The World Tourism Organisation (UNTWO) initiated #TravelTomorrow campaign to urge people to stay home during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. The organisation launched the #TravelTomorrow campaign on digital media to send a message of hope and solidarity to the tourism industry.
The COVID-19 pandemic put the hospitality industry along with the aviation industry on halt. With the uncertainty of the crisis, #TravelTomorrow aims to give people hope for a better tomorrow. The hashtag symbolizes the idea that by ‘staying home today, we can travel tomorrow’.
Launched with the support of UNWTO’s Global Tourism Crisis Committee, the campaign has had a massive impact on social networks and is being embraced by a growing number of countries, destinations and companies linked to tourism, cities, media outlets and individuals from all over the world. Countries such as Germany, Morocco, Mongolia, Oman and Uruguay, as well as cities such as Bogotá or Vienna, have already endorsed the hashtag #TravelTomorrow, thus amplifying the voice of tourism, which is united in the face of this unprecedented global challenge.
UNWTO
UNWTO convened the Global Tourism Crisis Committee during a virtual meeting held on 19th March 2020. The organisation brought together UN agencies, the chairs of its Executive Council and Regional Commissions, and private sector leaders to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism industry.
Our response must be fast, coherent and united so that we can all travel again soon and do so in a safer, more sustainable and more respectful way, learning from the lessons of the current crisis.
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili
Furthermore, UNWTO released a set of recommendations for recovery highlighting the steps governments and other authorities need to take in order to reduce the impact of the pandemic on the tourism sector.
Tourism Minister Ali Waheed also joined the committee as the chair of South Asia Regional commission and took part in the initial meeting held in March 2020.
We encourage the private sector, the international community and fellow citizens of the world to help each other, work together in solidarity and stay positive at these challenging times to defeat the virus”
Ali Waheed, Tourism Minister of Maldives
UNWTO has been monitoring the situation while working closely with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other United Nations agencies. UNWTO had issued a joint statement with WHO earlier this year. Both the organisations call for responsibility and enhancing coordination to assure that the health precautions are implemented in ways that reduce unnecessary hindrances to international travel.
