Overview

Tourism can be a powerful driver of local economic development, but its resilience depends on whether the people and communities most affected by tourism are meaningfully included in decision-making. This session will explore how governments, businesses, civil society, communities and other stakeholders can strengthen participation and advance more inclusive, sustainable and rights-respecting tourism systems. Panelists will share practical examples and emerging practices in community engagement, responsible business conduct, inclusive tourism enterprises, and approaches to identifying and addressing human rights risks. The discussion will also examine persistent challenges, including power imbalances, limited representation of marginalized groups, informal employment, regulatory gaps, and the difficulty of translating sustainability and inclusion commitments into measurable outcomes. The session will conclude by identifying practical opportunities for collaborative action and more resilient tourism businesses and destinations.

Who should attend?

Tourism businesses and industry associations; government policymakers and tourism authorities; civil society and community organizations; workers and rights-holder representatives; sustainability, ESG and human rights practitioners; development organizations and international agencies; researchers and academics working on tourism, development, sustainability or business and human rights; and entrepreneurs developing inclusive and community-based tourism models.

What participants will gain

• Understand how meaningful stakeholder participation can strengthen tourism resilience

• Explore the untapped potential of inclusive tourism as a sustainable business opportunity

• Leave with actionable ideas for cross-sector collaboration