Investments Strategy
The investment portfolio was introduced in 2019 as a strategic area of work for UN Tourism with the mission of promoting tourism through traditional and innovative investment services for the development of competitive and sustainable economic growth.
The main objectives are:
- Enhance access to finance and investments by connecting key tourism stakeholders, and public and private capital sources.
- Promote investments that boost economic growth, job creation, and sustainability.
- Develop sustainable investment mechanisms by partnering with key stakeholders to mobilize resources with a positive impact on tourism.
UN Tourism investment services encompass different areas of collaboration to effectively engage with the diverse stakeholders that operate in the sector and amplify the impact:
1. Investment Networks:
- Multilateral Cooperation Agreements: facilitating partnerships and agreements between multiple countries and/or international organizations to streamline investment in tourism. This involves collaborations related to researching trends and niches, updating policies, identifying opportunities, and securing financing. See our guidelines "Tourism doing business" built In collaboration with CAF.
- Public Private Partnerships (PPPs): fostering collaborations between public and private sectors to pool resources and expertise for sustainable tourism investment. These partnerships enhance destination management and promotion, strategic alliances, promote co-investment projects, and implement capacity-building initiatives. See our partnership with IFC*
2. Investment Promotion:
- Specialized Investment Online and Offline Events: organizing forums, information sessions and online webinars where investors, government officials, and stakeholders discuss investment opportunities and challenges in the tourism sector.
- Knowledge of Investments and FDI guidelines: providing guidance and information on investment best practices, through mainly foreign direct investment (FDI) guidelines, to assist countries in attracting and managing investments effectively. See our relevant documents and reports.
3. Investment Mobilization:
- Liaison Investors Pipeline Services: facilitating connections between potential investors and tourism projects through services like information provision, and streamlining the investment process with the member countries.
- Pipeline Development: supporting the development of investment pipelines by supporting the identification of opportunities and promoting viable tourism projects to potential investors.
- Investment Mechanisms: assisting countries with technical knowledge and good practices in establishing effective investment mechanisms such as investment funds, incentives, and regulations to mobilize private sector capital for tourism development.
For more information contact investments@unwto.org.
During 2023, culminating with the celebrations of World Tourism Day on 27 September, UN Tourism placed the focus on Tourism and Green Investments, reflecting the growing consensus among tourism stakeholders that the future of the sector will depend on its ability to balance the needs of People, Planet and Prosperity. These priorities set the criteria for a new global investment framework
- Firstly, investing in people: tourism has long been recognized as a global economic powerhouse, generating substantial employment opportunities, and driving economic growth. As the sector continues to evolve and expand, ensuring a well-trained, empowered, and diverse workforce will be key to its long-term success, economic impact, and sustainability.
- Investing in the planet: the green transformation of tourism is essential, not just for the planet, but also for the sector itself, for boosting competitiveness and increasing resilience. Green investments and innovation must play a leading role in supporting this transformation and the transition to low-carbon and resource-efficient tourism development.
- Investing in prosperity: investments in innovation and digitalization have a multiplier potential to not only strengthen strategic large global and regional projects, but also stimulate the tourism development and safeguard jobs. Smaller enterprises (MSMEs) account for around 80% of all tourism businesses and they need financial support to implement digital solutions.
For more information contact investments@unwto.org.
Investment Guidelines
The series of Tourism Doing Business reports is a tool reference for investors that provides valuable information on countries' investment climate as well as emerging investment opportunities. The publications promote redesigning an investment framework where education, innovation, and sustainability are the fundamental pillars.
Investment Guidelines Series
The multi-dimensional nature of the tourism sector, combined with the dynamics of the source of investment capital presents a complex picture for understanding and measuring tourism investments. At the same time, changing consumer behaviors and expectations, the advantage of technology, and the urgent need for greater sustainability challenge the current business models, and present new opportunities for investors interested in the tourism sector.
Global Reports
Discover the annual reports developed by fDi Intelligence in collaboration with UN Tourism, providing in-depth analysis of key trends, opportunities, and challenges in global tourism investment. These reports serve as a vital resource for industry professionals, investors, and policymakers.