The United Nations (UN) has officially recognized tourism’s significant role in sustainable development by adopting a new tourism employment indicator as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Indicator Framework. This milestone decision, endorsed at the 56th session of the UN Statistical Commission, ensures that tourism employment data will now be systematically monitored worldwide, further reinforcing the sector’s role in economic and social progress.
With this adoption, the number of official UN tourism-related SDG indicators increases from two to three, marking a key advancement in how tourism’s impact is measured beyond GDP contributions. The new indicator, focused on tourism employment statistics, allows policymakers and international organizations to track job creation in the sector and better assess tourism’s contribution to inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
Enhancing Tourism’s Role in Global Development
Tourism is a crucial driver of economic opportunities, particularly in developing economies and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). According to UN Tourism and the International Labour Organization (ILO), between 2015 and 2023, tourism contributed to 5.6% of global employment, providing 127 million jobs in 2023 alone across 89 reporting countries, covering 68% of the world’s population.
The new UN tourism employment indicator will:
Provide comprehensive employment data on tourism-related industries, including accommodations, transportation, and cultural services.
Offer gender-disaggregated data, tracking employment by male/female, employee/self-employed, and across 10 tourism-related industries.
Support national and international tourism policy development, ensuring that tourism-driven employment growth aligns with sustainable development objectives.
A Collaborative Global Initiative
The inclusion of this new indicator was led by Austria, Spain, Saudi Arabia, CARICOM, ILO, and UN Tourism, following extensive research and international consultations. It also integrates data from the Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism, ensuring alignment with existing UN statistical methodologies.
The new indicator’s data will be available on the SDG Global Database and UN Tourism Statistics Database, ensuring public access to comprehensive tourism employment metrics. The UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development will now incorporate these insights into annual SDG progress reports, further integrating tourism employment into global development strategies.
Tourism Employment: A Key Driver of Economic Growth
Small Island Developing States (SIDS), in particular, rely heavily on tourism for employment. UN data shows that tourism accounted for 12.9% of total employment in SIDS, underscoring its economic importance for remote and developing regions.
The UN’s latest initiative recognizes that sustainable tourism not only supports economic growth but also enhances social equity, promoting job creation that benefits local communities, women, and young workers. By tracking tourism employment at a global scale, the new indicator ensures that no one is left behind in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
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