Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel attended Friday the meeting of tourism ministers of the Group of 77 plus China (G77+China).
At the closing of the meeting, the Cuban Minister of Tourism, Juan Carlos García, described it as profitable because it allowed discussing the challenges of the sector in a context of world crisis.
“Tourism is a multisectoral activity that can contribute to the three dimensions of sustainable development: poverty reduction, economic growth and job creation,” he said.
He said that this meeting of countries of the South made it possible to exchange on the current challenges in tourism and its links with the preservation of heritage and sustainable development.
“It is a message of dialogue between our nations, today more necessary than ever,” García emphasized and recalled that the current global crisis has a transversal impact on the tourism sector, which is of great importance for our countries.
He added that Covid-19 particularly affected this activity, and showed that it directly affects the development of nations in a context of the application of unilateral coercive measures, the deepening of social and economic inequalities, climate change, and the increase of the digital divide.
“That is why it is necessary to unite and find comprehensive solutions, and that international collaboration contributes to strengthen policies and financial support to ensure livelihoods,” said the Cuban Minister of Tourism.
He added that it should also contribute to the reduction of poverty and inequalities, safeguard the benefits of tourism to support national development strategies.
“The objective must be to continue promoting a tourism model for sustainable development, based on social inclusion, conservation and protection of the environment and biodiversity, which reserves and respects the natural cultural heritage while addressing the effects of Covid-19,” he asserted.
