SDG #8 is to “Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.”
Within SDG #8 are 12 targets, of which we here focus on Target 8.9:
By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products
Target 8.9 has one indicator:
Indicator 8.9.1: Tourism direct GDP as a proportion of total GDP and in growth rate
This target introduces us to the work of another of the UN agencies, UN Tourism.
Tourism direct GDP, as measured in this Target’s sole indicator is the value-added by all industries contributing to tourism.
The global share of tourism direct GDP as a proportion of gross world product is 2.54% as of 2021. This is lower than at the adoption of the SDGs in 2015, when it was 3.75%.
The world leaders among countries with data in the SDG period are Fiji with 12% in 2019. For those with more recent data up to 2021, the leaders were Greece and UAE with 6%.
