United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
| Section | Details |
|---|---|
| Introduction | – Establishment: The UNWTO is a specialized agency of the United Nations, serving as the leading international organization in the field of tourism. – Purpose: To promote responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism, fostering economic growth, inclusive development, and environmental sustainability. – Headquarters: Madrid, Spain. |
| Objectives | – Promote Tourism: Encourage the development of tourism as a driver of economic growth and inclusive development. – Sustainable Development: Advocate for sustainable tourism practices that preserve cultural and natural heritage. – Global Cooperation: Facilitate international cooperation in tourism to enhance socio-economic progress. – Technical Assistance: Provide member states with expertise and assistance in tourism policy and planning. |
| Members as of December 2024 | – Composition: The UNWTO comprises 159 Member States, 6 Associate Members, and over 500 Affiliate Members representing the private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations, and local tourism authorities. – Recent Memberships: As of December 2024, no new members have been added since the previous year. |
| Reports/Indices | – UNWTO World Tourism Barometer: Provides insights on international tourism trends and statistics. – Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals – Journey to 2030: Aims to align tourism policies with the Sustainable Development Goals. – Global Greenfield Investment in Tourism Reflects Resilience and Shift Toward Sustainability in 2024: Analyzes investment trends in the tourism sector. – International Tourism to Reach Pre-Pandemic Levels in 2024: Reports on the recovery of international tourism post-pandemic. – International Tourist Arrivals Hit 96% of Pre-Pandemic Levels Through July 2024: Provides data on tourism recovery rates. |
| Instruments | – Global Code of Ethics for Tourism: A comprehensive set of principles to guide stakeholders in tourism development. – Framework Convention on Tourism Ethics: Aims to ensure global ethical standards in tourism. – International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO): Monitors the environmental, social, and economic impacts of tourism. |
| Structure | – General Assembly: The supreme organ of UNWTO, meeting biennially to approve the budget and program of work. – Executive Council: Responsible for ensuring that the Organization carries out its work and adheres to its budget. – Secretary-General: Leads the Secretariat and implements the decisions of the General Assembly and Executive Council. – Regional Commissions: Six commissions representing Africa, the Americas, East Asia and the Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia. |
| Subsidiary Organs | – World Committee on Tourism Ethics: Oversees the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism. – Programme and Budget Committee: Assists in the preparation and implementation of the program of work and budget. |
| Committees | – Committee on Tourism and Competitiveness: Focuses on enhancing the quality and competitiveness of tourism destinations. – Committee on Tourism and Sustainability: Promotes sustainable tourism practices among member states. – Committee on Statistics and the Tourism Satellite Account: Develops tourism statistics and measurement standards. |
| Initiatives | – One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme: Encourages sustainable consumption and production patterns in tourism. – UNWTO Academy: Provides education and training programs to build tourism capacity. – Technical Cooperation and Services: Offers assistance to member states in tourism development and management. – Tourism Data Dashboard: Provides comprehensive tourism statistics and insights. – World Tourism Day: Celebrated annually on September 27 to foster awareness of tourism’s social, cultural, political, and economic value. |
