Publisher's Synopsis
This report synthesizes the rich insights of the first Regional Conference on Investing in Tourism for an Inclusive Future: Challenges and Opportunities (26-27 October 2016, Petra, Jordan). Jointly organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Jordan, the event advanced understandings of how investments in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean (SEMED) region can harness tourism's potential to foster inclusive growth and sustainable development in the broadest sense - economically, socially, culturally and environmentally. The report highlights the Conference's discussions on three priority areas, and the role of finance in achieving these priorities: access to training and employment opportunities; supporting local micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises; and resource and energy efficiency. By identifying challenges, lessons learned and key recommendations, the Conference culminated in the Petra Declaration - a call to action to build a more inclusive, sustainable tourism sector.
