16. 在 COVID-19 大流行前，旅游业几十年来保持稳定增长，为社会经济发展和就业创造了巨大的直接和间接利益。然而，这种增长也在目的地承载能力、对自然和文化资源及对社区社会结构的影响、气候变化以及旅游业收入的公平分配方面带来了严峻挑战。秘书长题为“COVID-19 大流行与旅游业转型”的政策简报表明，疫情对旅游业的影响波及各大洲的经济、生计、公共服务和机会。虽然必须优先维持依赖旅游业的生计，但重建旅游业也是一个实现转型的机会，重点是通过创新、数字化、可持续性和伙伴关系，利用旅游业对目的地的影响，建设更具复原力的社区和商业。
16. Prior to COVID-19, the tourism sector recorded steady growth over decades, creating significant benefits – both direct and indirect – in terms of socioeconomic development and employment. However, this growth also brought important challenges related to the carrying capacity of destinations, the impact on natural and cultural resources and on communities’ social structures, climate change, and a fair distribution of income generated by the sector. The Secretary-General’s policy brief, entitled “COVID-19 and Transforming Tourism”, shows that the impact of the pandemic on tourism affects economies, livelihoods, public services and opportunities on all continents. While sustaining the livelihoods dependent on the sector must be a priority, rebuilding tourism is also an opportunity for transformation, with a focus on leveraging its impact on the destinations visited and building more resilient communities and businesses through innovation, digitization, sustainability and partnerships.