Tourism for Peace: Why the World Needs Unity Now More Than Ever
In a world fractured by conflict and fatigued by geopolitics, tourism may seem like a footnote. Frivolous. Secondary. Indulgent.
But it's not.
Tourism is one of the most underutilized tools for peace and diplomacy in our time. Overlooked, underestimated may be but never irrelevant. In fact, it may be the most profound act of global service we still have.
If war is the darkest form of human exchange, then tourism is its most luminous. It is a gentle revolution - one that expands minds, opens hearts, and bridges the divides that headlines and politics so often deepen. It allows us to encounter the world not through the lens of fear or power, but through the stories of its people.
To travel is to share. To listen. To learn. And in doing so, to disarm prejudice and dissolve bias.
Because when you've looked into someone's eyes, heard their story, stood on their soil—hatred finds no place to grow.
This is not poetic idealism. It's political realism.
Tourism, when placed at the heart of global leadership is not a soft sector. It is a soft power. And if I am elected Secretary-General of UN Tourism, I will place this power squarely on the global agenda.
Because tourism is not just about GDP - it's about GHP: Global Human Possibility.
Over 110 armed conflicts rage as we speak in different parts of the world. And yet, every conflict is also a call for healing, for rebuilding, for reconnection. History has proven the power of tourism to do exactly that. In Rwanda, in Colombia, in Cambodia, in Bosnia, in Northern Ireland - tourism has helped transform trauma into transformation. In these places, it is not just economic - it is existential.
Imagine this: 1.3 billion people crossing borders each year.
That's 1.3 billion chances for peace. 1.3 billion opportunities to step out of echo chambers and into empathy. Even if only 1% of those travelers became peace ambassadors, that's 13 million grassroots diplomats - planting seeds of trust and understanding where policy has failed.
Tourism diplomacy doesn't wait for backroom deals. It happens in living rooms, marketplaces, and village paths. It empowers local communities to rise on their own terms. It doesn't impose. It invites.
That's the leadership UN Tourism needs.
Not status quo stewardship - but bold, conscious stewardship.
Not just unity in structure - but unity in purpose.
Because the stakes are no longer just economic.
In a fractured world, tourism is not a luxury - it's a lifeline.
And the next Secretary-General must be ready to lead it that way.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hospitality Net
14 hours ago
- Hospitality Net
Amadeus and UN Tourism report provides comprehensive look at Asia Pacific travel market
Amadeus, a leading provider of travel technology solutions, and UN Tourism, have released a new report with comprehensive data on travel in Asia Pacific. The Market Insights report – Asia & subregions offers in-depth insights into passenger traffic, hospitality market indicators, top-performing destinations, and new routes in the Asia Pacific region. The report presents a detailed analysis of passenger traffic and capacity trends from March 2023 to February 2025 and provides a forecast extending to August 2025. Notable growth rates include a 9.3% increase in air passenger volume and scheduled seats for Asia and the Pacific, derived from Amadeus Navigator360™ data. Market level hotel occupancy rates, average daily rates (ADR), and revenue per available room (RevPAR) across various regions are also detailed in the report. Top-performing destinations in terms of bookings and searches are explored, highlighting significant year-over-year growth for destinations including China, Macao, and Mongolia. Finally, the report details the introduction of new air routes in the region, emphasizing the potential for unlocking new market opportunities. Paul Wilson, Vice President of Hospitality, Asia Pacific, Amadeus says, 'This new report serves as a valuable resource for stakeholders in the travel and hospitality industry. It offers actionable insights and data-driven strategies to navigate the dynamic market landscape. By using detailed market insights, destination management organizations and hotels can enhance growth opportunities, improve customer experiences, and optimize their operations in the Asia-Pacific region.' 'At UN Tourism, we are committed to strengthening the capacity of our members to access relevant and reliable market intelligence that enable better tourism management and planning. That is why we are pleased to collaborate once again with Amadeus, one of our valuable Affiliate Members. Asia and the Pacific is a hugely dynamic and innovative region. In 2024, the region welcomed 316 million international tourist arrivals, 33% more than in 2023, making it the second most visited destination in the world, after Europe. 'I trust this report and its insights will contribute to a better understanding of the market dynamics of the APAC region and inform more effective decision-making by both the tourism public and private sectors,' says Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General, UN Tourism. You can download the full report here. About the data: All data in this report comes from Amadeus Travel Intelligence. The data was extracted from Amadeus Navigator360™ on March 16, 2025. Navigator360™ is the most comprehensive collection of hotel, air and sociodemographic travel data available today, empowering businesses to identify evolving travel trends. View source
Hospitality Net
2 days ago
- Hospitality Net
India's International Visitor Spend Soars to Record Highs, WTTC Reports
Delhi, India – Latest data from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has revealed that international visitor spend in India reached a record ₹3.1TN in 2024, 9% above the previous peak of 2019. After a prolonged reliance on domestic travel spend following the pandemic, WTTC's latest Economic Impact Research (EIR) reveals international travel is not only back; it's stronger than ever, reaching unprecedented levels last year. According to the data, while domestic travel has remained a vital force, with spending soaring to ₹15.5TN, (22% above 2019 levels), the revival of international tourism is now propelling the sector into a bold new era of growth. Travel & Tourism contributed almost ₹21TN to the Indian economy last year, 20% ahead of 2019, and yet with a young, educated population facing rapid automation through AI, the sector remains a critical source of employment and opportunity. Strengthening infrastructure, including high-speed rail and smart mobility solutions, will be essential to reach the sector's true potential and raise its GDP contribution toward 10-11%. The sector also supported an all-time high of almost 46.5MN jobs, equivalent to 9.1% of total employment across India. The country also welcomed 20MN international visitors in 2024 - 2.3MN more than 2019, reaffirming the country's status as a leading global destination and underscoring the renewed international confidence in its tourism offering. To maintain this momentum, WTTC calls for continued investment and targeted policy support, and urges the government to reconsider its recent decision to reduce funding for overseas tourism promotion. