Tourism’s Role in Sustainable Growth Highlighted by Mayor Altay

The President of the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and Mayor of Konya Metropolitan Municipality, Uğur Ibrahim Altay, attended the 6th Urban Economy Forum held in Canada.

Speaking at the opening session of the forum, which was hosted by the Municipality of Kitchener in Canada and attended by mayors and local leaders from various parts of the world, Mayor Altay expressed his great pleasure in participating in the forum, where they would discuss the tremendous potential of tourism as a driving force for sustainable economic growth. He also thanked Kitchener Mayor and UCLG Co-President Berry Vrbanovic for organizing the forum.

Continuing his speech by emphasizing that tourism is one of the most important forces for development, Mayor Altay stated, “With the rise of globalization and the growth of economies, tourism has perhaps become the fastest-growing sector in the world. However, not everything is as rosy as it seems. Tourism, or more precisely, the mismanagement of tourism and the burden of overtourism, is leading to conflicts between local communities and visitors in many tourist destinations. Historical sites are worn down due to overcrowding, and centuries-old natural areas are being sacrificed to meet the need for further economic growth. We are facing two contrasting situations here. While tourism revitalizes local economies, it also puts immense pressure on land use, increases pollution, and harms natural habitats. Additionally, it leads to the degradation of environmental resources, accelerating the negative effects of climate change.”

Mayor Altay pointed out that tourism is responsible for about 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions and that global tourist movements are expected to reach approximately 2 billion people by 2030. He remarked, “We need to emphasize whether there is a way to travel sustainably. The answer to the question of how we can protect the resources people want to visit is this: We can stop cutting the branch we are sitting on by taking immediate action.”

Mayor Altay emphasized that the most important way to protect historical and natural assets is to strive to end the ongoing wars and conflicts around the world. He said, “The wars continuing in many parts of the world, especially in Gaza and Ukraine, are not only taking the lives of tens of thousands of innocent people but also leading to the destruction of many religious and cultural structures. Israel is killing tens of thousands of people in Palestine before the eyes of the world. Moreover, by carrying out indiscriminate and reckless bombings, it is destroying historical and cultural structures along with the innocent, betraying humanity. According to them, no person or value that is not one of their own deserves to exist. If we are to protect the values of this planet, we must first find a solution to eradicate these malignant thoughts and actions. In short, in order to prevent cultural destruction and protect historical heritage, it is essential to re-establish a climate of peace and brotherhood,” he concluded.