The UN General Assembly invites everyone to observe February 17 as a day to raise awareness of sustainable tourism. Photo: Unsplash / Elizeu Dias
The UN General Assembly invites everyone to observe February 17 as a day to raise awareness of sustainable tourism. Photo: Unsplash / Elizeu Dias
The UN General Assembly invites everyone to observe February 17 as a day to raise awareness of sustainable tourism. Photo: Unsplash / Elizeu Dias
The UN General Assembly invites everyone to observe February 17 as a day to raise awareness of sustainable tourism. Photo: Unsplash / Elizeu Dias

UN declares February 17 as annual Global Tourism Resilience Day


Hayley Skirka
  • English
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February 17 will be celebrated as Global Tourism Resilience Day every year, starting this month.

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution from Jamaica to declare the first-ever Global Tourism Resilience Day in an effort to future-proof the sustainability of tourism.

The move to mark the day annually was supported by more than 90 countries.

“The pandemic has shown us that global disruptions will continue, so there will be more epidemics, pandemics and earthquakes like the one in Turkey. The importance of this day is therefore to encourage capacity-building for the world to be better able to respond to these global disruptions and recover quickly,” said Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica's Minister of Tourism, at the UNGA's 58th plenary meeting in New York on Monday.

At the beginning of the meeting, the assembly observed a one-minute silence for those in Turkey and Syria affected by the earthquake.

Tourism is one of the world’s major economic sectors, but it’s also one of the most vulnerable industries.

The last few years have shown that despite an insatiable desire for travel, the tourism industry remains vulnerable and needs resilience to survive everything from hurricanes to armed conflict, volcanic eruptions and global pandemics.

Petra empty of tourists during the global pandemic. The tourism industry is one of the world's largest, but also one of its most vulnerable. Reuters
Petra empty of tourists during the global pandemic. The tourism industry is one of the world's largest, but also one of its most vulnerable. Reuters

“This announcement will in fact signal to the world to put aside one day, February 17, every year to not just observe, but also create a greater level of consciousness around resilience,” added Bartlett.

“If we are to future-proof the sustainability of tourism, now is the time to give greater consideration for building resilience.”

The UNGA invites everyone to observe February 17 as a day to raise awareness of the importance of sustainable tourism, in accordance with local, regional and national priorities and through education, activities and events.

The first Global Tourism Resilience Conference will be held in Jamaica on February 15, culminating on Global Tourism Resilience Day.

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

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New Zealand
Penalties: Barrett (7)

British & Irish Lions
Tries: Faletau, Murray
Penalties: Farrell (4)
Conversions: Farrell 
 

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

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The more serious side of specialty coffee

While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.

The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.

Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”

One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.

Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms. 

MATCH INFO

Manchester City 2 (Mahrez 04', Ake 84')

Leicester City 5 (Vardy 37' pen, 54', 58' pen, Maddison 77', Tielemans 88' pen)

Man of the match: Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)

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57%20Seconds
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Ammar 808:
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Sofyann Ben Youssef
Glitterbeat 

Updated: February 09, 2023, 3:33 PM