Climate Change is accelerating
Data from Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) has confirmed that 2024 was the hottest year on record, with global temperatures soaring 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
The implications for tourism are dire: hurricanes, wildfires, floods and rising sea levels threaten tourism livelihoods, human lives and entire ecosystems.
The consequences are already unfolding: Venice, Italy, was submerged by record-breaking floods, disrupting tourism and damaging its iconic landmarks. In Valencia, Spain, severe flooding caused the death of 216 people destroying infrastructure, and affecting local businesses and tourism operations. The 2024 California wildfires, exacerbated by severe drought and Santa Ana winds, destroyed thousands of homes across the state. Greece’s forest fires in 2024 reached the outskirts of Athens, forcing mass evacuations and billions of economic loss. All these examples are in developed countries with strong visitor economies and a resilient tourism industry.
But climate is a global issue and not all destinations are able to mitigate it effects as effectively as these global tourism leaders in developed countries. Tourism-dependent economies are on the front lines and nowhere is this more evident than in Small Island Developing States (SIDS).The Caribbean, where most of the countries are among the 25 most vulnerable nations in terms of disasters per capita or land area, loses up to 17% of its GDP annually due to climate-related disasters, while the Asia-Pacific region faces an unprecedented surge in extreme weather events, disrupting travel and devastating local communities.
Since 2000, more than 7,000 major disasters have been recorded globally. According to the World Bank, climate-related disasters now cost the global economy over $300 billion annually, disproportionately affecting coastal and island destinations where tourism is the economic backbone.
Despite these harrowing figures, no global mechanism exists to cushion the blow. Destinations are left to fend for themselves, often rebuilding with insufficient resources, leaving communities even more vulnerable to the next catastrophe.
The economic cost is staggering. Between 1970 and 2020, SIDS lost $153 billion due to extreme weather events—a figure that looms large given that the average annual GDP for these states is just $13.7 billion.
The Urgent Need for a Global Resilience Fund
Resilience is not just about bouncing back — it’s about bouncing forward. A Global Tourism Resilience Fund would serve as both an emergency response mechanism and a long-term investment in building stronger, more adaptable tourism economies. The fund should:
Provide Immediate Crisis Relief: Swift financial support to rebuild infrastructure, restore ecosystems, and stabilize local economies in the aftermath of disasters.
Finance Resilience-Building Projects: Invest in climate-smart infrastructure, regenerative tourism models, and community-led initiatives to future-proof destinations.
Offer Risk Mitigation and Preparedness Programs: Equip destinations with the tools and training to anticipate, manage, and mitigate risks, reducing the overall impact of crises.
Without such a fund, tourism-dependent economies will continue to suffer, deepening inequality and depriving future generations of cultural heritage and natural wonders.
UN Tourism: The Ultimate Catalyst for Change
To safeguard the future of tourism and the economies that depend on it, the world must act now. A Global Tourism Resilience Fund could provide the financial cushion needed to support crisis recovery, invest in climate adaptation infrastructure, and enhance long-term resilience for at-risk destinations.
This fund would mobilize resources from philanthropy, multilateral institutions, public-private partnerships, and sustainable finance mechanisms to ensure that vulnerable nations are not left to face climate shocks alone.
UN Tourism is uniquely positioned to lead this effort. As the global authority on tourism, it has the credibility, network, and influence to unite all the different players towards a common cause.
A Collective Responsibility — and a Defining Opportunity
The tourism industry is one of humanity’s most powerful engines of connection, economic growth, and cultural preservation. But it cannot thrive on hope alone. Resilience must be financed. The cost of inaction is simply too high.
Other industries have successfully leveraged global financing mechanisms to address systemic risks, setting a precedent for action in tourism. The Green Climate Fund (GCF), established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), has mobilized over $12 billion to support climate adaptation and mitigation efforts in developing nations. Similarly, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria has helped save over 50 million lives by pooling resources from governments, development banks, and private donors to tackle global health crises. The World Bank’s Global Infrastructure Facility (GIF) brings together public and private capital to finance large-scale infrastructure projects, ensuring long-term economic resilience.
These funds demonstrate that well-structured, internationally backed financial mechanisms can drive impactful change. A Global Tourism Resilience Fund would operate in the same spirit—providing vulnerable tourism economies with targeted investments to build climate-resilient infrastructure, strengthen disaster preparedness, and secure sustainable livelihoods.
For too long, the tourism industry has relied on ad-hoc solutions and short-term relief. The future demands a more comprehensive, forward-thinking approach. I envision a tourism industry that is not just reactive but proactive—leveraging adversity as a catalyst for transformation. By reforming UN Tourism I will transform its effectiveness beyond rhetoric to the tangible, game-changing action that today’s situation demands.
