Photo: choreograph/123rf As UNWTO leads the restart of tourism, the Secretary-General of the United Nations has sent a landmark message to the world, highlighting the sector’s unique role in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and in protecting the most vulnerable members of our societies. "As the world faces the devastating consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourism sector is among those being affected most severely. Travel is down, fear is up, and the future is uncertain. "Tourism is an essential pillar of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The livelihoods of many depend on it, especially women and particularly in the world’s most vulnerable countries, including Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries. Moreover, in many parts of the world, the protection of biodiversity relies heavily on the tourist sector, from conservation to the revenue generated by those efforts. "Tourism can be a platform for overcoming [...]