Tourism and the G20 Economies

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G20 TOURISM AND SDGs DASHBOARD

A dashboard set up by India’s G20 Presidency in partnership with UN Tourism to promote initiatives of the G20 countries in advancing SDGs through tourism

Dashboard

  • G20 economies represent around 85% of the global GDP, over 75% of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.
  • In 2024, the G20 welcomed 68% of all international tourists and accounted for 71% of tourism exports worldwide.
  • Tourism Direct GDP reached 3.1% of the G20 economies in 2023 at 2.8 USD trillion.

The significance of tourism to the global economy prompted the creation of an initiative under the name of T20, counting with the full support of UN Tourism.

Against the background of the enhanced international cooperation which emerged from the 2008-2009 global economic crisis, there was an opportunity for Tourism Ministers to speak in a coordinated manner on a number of global issues.

The initiative emerged as a follow up to the Roadmap for Recovery developed by UN Tourism. The Roadmap for Recovery, which was approved in October 2009 at the Organization’s General Assembly, is a manifesto on how tourism, one of the world’s biggest sources of jobs and export earnings, can be a primary vehicle for employment creation, enhanced development, trade promotion, economic recovery and the transformation towards a greener economy.

The first T20 Tourism Ministers’ Meeting in South Africa (23-24 February 2010) followed an informal gathering of the T20 countries held in Kazakhstan in 2009 during the UN Tourism General Assembly, to discuss tourism’s valuable contribution to the economic stimuli required for the global economy’s recovery and the longer-term ‘green’ transformation.

Other meetings followed hosted by the countries chairing the G20. Topics discussed included:

G20

Making a shift towards a more sustainable tourism and maximizing its contribution to the SDGs- 9th T.20 Ministers' Meeting

20 November, 2019

All Regions

G20

The Future of Work - Tourism’s leading role in sustainable development: a driver for employment -8th T.20 Ministers' Meeting

1 December, 2018

All Regions

G20

Sustainable Tourism - An Effective Tool for Inclusive Development - 7th T.20 Ministers' Meeting

20 May, 2016

All Regions

Pagination

With the aim of addressing priority issues for the sector to promote a more sustainable and balanced growth, the Ministers of Tourism approved the Terms of Reference for the creation of a first  G20 Tourism Working Group (TWG) under Saudi Arabia's Presidency (2020). The Group focuses its tourism policy principles on fostering employment, accrediting the workforce, promoting sustainable and inclusive practices, and encouraging innovation in the sector. In 2020, against the backdrop of a global pandemic in which international tourism experienced an unprecedented 74% fall, the sustainable recovery of the sector became an urgent priority for the working groups.

The G20 Tourism Working Groups have developed their priorities along these lines under the different presidencies:

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November 24, 2025

UN Tourism welcomes G20 Leaders recognition and strong support for tourism under South Africa’s G20 Presidency

G20 Leaders have recognized the contribution of tourism to shared prosperity and sustainability at the first Summit held in Africa under the Presidency of South Africa.

G20

All Regions

September 15, 2025

UN Tourism Calls on G20 Tourism Ministers to step up collaboration and make tourism a driver of inclusion

The UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili has stressed that “strengthening multilateralism through tourism will deliver results in socio-economic inclusion, sustainable development, peace and understanding”.

G20

All Regions

September 23, 2024

UN Tourism Calls on G20 to Lead the Transformation of the Sector

The G20 economies must lead the way in ensuring tourism fulfils its huge potential to build a fairer and more sustainable future for people and planet.

G20

All Regions

September 20, 2024

UN Tourism joins G20 Presidency to discuss the future of tourism policies and governance

UN Tourism has brought together Ministers from the G20 economies to advance tourism policies and transform governance across the sector.

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