The first UNWTO Sustainable Urban Tourism Forum, organised by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Portuguese Ministry of Economy and the Municipality of Lisbon, ended Friday in Lisbon. The event brought together mayors and high-level representatives from cities around the world, UN agencies and the private sector.
Under the theme "Cities for all: building cities for residents and visitors", the forum addressed issues and solutions for tourism development and management in cities to promote economic growth, social inclusion and environmental sustainability.
At a time of intense debate on the growing number of tourists and the liveability and sustainability of cities, the forum exchanged ideas and good practices on urban tourism and destination management, discussed innovative tools and public policies on urban tourism at national and local level and ways to promote the integration of tourism in a broader national and local urban development agenda.
The forum adopted the Lisbon Declaration on Sustainable Urban Tourism, with which participants reinforce their commitment to align urban tourism policies with the United Nations' New Urban Agenda and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, namely Goal 11 - Make cities and communities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
The Lisbon Declaration on Sustainable Urban Tourism will be presented at the 23rd Session of the UNWTO General Assembly in September this year in St. Petersburg, Russia.