity. 
 
“The Fijian Government has implemented a number of strategies to re-establish the Fijian economy and get the tourism industry back on its feet. We are re-positioning and re-prioritising ourselves to support business continuity, as part of our economic recovery,” Minister Koya said.
 
Fiji’s intervention also highlighted steps taken to restart travel and tourism. This includes, inter alia, the establishment of the “Bula Bubble”, the “Vacation in Paradise” Lane and the “Blue Lane” to allow safe, seamless travel.
 
Travel restrictions introduced in response to the pandemic, are slowly being eased, allowing tourism to restart in a number of destinations. Latest research by the UNWTO shows that 22 per cent of all destinations worldwide have started to ease restrictions.
 
The gradual lifting of restrictions in some countries, together with the creation of travel corridors, resumption of some international flights and enhanced safety and hygiene protocols, are among the measures being introduced by Governments as they look to restart tourism.
 
While April was expected to be one of the busiest times of the year due to the Easter holidays, the near-universal introduction of travel restrictions led to a fall of 97 per cent in international tourist arrivals.
 
This follows a 55 per cent decline in March. Between January and April 2020, international tourist arrivals declined by 44 per cent, translating into a loss of about US$195 billion in international tourism receipts.
 
The Joint Meeting concluded by calling all public and private sector players to collaborate and share best practices to ensure tourism remains a positive catalyst for sustainable development in the region.