AM NEWSLETTER VOLUME 27. JANUARY 2021
Dear Affiliate Members,
The year 2021 has started with a very important meeting for the Organization: the 113th UNTWO Executive Council, which was held on 18-19 January 2021 in Madrid (Spain). I would like to share my satisfaction for the great visibility of the activities of the Affiliate Members in this relevant event.
The Affiliate Members and the Board of Affiliate Members had an excellent representation through the Communication of the Board, Ms Ana Larrañaga, who presented the main activities carried out by the affiliates since the previous Executive Council, held in September 2020. Among them were the celebration, under excellent conditions in a very difficult context, of our 42nd Plenary Session, and the preparation of our Programme of Work 2021, with excellent proposals from the Affiliate Members in support of the Organization’s priorities. Another important initiative, which was highlighted, was the initiation of the process of the Reform of the Legal Framework for Affiliate Membership, and the creation of a Working Group to achieve this important mandate.
During 2021, the implementation of the Legal Reform will be of high priority for the Affiliate Members Department, and for the UNWTO. This much-needed reform will result in a more modern and efficient functioning of the AM network, and, consequently, in an improved partnership between the Organization and the private sector. Therefore, the contributions of the Affiliate Members in this matter are vital. Hence, the Chair of the Board, with the support of my Department, will organize a series of consultations throughout the year aimed at gathering your very valuable input.
As the new year starts, it is time to work on the activities and plans taking place in 2021, which I am sure we will successfully implement. I want to emphasize that the Affiliate Members currently have a well-deserved opportunity to actively participate in all UNWTO priority initiatives to restart tourism, such as the development of an International Code for the Protection of Tourists.
The participation of the Affiliate Members in the above-mentioned projects, and other key initiatives, will be permanently sustained by a very broad and in-depth consultation with the members of the Board and the entire membership.
We will keep you duly updated on these and other activities taking place this year. I strongly encourage you to actively use the AMConnected platform, and other communication channels, where you will find all information published in due time.
As always, I am at your disposal and look forward to hearing any comment you may have.
Yours sincerely,
Ion Vilcu
