Continual disruption, be it technological, political, social, economic or – above all – climatic, has become a hallmark of our age. Yet, the way that young people today are facing this disruption, reaching across borders to approach global challenges with a newfound spirit of innovation and determination, gives much cause for hope. How today’s youth experiences this disruption and react to it, will define the future of mankind on planet earth; particularly as opportunities to halt the mass decline in biodiversity and a sharp rise in global heating appear to diminish as every year goes by. How young people (defined for the purposes of this report as members of Generation Z) feel about the world that they are inheriting and how they may be prepared to adapt their own behaviour, in solidarity with the environment – and with each other –, therefore matters considerably.
It is against this backdrop that the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has embarked on a major programme of work to engage directly with young people around the world and mobilize inspiring young leaders to come together, learn, share their experiences and discuss how some of the world’s major challenges – particularly those facing the global tourism sector – can be addressed in innovative ways. The first milestone in this engagement with global youth is the UNWTO Global Youth Tourism Summit (GYTS), held from 27 June to 3 July 2022 in Sorrento, Italy. To provide a solid basis for the discussions that took place at this Summit and at future events, UNWTO, with the kind support of the Global Tourism Economy Forum,1 has published two major reports that explore their world view and how this impacts the global tourism sector.
The first of these reports, titled The Impact of COVID-19 on Global Youth – Focus on Asia and Italy, explores the real-life consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for young people in two different geographical regions and cultural contexts during 2020 and 2021. It also presents recommendations to governments around the world on measures to support young people through COVID-19 recovery policies.
The second of these reports is presented here. Through primary research data (gathered specifically for this report) and a range of other resources used in the secondary research, this report explores the wider issues and concerns that young people face in different parts of the world, as well as their priorities and ambitions for the recovery of the global tourism sector. A series of case studies showcasing various approaches to supporting education, entrepreneurship and personal development is also presented, together with a series of recommendations that can help national tourism organizations to take young people’s priorities into account when designing tourism policies.
Continual disruption, be it technological, political, social, economic or – above all – climatic, has become a hallmark of our age. Yet, the way that young people today are facing this disruption, reaching across borders to approach global challenges with a newfound spirit of innovation and determination, gives much cause for hope. How today’s youth experiences this disruption and react to it, will define the future of mankind on planet earth; particularly as opportunities to halt the mass decline in biodiversity and a sharp rise in global heating appear to diminish as every year goes by. How young people (defined for the purposes of this report as members of Generation Z) feel about the world that they are inheriting and how they may be prepared to adapt their own behaviour, in solidarity with the environment – and with each other –, therefore matters considerably.
It is against this backdrop that the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has embarked on a major programme of work to engage directly with young people around the world and mobilize inspiring young leaders to come together, learn, share their experiences and discuss how some of the world’s major challenges – particularly those facing the global tourism sector – can be addressed in innovative ways. The first milestone in this engagement with global youth is the UNWTO Global Youth Tourism Summit (GYTS), held from 27 June to 3 July 2022 in Sorrento, Italy. To provide a solid basis for the discussions that took place at this Summit and at future events, UNWTO, with the kind support of the Global Tourism Economy Forum,1 has published two major reports that explore their world view and how this impacts the global tourism sector.
The first of these reports, titled The Impact of COVID-19 on Global Youth – Focus on Asia and Italy, explores the real-life consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for young people in two different geographical regions and cultural contexts during 2020 and 2021. It also presents recommendations to governments around the world on measures to support young people through COVID-19 recovery policies.
The second of these reports is presented here. Through primary research data (gathered specifically for this report) and a range of other resources used in the secondary research, this report explores the wider issues and concerns that young people face in different parts of the world, as well as their priorities and ambitions for the recovery of the global tourism sector. A series of case studies showcasing various approaches to supporting education, entrepreneurship and personal development is also presented, together with a series of recommendations that can help national tourism organizations to take young people’s priorities into account when designing tourism policies.
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