How receiving ODA is aiding the UN’s tourism efforts

DOHA, Qatar — The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Development Assistance Committee recently included the World Tourism Organization in its list of official development assistance-eligible international organizations. OECD DAC members have committed to dedicate 0.7 percent of their gross national income to ODA. With this new change, financial contributions to the UNWTO can be now considered and reported by donors as ODA. Eighty nine percent of annual membership fees to the UNWTO can be counted as multilateral ODA, in reporting to the OECD. This can be used as a tool to incentivize membership to the UNWTO, Taleb Rifai, secretary-general of the UNWTO, told Devex during the World Tourism Day 2017 Official Celebration in Doha, Qatar. The UNWTO is the U.N.’s agency for promoting tourism as a tool for economic growth, inclusive development, and environmental sustainability. Travel and tourism represented 10.2 percent of global GDP and generated 292 million jobs in 2016, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. Making it onto DAC’s eligibility list was no easy task for the agency, which had to prove that tourism is a valid tool for development, said Rifai. It took the agency years to achieve this recognition, including raising awareness among OECD DAC members and producing data on the development benefits that UNWTO’s efforts have provided to member states. Some countries have been skeptical of joining the agency, because they weren’t clear on the benefits. The agency provides its member states with technical assistance, such as crisis management to prevent a collapse of the sector in the wake of a terrorist attack or natural disaster, guidance on national tourism strategies, among other forms of assistance. But in response to its new standing, countries including Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Canada have expressed interest in joining, he said. The UNWTO currently has 156 member states. With the ability to bring in more members, the organization will have greater representation globally, which in turn allows it to speak with more authority, said Rifai. Much of his role as secretary-general involves meeting with country leaders, stressing the need to prioritize tourism. After a recent visit to the Republic of Congo, he was told by one of the ministers that the president of the Republic of Congo is now “talking about tourism every day, whereas he never bothered with it before.” Editor’s note: UNWTO facilitated Devex's travel and logistics for this reporting. However, Devex maintains full editorial control of the content. Read more international development news online, and subscribe to The Development Newswire to receive the latest from the world’s leading donors and decision-makers — emailed to you free every business day.