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said India's Travel & Tourism sector is experiencing unprecedented growth, with international visitor numbers now at record highs after a period of strong domestic reliance. We strongly support the government's plans to simplify the e-visa process. While visa-on-arrival and e-visa systems are in place, reciprocal policies and long delays for key markets like the U.S., where appointments are reportedly unavailable until 2026, continue to hinder tourists. Making it easier to visit India is one of the fastest ways to unlock further international arrivals and spending. To support this growth and ensure long-term resilience, WTTC has signed an MoU with WTTCII to amplify India's tourism voice globally. The MOU combines WTTC's international influence with WTTCII's strong national presence. The MOU will strengthen policy coherence and offer a model for global-local tourism leadership. The global tourism body's research also reveals India's business travel is experiencing record growth, with combined domestic and international spending hitting ₹1.1TN last year, surpassing the 2019 peak by 2.6%. A look ahead to 2025 and 2035 WTTC is forecasting another record-breaking year for India's Travel & Tourism sector with its economic contribution set to reach over ₹22TN in 2025, whilst employment in the sector is expected to reach more than 48MN. As the sector expands, there's a significant opportunity to foster homegrown entrepreneurship, particularly in luxury travel experiences, which are gaining strong traction among new generations of travellers and investors. International visitor spend is expected to reach ₹3.2TN, whilst spending from domestic travellers is set to hit ₹ By 2035, Travel & Tourism's contribution to the national economy is forecast to almost double, to reach just under ₹42TN, with the sector employing almost 64MN people. India is well-placed to become one of the world's most dynamic tourism economies, with its dynamic mix of heritage, natural beauty, and modern innovation. This includes unlocking the potential of small and medium-sized enterprises which form the backbone of the sector and drive innovation across communities and regions. WTTC calls on the government to match the sector's resilience and ambition with clear, consistent policy support. For more information and to access the full factsheet, including WTTC's latest Environmental Social Research (ESR), please visit WTTC's Research Hub.
Hospitality Net
2 days ago
- Hospitality Net
Cloud-Native Wellness ERP: IDS Next Invites a New Era in Wellness Management
Wellness and spa offerings have become increasingly vital to enhancing guest experiences and driving profitability within the hospitality industry. Statista revealed the global health and wellness market is estimated to reach almost seven trillion U.S. dollars by 2025, with EHL Insights anticipating that the global medical spa market will reach US$45 Billion by 2030. As health and wellness offerings and personalised experiences become more integral to travel and tourism, the wellness sector is evolving at an unprecedented pace. In response to this growing demand, IDS Next delivers smart enterprise resource planning solutions not only for hotels, restaurants, banquets and leisure sectors but also for the wellness vertical, with a suite of innovative solutions designed to elevate operations. At the core of this is FX Spa, a spa management system with standout features: roster management, appointment handling, guest profile management for enhanced personalisation, and comprehensive reporting to drive smarter operations. The simplified billing system automatically shows completed appointments, allowing for multiple payment settlements, loyalty rewards, discount coupons, and gift card redemptions with ease. With support for guest bookings, multi-day and family appointments, and configurable forms and packages, FX Spa offers unmatched flexibility tailored for both traditional spas and modern wellness centres. FX Spa also shines in its seamless integration capabilities. It connects natively with IDS Next's FX Front Office Management and FX Finance modules, as well as third-party platforms, including Oracle's Opera PMS and SAP, enabling true cross-functional visibility and automation. Beyond FX Spa, IDS Next's comprehensive wellness suite supports the full ecosystem of spa operations, covering material management, front office, finance, guest engagement, housekeeping, and managing data for instant insights, analysis and operational visibility. This cloud-native, mobile-first platform empowers wellness operators with a complete, scalable toolkit for business growth. IDS Next's CRO, Rajesh Yadav, added his thoughts on the company's venture into the wellness sector. 'The pandemic and the consequent preference for health, wellness, and self-care were major catalysts for changes in guest behaviour. Moving forward, businesses cannot rely on accommodation and F&B alone to satisfy this change in demand patterns. With that in mind, IDS Next is proud to support businesses in delivering a holistic hospitality experience; one that joins the traditional hospitality with innovative wellness solutions' . 'Wellness continues to shape guest expectations, and we are proud to offer comprehensive tools that enhance operational efficiency and drive profitability, ensuring our customers are well-equipped for success in this new era of hospitality', added Manoj K Mohanty, Senior Vice President – Sales, South Asia and Southeast Asia. As the wellness sector continues to thrive, IDS Next is committed to our continuing journey of empowering businesses with the tools needed to adapt to the evolving demands, well-positioned to support the growth of the wellness industry and drive continued success for its customers. About IDS Next With a global presence in 50+ countries, IDS Next offers cloud-native and mobile-first full-stack ERP solutions for hotels, restaurants, wellness, banquets and events sectors. Seamlessly integrating with 350+ world-class technology partners, we leverage industry expertise and a customer-centric approach to deliver SaaS solutions that keep clients competitive in an ever-evolving global market. Today, we are trusted by renowned hospitality brands, including ITC Hotels, Taj Hotels, Kaya Kalp, Jiva Spa, and Antara Senior Living. For more information, visit View source
