(MENAFN- The Peninsula) joel johnson |
The Peninsula
Doha: Qatar's constant efforts to foster sustainable development and food security in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) has led to a global recognition of aiding fundamental needs enabling the poverty-stricken regions to overcome its hurdles as the country looks forward to hosting the fifth UN LDC conference in Doha commencing today, March 5, 2023, until March 9, 2023.
In an exclusive interview with The Peninsula, Natalia Bayona (pictured), Director of Innovation, Education, and Investments at the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), a UN agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable & accessible tourism, said that the conference, which will take place in Doha will“define plans and establish partnerships” as many world leaders, civil society, private sector, and youth representatives, and other relevant stakeholders will be taking part to strengthen the social, economic, and environmental developments of LDCs for the next decade.
She said:“UNWTO's participation will be focused on presenting recommendations and best practices in tourism innovation and digitalisation. Our side event, titled 'Harnessing Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Tourism as Tools for Sustainable Development in LDCs', will highlight the economic impact of tourism for LDCs, alongside practical solutions offered by UNWTO's startup competition finalists and relevant partners.” As the leading organisation in the world for tourism, UNWTO promotes the sector“as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development, and environmental sustainability.”
During the past 5 years, the department launched 21 startup competitions and had been at the forefront to create global innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.“The tourism sector counts for 7 percent of all international trade and the Least Developed Countries have an enormous potential for growth, as the sector is a major exporter. Assisting them in the process of digital transformation and innovation is strategic for their future and a priority at UNWTO,” Bayona said.
Since 2018, UNWTO has played a vital role in discovering innovative start-up companies and partners to facilitate access to funding, visibility, and capacity building.
She said,“Our newest program, Digital Futures, provides small and middle-sized companies, which make up to 80 percent of the tourism industry, with tailored guidance and tools across five key digital dimensions – connectivity, business growth, e-Commerce, big data and analytics, and payments and security, in partnership with top tech companies such as Mastercard, Amadeus, Cisco or Telefónica.”
At present, there are 47 countries that are classified as LDCs due to their limited access to various services and technologies, according to the LDC Report 2022, produced by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
UNWTO initiates opportunities and resources including Tourism Online Academy to promote education, adding new courses and Arabic translations.
As the LDCs encounters several challenges due to their restricted facilities in the modern era, Bayona highlighted that these issues can be resolved by carrying out unique approaches including“Open Innovation in LDCs is through the creation of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), which help to align the interests of different actors and provide a framework for collaboration. Another approach is to leverage digital technologies that facilitate Open Innovation by allowing contributors to share ideas and collaborate on projects in a virtual environment.”
Bayona noted that these inventive boosts the economy of the countries ultimately benefiting local communities and the environment alike.
“In the area of investments, we will be participating at four regional investment forums, produce two technical investment reports and advance our networking activities with venture capital companies, accelerators, and incubators,” she added.