27 October 2011: The UN Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and the Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) convened a special event on the nexus of Tourism, Biodiversity and Culture in small island developing States (SIDS) in the context of the green economy.

Held at UN Headquarters in New York, US, on 27 October 2011, the event aimed to contribute both to the ongoing discussions in the UN General Assembly’s (UNGA) Second Committee on the sustainable development of SIDS, and to preparations for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20).

According to OHRLLS, tourism plays an important economic role in SIDS and is one of their only development options. However, tourism can degrade the natural environment, and in turn islands’ cultures, upon both of which tourism is dependent.

The event was chaired by the High Representative for LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS, Chieck Sidi Diarra. It featured a keynote presentation by the Secretary-General of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Taleb Rifai, remarks by the chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), Ambassador Dessima Williams of Grenada, and an exchange of views by participants. Participants discussed, inter alia: airline taxation and the need for related data; the need for new investment in remote areas to boost sustainable tourism growth; the establishment of the Steering Committee on Tourism for Development (SCTD); the cost of transportation; and competition for freshwater. [Website of Event, including summary of statements and discussion]