Daily Press Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General.
Highlights:
- Tourism
- Middle East
- UNRWA
- Lebanon
- Yemen
- Afghanistan
- Syria
- UN Peacekeeping
- Moldova
- Digital Financing
TOURISM
The Secretary-General’s Policy Brief looking at the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism was published today.
In a video message, the Secretary-General called tourism one of the world’s most important economic sectors, employing one in every ten people.
He called tourism itself one of the wonders of the world, which is why it is so painful to see how tourism has been devastated by the pandemic.
The Secretary-General said that in the first five months of this year, international tourist arrivals decreased by more than half and some $320 billion in exports from tourism were lost. Overall, 120 million direct jobs in tourism are at risk, and the crisis is an emergency for developing nations.
Mr. Guterres stressed that it is important that we rebuild the tourism sector in a way that is safe, equitable and climate friendly.
MIDDLE EAST
The Security Council held an open video teleconference on the situation in the Middle East. Briefing was Nickolay Mladenov, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. In his remarks he reiterated how the Secretary-General has welcomed the agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, saying he hopes it will create an opportunity for Israeli and Palestinian leaders to re-engage.
Mr. Mladenov noted that the deal has the potential to change dynamics across the region, creating new opportunities for cooperation at a time when the Middle East and the world face grave dangers from COVID-19 as well as radicalization. He added that it will create new economic opportunities and opportunities for peace. He also voiced concern over the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) and in Israel. The UN and partners have continued to support Palestinians in responding to the pandemic, including by addressing critical gaps in medical supplies and equipment.
Full Highlights: [ Ссылка ]
