Global tourism leaders to attend Resilience Conference in Jamaica
Published:Monday | February 17, 2025 | 9:21 AMAdrian Frater/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary General of United Nations Tourism, is set to visit Jamaica for the highly anticipated Global Tourism Resilience Conference and Expo, scheduled to take place at the Princess Grand Jamaica Resort in Green Island, Hanover, from February 17-19.
Pololikashvili’s participation in the conference, which will explore sustainable and adaptive tourism strategies in a rapidly evolving global landscape, is regarded by Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett as a significant endorsement of the country’s standing in the global tourism industry.
“The presence of the UN Tourism Secretary General at our Global Tourism Resilience Conference marks another pivotal moment for Caribbean tourism,” said Bartlett.
“This high-level engagement underscores Jamaica’s strategic importance as a global hub for innovative tourism development and our commitment to building sustainable, adaptive travel ecosystems.”
“We are honoured to provide this critical space for dialogue that will shape the future of international tourism,” added Bartlett.
United Nations Tourism, formerly known as the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), is a specialised agency of the United Nations dedicated to promoting responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism.
The conference will attract international tourism leaders, policymakers, and industry experts who will examine innovative approaches to building resilient tourism ecosystems. Special emphasis will be placed on addressing challenges such as climate change, economic fluctuations, and emerging global disruptions.
Key objectives of the conference include:
• Enhancing knowledge of digital tools for resilience
• Renewing focus on building resilience in tourism
• Strengthening collaboration for resilience solutions
• Showcasing practical resilience case studies
• Encouraging the adoption of crisis management technologies
• Introducing resilience-focused financial tools
• Promoting resilience in Blue Economy management
• Providing policy recom-mendations for resilience
• Expanding collaboration between tourism stakeholders and digital technology firms globally
Professor Lloyd Waller, Executive Director of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, emphasised that the conference will highlight Jamaica’s reputation as a key player in global tourism.
“Jamaica continues to be a thought leader in the resilience space, and as we advance our advocacy in this area, we aim to enhance capacity-building efforts for countries worldwide,” said Waller.
He also noted that Pololikashvili’s presence at the event underscores UN Tourism’s commitment to supporting the global tourism sector through strategic planning and collaborative solutions.