Labour and skills crisis –Establish tourism educational systems: Create specialized tourism academies, vocational training centres and partnerships that develop talent pipelines aligned with needs –Facilitate labour mobility: Implement policies that enable tourism workforce movement across borders particularly for seasonal needs (e.g. simplified visa processes, qualification recognition) –Provide targeted incentives: Offer tax benefits, wage subsidies and affordable housing programmes that address tourism’s structural employment challenges, enhancing job quality –Training and education initiatives: Develop training programmes, protections and education initiatives that help members of the workforce adapt to increasing automation and leverage digital learning to implement large-scale learning and education programmes –Implement labour protection frameworks: Establish robust regulations, enforcement mechanisms and cross-border cooperation to prevent the exploitation of workers and modern slavery throughout value chains Local capacity- building –Develop and promote community-based tourism: Support locally owned businesses through grants, low-interest loans and cooperative business models in which communities have direct stakes –Develop public–private–community partnerships: Promote joint ventures between operators and local businesses to share expertise and implement fair-trade models –Improve regulatory frameworks: Simplify licensing processes for tourism businesses, ensure fair regulations for short- term rentals and standardize quality certifications to enhance competitiveness. –Create digital support programmes: Establish initiatives that help tourism SMEs develop an online presence, implement digital tools and increase reach Infrastructure and investment requirements –Prioritize green infrastructure: Set standards and incentives for renewable energy integration and circular resource flows in tourism infrastructure development –Support aviation sustainability: Develop regulatory frameworks and financial mechanisms that accelerate sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) adoption, fleet modernization and operational efficiencies for necessary air travel –Implement modal shift policies: Invest in alternative transportation while introducing appropriate regulation/incentives to accelerate the adoption of greener alternatives (e.g. rail vs. air transport for short distances) –Implement long-term tourism master plans: Develop integrated spatial planning that aligns transportation networks, accommodation development and attraction management with sustainability goals –Support rural and secondary destination development: Invest in connectivity, basic services and tourism facilities in under-visited areas to distribute tourism benefits and flows, reducing pressure on hotspots –Facilitate smart technologies: Deploy digital infrastructure supporting real-time visitor management, resource efficiency and enhanced experiences –Ensure universal accessibility: Integrate accessibility features that support individuals with physical, cognitive, sensory or linguistic barriers, including ethnic minority groups, to advance truly inclusive tourism experiences –Regulate maritime tourism: Manage port entry quotas, environmental requirements (e.g. liquefied natural gas [LNG], shore power use) and visitor management systems for cruise ships to limit environmental impact and balance economic benefits Cultural and heritage dynamics –Establish cultural heritage protection frameworks: Develop regulations and incentives that safeguard tangible and intangible cultural assets from inappropriate development –Support community-led cultural tourism: Fund initiatives that empower cultural stewards to determine how heritage is shared and experienced –Create cultural documentation programmes: Invest in preserving traditional knowledge, crafts and practices that could otherwise be lost while promoting adaptation to contemporary design, artistic expression and innovating applications –Develop creative districts: Develop urban cultural spaces with affordable studios, exhibition venues and collaborative facilities that showcase contemporary local arts, design and innovation while creating meaningful experiences for visitors –Revitalize traditional crafts: Support programmes that transform traditional artisanal practices into sustainable livelihoods beyond souvenirs, through design, innovation, skills transfer and market development for authentic cultural products –Implement heritage impact assessments: Require the evaluation of development impacts on cultural authenticity and identity as part of approval processes Infrastructure Finance Technology and innovation People and skills Regulation and public–private collaboration Travel and Tourism at a Turning Point: Principles for Transformative Growth 33

Travel and Tourism at a Turning Point 2025