UNWTO in 2024 - Advancing Priorities and Moving Closer to Members

A new year brings new opportunities for global tourism. UNWTO has identified the priorities for the sector: investments, education, youth empowerment, and sustainability.

International tourism to end 2023 close to 90% of pre-pandemic levels

The latest UNWTO data shows that international tourism has almost completely recovered from the unprecedented crisis of COVID-19 with many destinations reaching or even exceeding pre-pandemic arrivals and receipts

Towards COP28 and building skills

UNWTO, in joint collaboration with NOAH Regen, has taken a further step forward in rethinking tourism financing with the launch of the UN NetZero Facility and Re-PLANET Capital Fund Ecosystem.

Transforming Tourism Through Education and Youth Employment

UNWTO celebrated the biggest Ministers Summit on record as it brought tourism leaders together on the opening day of the World Travel Market in London to focus on education and skills development.

The 25th UNWTO General Assembly concludes with a focus on education, investments and sustainability

The General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization met for the 25th time in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. With global tourism on track to reach up to 95% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of this year, the Assembly brought tourism leaders together to advance a clear vision for the long-term transformation of the sector around clear priorities.

Bringing tourism together: To support jobs, communities and the planet

The General Assembly met for the 25th time in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. It reflects the broad diversity of the sector, with delegations from 117 countries, including 70 Ministerial level representatives.

Investing in tourism means investing in opportunity

The UNWTO Global investments Forum took place yesterday opening a platform to discuss tourism investments with Ministers, CEOs and investment experts.

Opening of the 25th UNWTO General Assembly

UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili, welcomed delegates to the 25th UNWTO General Assembly, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Samarkand Welcomes Tourism Leaders to 25th UNWTO General Assembly

Samarkand, located in the southeastern part of Uzbekistan and melting pots of culture is set for the 25th UNWTO General Assembly.

Investing in Tourism means Investing in a more Sustainable Future

The stage is all set for World Tourism Day on 27 September. Under the theme "Tourism and Green Investments", this year's official celebration will be hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in its capital city, Riyadh. The celebrations will be the biggest and most impactful since the Day was first held back in 1980, with hundreds of high-level tourism leaders to join in person.

Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals through tourism

The meeting of the G20 economies (New Delhi, India, 9-10 September) recognized the "opportunity to build a better future [through] development models that implement sustainable, inclusive and just transitions globally, while leaving no one behind".

For a tourism that protects our planet

At the 66th meeting of the UNWTO Regional Commission for Africa, Member States joined to focus on opportunities around tourism jobs and investments while also recognizing the vital need to address challenges including the climate crisis.

A 360 Approach to Sustainability in Tourism

Reflecting the unprecedented relevance of tourism on the UN agenda, UNWTO brought together leaders from the public and private sectors for a high-level roundtable at the official side event on "Economic, Social, and Environmental Sustainability in Tourism".

Uniting the World of Tourism

UNWTO has developed with the G20 economies a roadmap for making tourism a central pillar of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Advancing global cooperation for a better tourism

UNWTO celebrated its Regional Commissions for Europe, the Middle East and Asia and the Pacific to take stock of the current situation and map a shared way forward.

Education, Investments, Sustainability

With global tourism on track to reach pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year, UNWTO convened its Executive Council to advance plans to place education, investments and sustainability at the centre of the sector's future.

Tourism Bounces Back

International tourism is well on its way to returning to pre-pandemic levels, with twice as many people travelling during the first quarter of 2023 than in the same period of 2022.

Tourism for the Global Goals

Held under the theme "Tourism and Sports United for Sustainability", the Congress focused on key issues such as sports tourism's economic impact and its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

UN TOURISM NEWS #58

Building on a Memorandum of Understanding signed between both UN agencies in 2020, the high-level meeting focused on intensifying tourism's contribution to rural development.

UN TOURISM NEWS #57

The "From Potential to Prosperity" conference in Doha came at the pivotal half-way point towards implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Global Goals.

UN TOURISM NEWS #56

Tourism is on track to achieve full recovery this year and ready to deliver on its potential as a pillar of peace and sustainability, UNWTO has told sector leaders at ITB in Berlin.

UN TOURISM NEWS #55

It contains tools to support national, regional, local and other tourism institutions apply an approach to tourism planning, programming and implementation that integrates gender equality and women's economic empowerment.

