United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan has said tourism can play a critical role in easing the plight of millions of people across the globe.
In a visit to the UN World Tourism Organisation in Madrid, he praised the industry for bringing hope to developing nations and urged more to be done.
“We really need to get tourists to not only interact with the people but also to offer them authentic culture,” he said.
“Tourism really has the potential of opening up economic space for people around the world. We should encourage tourist developers to go and set up tourist developments.”
The results, he said, would help provide basic facilities such as electricity and clean water. It would “uplift” the local community “encouraging them to produce for the tourists.”
UNWTO secretary general Francesco Frangialli said tourism has the capacity “to contribute decisively in the fight against poverty.”
