Mayors, or equivalent city representatives, attended the Mayors’ Roundtable to share various insights on revitalizing local tourism and strengthen global partnerships to promote sustainable development together with participating global tourism cities at the 1st Global City Tourism Summit under the theme, “Promoting Local Tourism and Culture through Innovation and Cooperation.”

We, the mayors or equivalent city representatives, recognize that local tourism and culture through international cooperation are key factors for sustainable development and the enhancement of local identity. Gathered here together, we aim to foster a more inclusive and sustainable tourism ecosystem through innovation and cooperation. This joint statement outlines our collective commitment to promoting collaboration among global tourism cities, respecting local cultures, and maximizing the positive impacts of tourism through innovative approaches.

Local tourism, based on a region’s unique culture and identity, exists within the daily lives and values of local residents and tourists, providing tourists with profound novel experiences, while contributing to the development of the local economy and culture. Local tourism provides important clues to strengthen the global competitiveness of regional tourism and revitalize local economies. We endeavor to develop and propose future-oriented tourism policies based on local tourism and support local governments in their implementation.

Innovation and technology play a pivotal role in enhancing local tourism and the quality of tourists’ experiences, as well as assisting in the efficient management of local resources, and boosting competitiveness within the global market. From the tourist’s perspective, technology provides personalized local experiences tailored to their interests and preferences, thereby fostering a deeper understanding and connection to the local culture. From the local resident’s perspective, it supports them in utilizing technology to directly develop and promote tourism content, thereby fostering economic independence and participation. We are committed to leveraging digital and smart technologies to support enriching experiences for both tourists and local residents.

A local tourism-based collaborative network enhances social inclusion through the participation of local residents, strengthens connectivity between global tourism cities, and promotes sustainable development. We aim to provide education and opportunities for local residents to participate as key stakeholders within the tourism industry, as well as strengthen intercity networks to share best practices, innovative examples, and policies. We strive to engage in collaboration with local governments, institutions, academia, and the private sector to proactively respond to global tourism trends and ensure that a region’s economic benefits are felt by the local community.

We aim to build up a sustainable and resilient global tourism ecosystem centered on local tourism and regional culture, preserving local identity, expanding economic inclusion, and achieving balanced development between the environment and culture. We seek to reexamine the challenges facing local tourism and recognize the role cities must play in fostering the development of sustainable resilient urban tourism. We also emphasize the importance of strengthening tourism resilience and crisis preparedness to address global challenges, such as health emergencies, natural disasters, and economic disruptions, thereby ensuring the long-term continuity of local tourism. We strive to pursue the eco-friendly and responsible development of the tourism sector for future generations by balancing environmental, economic, and sociocultural factors.

The specific action plans for this joint statement, incorporating the four key principles, are as follows. All participating cities may jointly implement and actively engage in this action plan.

We, the Leaders (Mayors) and Representatives of the participating cities, recognize the Global City Tourism Summit as a platform for global dialogue and collaborative action to advance sustainable urban tourism. The summit has been jointly established and is co-hosted by Busan Metropolitan City and the Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities (TPO), which forms the foundation for its international participation and longterm vision. We agree to actively engage in future summits and to support its regular convening on an annual basis through continued participation and collaboration to ensure long-term continuity, a shared vision, and collective progress.

We seek to contribute to the development of a shared vision for sustainable urban tourism, with a view towards 2040. To align the four key principles, participating cities are invited to submit proposed mid to longterm action plans ahead of the next summit. These submissions will form the basis for future dialogue and joint initiatives amongst participating cities.

We commit to moving beyond dialogue to active collaboration. Participating cities will endeavor to convene or contribute thematic seminars, workshops, or events before the next summit, focusing on the four key principles and share good practices through online or offline platforms.

The actions arising from this joint statement, rooted in our shared principles, are to be jointly implemented by participating cities. Busan Metropolitan City, as the host of the Global City Tourism Summit, will manage overall coordination and operational follow-up in collaboration with TPO and participating cities. The Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities, as the co-host and a leading international tourism organization, will encourage participating cities to actively implement the commitments, facilitate intercity cooperation, ensure the continuity of the summit, and advance shared objectives through its platform.

We solemnly pledge to respect the unique identities and diversity of each respective city, and through this statement, to jointly pursue the future of sustainable tourism based on local tourism and culture through international cooperation between cities. We hereby commit to mutual cooperation and support in achieving this shared vision.