UN TOURISM NEWS #54

At FITUR 2023, UNWTO served as the bridge between public and private leaders to advance plans to build a more diverse, resilient and sustainable tourism sector.

UNWTO 2022: A Year in Review

2022 has been the year to rethink tourism.
Countries around the world turned UNWTO’s vision for a greener, smarter and more inclusive sector into real action.

2020 showed the relevance of tourism for sustainable development.
2021 laid the foundations for the transformation of the sector.
In 2022, we made it happen.

Moving tourism forward into 2023

From Austria to Vietnam, 32 destinations from all around the world have been named as ‘Best Tourism Villages 2022’ by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

Special edition | 117 Executive Council

Tourism leaders from every global region have met to advance plans to transform the sector against a backdrop of challenges old and new.

Tourism Transformed at UNWTO Ministers’ Summit

“Our job is to create jobs,” UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili told tourism sector leaders gathered at the Ministers’ Summit at the World Travel Market to discuss how education, sustainability, and governance must be transformed to advance tourism for development.

Advancing a Greener, Smarter and Safer Tourism

Destinations around the world are reporting significant advances in sustainable tourism, with timely evidence and analytics serving as key tools for transformation as the sector’s recovery continues to get underway.

Bringing Together the Global Tourism Community

Held around the theme of ‘Rethinking Tourism’, the Global Day of Observation emphasized the sector’s unique potential to drive recovery and deliver positive change for people everywhere.

The sector gets ready to rethink tourism On World Tourism Day

“Rethink Tourism”: Sector Gets Ready to Celebrate World Tourism Day 2022

The countdown to World Tourism Day 2022 is now underway, with every part of the sector invited to be an active part of the annual celebrations.

Tourism Grows Back, Mindful Of Tests To Come

According to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, international tourism saw a strong rebound in the first five months of 2022, with almost 250 million international arrivals recorded. This compares to 77 million arrivals from January to May 2021 and means that the sector has recovered almost half (46%) of pre-pandemic 2019 levels.

Tourism for Youth Empowerment

The Global Youth Tourism Summit (GYTS) is a new platform, developed by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), that aims to empower youth to take an active part in decision-making processes within the tourism sector.

Tourism Moves Beyond Recovery

Tourism is united and determined like never before, and UNWTO is guiding it forward, with inclusivity and sustainability at the very heart of all our work.

Coordination, Digitalization and Safety at the Heart of Tourism’s Restart

The American Members of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) have met to assess the current state of the sector and plan for its sustainable future. The 67th meeting of the UNWTO Regional Commission for the Americas brought tourism leaders from across the region together in the leading destination of Punta del Este, Uruguay.

Tourism United for Peace and Understanding

RUSSIA SUSPENDED FROM UNWTO: Meeting for a first extraordinary UNWTO General Assembly, Members debated the suspension of Russia from the Organization. The Russian delegation avoided to step up and defend its position, and instead announced its withdrawal from UNWTO before the debate took place.

Tourism Grows Amidst Uncertainty

International tourism continued its recovery in January 2022, with a much better performance compared to the weak start to 2021. However, the Russian invasion of Ukraine adds pressure to existing economic uncertainties, coupled with many Covid-related travel restrictions still in place.

Tourism Raises its voice for Peace

After two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, people, as well as our whole societies and economies, have suffered enough. We cannot afford for this to continue. We must rebuild and look to the future with hope, not fear.

UN Tourism News | FITUR 2022 Edition

The first 2022 issue of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer indicates that rising rates of vaccination, combined with easing of travel restrictions due to increased cross-border coordination and protocols, have all helped release pent up demand.

UNWTO and CNN #RestartTourism

Millions of people missed chances to explore different places and embrace different cultures and customs. And the world lost out on opportunities for tourism to create jobs, support businesses, kick-start development, and to protect and preserve the very things we leave our homes to see.

UN Tourism News - #18

UNWTO has guided the tourism sector since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis and we will keep calling on the global tourism community to mitigate the economic and social cost of the pandemic with safety and responsibility for millions across the world.

75 years on, this mission is more relevant than ever

The United Nations, of which UNWTO is proud to be a part, was established to promote peace among nations and allow us to work together to build a better future for all.

75 years on, this mission is more relevant than ever.

