The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate on the sustainable and responsible growth of rural tourism.
The two organisations, which fall under the United Nations (UN) umbrella, signed the MoU as part of World Tourism Day 2020 which celebrated the special theme of Tourism and Rural Development.
Under the agreement, UNWTO and FAO will build a framework for enhanced collaboration, including through the sharing of knowledge and resources.
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said, “This MoU emphasises the cross-cutting nature of tourism and the importance of cooperation at every level to ensure the sector works for everyone.”
“Both tourism and agriculture are lifelines for communities around the world, and the agreement is particularly timely as it comes as we recognise 2020 as the year of Tourism for Rural Development,” Pololikashvili added, “This was also the theme of World Tourism Day, which we celebrated this week, highlighting the role tourism must play in providing opportunities for rural communities and driving social and economic recovery.”
A central aim of the collaboration will be to increase the resilience of rural communities against social and economic shocks. This will take place through growing tourism, and making it both more sustainable and inclusive.
Across the FAO’s GIAHS (Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems) network of communities, tourism is a leading driver of equality. The sector also employs women and youth, giving them a stake in economic growth.
Tourism is a protector of the rich cultural heritage that characterises many of the communities within the GIAHS network, by keeping folklore and other traditions alive for future generations.
Moving forward, the new MoU states that UNWTO and FAO will work together to establish a plan for more specific areas of collaboration.
Key priorities, as outlined in the agreement, include encouraging entrepreneurship within rural communities, particularly among youth and women, with the aim of providing them with access to both local and global markets for their products. Other priorities include fostering education and skills so as to provide communities with opportunities within the tourism sector.
