During the "121st Session of Executive Council UN Tourism Meeting" in Barcelona, Spain, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno emphasized the importance of strengthening sustainable tourism practices amidst global challenges posed by climate change. Representing Indonesia, Sandiaga expressed appreciation for Indonesia's election as an Executive Council member of the UNWTO for the 2023-2027 term, alongside China, South Korea, and Japan, representing the East Asia and Pacific region. He underscored Indonesia's honor and commitment to supporting UNWTO's vision to develop the tourism sector, particularly in sustainability.
As an executive council member, Indonesia shares responsibility in planning the programs, direction, and policies of UN Tourism. Indonesia, along with other small island and archipelagic countries in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, faces significant challenges from climate change, notably rising sea levels. Sandiaga highlighted the necessity for countries to reinforce sustainable tourism practices, emphasizing Indonesia's commitment to promoting blue and green tourism. Blue tourism focuses on marine and coastal conservation, while green tourism stresses responsible land practices. He advocated for integrating circular economy principles into tourism to minimize waste and strengthen the role of communities, including tourist villages, in environmental and cultural sustainability. Sandiaga also promoted environmentally friendly tourism investments prioritizing responsible development and conservation. He expressed hope that the executive council would prioritize sustainable tourism issues, with Indonesia ready to be a reliable partner in these initiatives. He concluded by reaffirming the transformative power of sustainable tourism to protect the environment, empower communities, and ensure the tourism sector's prosperity for future generations.