Work together to build a tourism sector that works for everyone,

Work together to build a tourism sector that works for everyone, where sustainability and innovation are part of everything we do.

Executive Council Special Edition

Tourism can be a force for good in our world, playing a part in protecting our planet and its biodiversity, and celebrating what makes us human: from discovering new places and cultures to connecting with new people and experiences.

COVID-19 Responses Must Not Undermine Solidarity and Confidence

This goes hand-in-hand with a responsibility to preserve the spirit of international solidarity that has characterized our response to this shared crisis, a response that has included international institutions, the civil society at large and individual citizens.

As Tourism Restarts, Our Responsibilities Remain

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has welcomed Spain’s readiness to lead the way in restarting tourism. The head of the United Nations specialized agency attended a meeting with Spanish President Pedro Sánchez in Madrid today to learn about his government’s work to ease restrictions on travel introduced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

RESTARTING TOURISM

“Tourism can be a platform for overcoming the pandemic. By bringing people together, tourism can promote solidarity and trust”: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

UN TOURISM NEWS - #12

UNWTO Secretary-General calls for tourism as a key role in spreading trust more widely, with benefits traveling far beyond tourism itself.

UN Tourism News: Words Alone Will Not Save Jobs

Who is doing what and where? To help the global tourism sector monitor a rapidly-evolving situation and make the right decisions at the right time, UNWTO has launched an interactive map of local and international policy responses to the challenge of COVID-19.

#TravelTomorrow

Staying home today means traveling tomorrow: UNWTO’s key message, emphasizing our shared responsibility to put people first, to be patient and to prepare for the time when tourism can lead recovery efforts, has resonated around the world.

Responsibility and Coordination!

UNWTO and WHO Joint Statement on COVID-19

As the current outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) continues to develop, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) are committed to working together in guiding the travel and tourism sectors’ response to COVID-19.

FITUR 2020 Edition

We are at the beginning of the United Nations “Decade of Action”. With just 10 years remaining to fulfill the 2030 Agenda and its Global Goals, UNWTO is making sure tourism is at the heart of the conversation. 

2020 Happy New Year

Highlights: General Assembly, Chimelong and World Tourism Day.
Key Reports: Women in Tourism, CO₂ and Tourism and Indigenous Tourism.
Key Data: Tourism Growth, Tourism Across the World and Tourism Data Dashboard.
And more... 

Tourism’s Carbon Emissions Measured in Landmark Report Launched At COP25

World leaders met in Madrid for the UN Climate Summit, COP25, and UNWTO was there representing the transformative power of tourism. At a special official side event, UNWTO released a landmark new report analysing the carbon emissions of the different modes of transport in the tourism sector. 

54% Female: How tourism is leading the way in gender equality

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), in collaboration with UN Women, The German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), World Bank Group and Amadeus, has launched the long-awaited second edition of the Global Report on Women in Tourism.

General Assembly a Great Success as Members Welcome Palau and Look to the Future

UNWTO’s Member States unanimously welcomed Palau as a full Member at the General Assembly. The Pacific nation is made up of 240 islands and is committed to growing its tourism sector in a responsible and sustainable manner.

General Assembly Adopts Global Convention on Tourism Ethics.

In St Petersburg yesterday, the UNWTO General Assembly officially adopted the International Convention on Tourism Ethics. This is a big step forward as UNWTO works to make the global tourism sector fairer, more ethical and more transparent.

UNWTO Awards Celebrate the Best in Accessible and Sustainable Tourism

Cities making big strides forward in sustainability and accessible tourism were the big winners in St Petersburg last night

Welcome to UN Tourism News

This new online publication from UNWTO will bring you the latest news and insights relating to tourism and development around the globe.

UN Tourism News #38

The Global Tourism Plastics Initiative has welcomed a further 21 signatories, taking the total number past 110. The new signatories have been announced alongside the launch of a first annual report, which makes clear the significant progress made in tackling plastics pollution in tourism over the past year.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY SPECIAL EDITION

Tourism leaders from all regions arrived in Madrid for the 24th Session of the UNWTO General Assembly. Ministers of Tourism were joined by representatives of international organizations and from across the private sector for the first truly global tourism meeting to be held since the start of the pandemic, with innovation, education and investments high on the agenda.

