G20 Tourism Ministers Virtual Meeting

In the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the disproportionate and unparalleled impact that this crisis is having on the global economy in general and the tourism sector in particular, at 19:00 (Viet Nam time) on 24^th April 2020, Saudi Arabia – the 2020 G20 President organized the G20 Tourism Ministers Virtual Meeting in order to share information and facilitate collaborative action to protect tourism businesses, jobs and support visitors through this unprecedented challenge. 

The meeting had the participation of Ministers, Leaders of Tourism Ministry of G20 countries, 7 guest countries and representative of 4 international organizations (UNWTO, OECD, ILO, WTTC), Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Viet Nam – ASEAN Chairman 2020 country, Mr. Le Quang Tung attended and had speech at the meeting.

Tourism is among the sectors most affected by COVID-19 pandemic, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) preliminarily estimates that a 45% decline in international tourism in 2020, which could rise to &0% if recovery efforts are delayed until September. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has estimated that up to 75 million jobs are at risk. Therefore, it is both urgent and essential that G20 Tourism Ministers commit to working to mitigate the effects of this crisis and set an action plan for smooth recovery.

Deputy Minister Le Quang Tung addressed at the meeting: In the spirit of proactive, not subjective before the pandemic, Vietnam has soon developed and implemented strategies and plans to prevent and control the pandemic comprehensively under well-prepared response scenarios. Up to now, Vietnam has basically controlled the pandemic, prevented the spread in the community, and carried out the "dual task" to ensure the safety of people's lives and health while maintaining the production and business activities and social security.

For the tourism industry, Deputy Minister Le Quang Tung shared that Viet Nam government has implemented urgent measures to support tourism businesses and workers such as the policy of reducing or extending tax; financial support; support from social insurance for tourism businesses and workers. In the coming period of time, for the tourism industry, Vietnam will focus on deploying the following: (1) Gradually recover the service areas directly related to tourism such as airline, transport ... and focus on promoting domestic tourism, creating jobs and income for workers; (2) Deploy measures to ensure absolute safety for visitors; (3) Maximize tourism's contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); (4) Focus on implementing the digital transformation process to promote growth and tourism integration, create new opportunities in market access, increase operational efficiency and promote startups; (5) Commit to accompany international partners, especially G20 countries, to cooperate and develop tourism in accordance with sustainable goals, in accordance with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The G20 Tourism Ministers’ Statement on COVID-19 has been made at the end of the meeting. G20 Tourism Ministers commit to working together to provide support to the sector and welcome the national efforts to mitigate the social and economic impacts of the pandemic. To support economic recovery, G20 Tourism Ministers commit to ensuring a safe travel environment that helps rebuild consumer confidence in the sector, by strengthening regional and international coordination. G20 countries commit to helping tourism sector businesses, especially micro-, small- and medium -sized enterprises and workers to adapt and thrive in a new post-crisis era; to accelerating the transition of the travel and tourism sector onto a more sustainable path – economically, socially and environmentally. G20 Tourism Ministers commit to exchanging experiences and good practices as well as strengthening coordination across governments to improve the resiliency of tourism sector.