The UN Sustainable Destinations Summit, held in Mallorca, Spain, 17–18 October 2024, brought together global leaders, policy-makers and industry experts, focused on creating sustainable tourism destinations that prioritize the well-being of both tourists and host communities.
During the summit, WHO/Europe’s intervention emphasized the critical intersection of health and sustainable tourism. The intervention focused on 6 essential health dimensions of tourism, including:
- employment and occupational health – addressing unsafe and precarious working conditions in the tourism sector to protect mental and physical health;
- economic growth and development – promoting the health and well-being of tourism workers and host communities as drivers for economic development;
- environment and planetary health – preventing and responding to the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, which affect both tourists and host communities;
- quality health services – ensuring tourists have access to quality health services, especially in emergency preparedness;
- equity and human rights – focusing on gender, youth and vulnerable communities, and ensuring accessibility in tourism for all, including disabled persons, older people and those with chronic conditions; and
- hygiene, security and safety – highlighting that destinations with robust health systems, good hygiene and safe travel conditions are more attractive to visitors.
Dr Bettina Menne, Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Settings at the WHO European Office on Investment for Health and Development, highlighted, “Today we have a unique opportunity to strengthen health and well-being in tourism settings. A meaningful change starts with us, taking initiative, raising awareness and offering evidence-based opportunities for change.”
Her intervention focused on health and well-being as foundational elements for achieving all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and that there is no sustainable tourism without health. She also reiterated that sustainable policies should aim to put quality over quantity in both sectors, enabling people to live healthier lives and to engage in tourism that enhances the quality of life of tourists and locals alike.
Collaborative efforts
To advance the dimensions, in February 2024, WHO/Europe and UN Tourism launched a historic collaboration between the health and tourism sectors: the Coalition of Partners on Health and Tourism. It underscores the need for resilient health systems and sustainable tourism practices. WHO’s intervention at the summit highlighted the vital role of health in sustainable tourism, setting the stage for future collaborations that prioritize the well-being of people and the planet.
