The document discusses the need to rethink tourism policies in light of the COVID-19 pandemic to build a more sustainable tourism system. It notes that international tourism is expected to fall sharply in 2020 and recovery will be uncertain. Key policy priorities include supporting safe return of international tourism, sustaining domestic tourism, and building a more resilient tourism sector focused on environmental and socio-cultural sustainability rather than just visitor numbers. Case studies highlight destinations implementing strategies to mainstream sustainable practices and focus on local needs in their recovery plans. The crisis presents an opportunity to coordinate sustainable tourism policies across levels of government and with industry.

1. RETHINKING THE TOURISM
SYSTEM TO DELIVER
SUSTAINABLE DESTINATION
GROWTH POST-COVID-19
MANAGING TOURISM DEVELOPMENT FOR A SUSTAINABLE RECOVERY:
DESTINATION RESPONSES TO COVID-19 – 19 November 2020

2. TOURISM OUTLOOK UNCERTAIN
• OECD now expects
international tourism to
fall by 80% in 2020
• Sector remains in survival
mode, and stop/start
cycles could delay recovery
• More targeted, agile
policies are needed in an
uncertain and shifting
environment
COVID-19 has dramatically changed
the tourism policy context
KEY POLICY PRIORITIES
Already start to
build toward more
resilient, sustainable
tourism
Evolve response
measures and
address gaps
Provide clear
information and
limit uncertainty
(to extent possible)
Support safe return
of international
tourism
Support tourism
businesses to adapt
and survive
Restore traveller
confidence
Sustain domestic
tourism

3. A greater focus on the environmental and socio-
cultural pillars of sustainability is needed
Tourism ‘success’, should not measured in visitor
numbers alone
Providing the right incentives to promote
sustainability will be a challenge
An integrated approach across policy areas and
levels and engagement with the private sector is
required
A need to rethink the tourism system

4. Policies to meet tourism’s potential
Policy solutions
Rethink
tourism
success
Adopt an integrated policy-
industry-community approach Mainstream sustainable
policies and practices
Better
measurement
for better
management

5. Case studies on destination responses
to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic
Ötscher-
Tormäuer
(Austria)
Switzerland
Tourism
Bay of
Plenty
(New
Zealand)
Finland
Kyoto
(Japan)
Corsica
(France)
Benidorm
(Spain)
The case studies
highlight how
destinations are
rethinking the tourism
system with a greater
focus on sustainability

6. Destination case studies - examples
Corsica (France)
is implementing a
roadmap for tourism
sustainability to
mainstream green
measures in its long-
term recovery
Kyoto (Japan)
where the DMO is
positioning its
recovery strategy to
focus on the needs of
locals and to support
sustainable growth
Ötscher-Tormäuer
(Austria)
the nature park took
steps, post COVID-19, to
reinforce its sustainable
destination strategy, and
to respond to changes in
demand

7. Crisis is an opportunity to rethink tourism
for the future
7
Need to reinforce co-ordination mechanisms to
support tourism SMEs, workers and destinations in the
recovery phase
Consider the long term implications of the crisis,
beyond impact mitigation and reopening
Recovery plans and programmes should encourage the
digital, low carbon, and structural transitions

8. Find out more at the OECD COVID-19 Hub
8
OECD Coronavirus Hub
http://www.oecd.org/coronavirus/
policy-responses/rebuilding-
tourism-for-the-future-covid-19-
policy-responses-and-recovery-
bced9859//