UN Tourism News #35

The 24th Session of the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization will conclude today with tourism ministers pledging to coordinate with their respective governments to restart tourism. The all-important tourism meeting discussed the way forward to get tourism moving in a safe manner.

UN Tourism News #34

24th General Assembly reappoints Zurab Pololikashvili for second term as Secretary General
The Secretary General of the UNWTO Zurab Pololikashjvili received an overwhelming endorsement by the General Assembly to lead the UN Specialized Agency for a second term for 2022-2025.

UN Tourism News #33

The 24th session of the UNWTO General Assembly opens today with over 1,000 representatives meeting in the Spanish Capital of Madrid to chart a new path for an accelerated safe tourism recovery. The all-important meeting is expected to launch new initiatives which will be inclusive in the quest to save livelihoods. Amongst the initiatives to be launched are the Digital Futures Programme for SMEs, designed to help small tourism businesses take advantage of the benefits of innovation.

UN Tourism News #32

The Spanish capital of Madrid has welcomed tourism leaders, both public and private to the 24th UNWTO General Assembly. The Spanish capital, which also serves as the headquarters of the UNWTO will in the next three days be the beehive of activities as the tourism sector chart a new path to an accelerated recovery. In line with the UNWTO’s core priorities, the General Assembly will focus on building for the future through innovation, education and tourism for rural development.

24th UNWTO General Assembly for Tourism’s Restart

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) will hold the 24th General Assembly in Madrid, Spain, from 30 November to 3 December 2021.

UN TOURISM NEWS #30

International tourism enjoyed signs of rebound in June and July 2021 as some destinations eased travel restrictions and the global vaccination rollout advanced in many parts of the world.

Join World Tourism Day!

Official Message by the Secretary-General, UN
On World Tourism Day, we recognize the power and potential of tourism to advance prosperity and drive inclusive, sustainable development. The tourism sector touches almost every part of our economies and societies, enabling historically marginalized people and those at risk of being left behind to benefit from development that is local and direct.

UN Tourism News #28

The biggest crisis in the history of tourism continues into a second year. Between January and May, international tourist arrivals were 85% below 2019 levels (or a 65% drop on 2020), UNWTO data shows. Despite a small uptick in May, the emergence of COVID-19 variants and the continued imposition of restrictions are weighing on the recovery of international travel.

UN Tourism News #27

The crash in international tourism due to the coronavirus pandemic could cause a loss of more than $4 trillion to the global GDP for the years 2020 and 2021, according to an UNCTAD report published on 30 June. The report, jointly presented with the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), says international tourism and its closely linked sectors suffered an estimated loss of $2.4 trillion in 2020.

UN Tourism News #26

International tourist arrivals were down 83% in the first quarter of 2021 as widespread travel restrictions remained in place. However, the UNWTO Confidence Index shows signs of a slow uptick in confidence.

UN TOURISM NEWS #25 | FITUR EDITION

The decision to host FITUR is the kind of boldness we need if we are to restart tourism and so kickstart wider recovery

Reestablishing trust in travel is a key first step towards tourism recovery

Tourism leaders in the Americas committed to jointly addressing the reactivation of tourism, making the sector a priority and adopting international protocols. Additionally, they agreed to emphasize innovation and digital transformation, develop sustainable tourism and strengthen support mechanisms for workers and impacted companies.

UN Tourism News #23 | #RestartTourism

Now more than ever, tourism needs strong political support and joined-up action. Harmonized travel and health rules are essential to restore confidence and restart tourism

One year ago today: WHO defined the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic

It has been a year like no other. The COVID-19 pandemic brought global tourism to a near-complete standstill. From the very start, UNWTO united a sector in crisis, provided guidance in times of uncertainty, and offered expert support to Member States in every global region. Now, as the pandemic enters a second year, we look back at key events and developments, from being tourism's first responder to leading the shift towards recovery and the restart of tourism.

This crisis is an opportunity to rethink the tourism sector #RestartTourism

Tourism is adapting to the new reality and we face the future with optimism and with the backing of our Members

Exploring safe travel in the age of vaccines

The rollout of vaccines is a step in the right direction, but the restart of tourism cannot wait. Vaccines must be part of a wider, coordinated approach that includes certificates and passes for safe cross-border travel. In the longer-term, we also need to restore confidence in tourism. The United for Travel campaign will help us achieve this, providing a clear and strong message that safe tourism is now possible.