UN Tourism has welcomed the first students enrolled on its pioneering degree course in International Sustainable Tourism.
Developed in collaboration with the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), the three-year Bachelor of Science in International Sustainable Tourism is designed to train graduates capable of leading the sector toward a more sustainable future.
For the first academic year, 30 students were welcomed to Madrid, representing six different countries (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, Georgia, and Switzerland). The Degree course is designed to equip students equipped with the skills to innovate, to drive change, and to make decisions that promote both economic growth and environmental stewardship.
UN Tourism Executive Director, Natalia Bayona says: "The tourism sector needs skilled people with diverse knowledge and innovative vision, and the Bachelor in International Sustainable Tourism was created to accompany tourism leaders on their journey into the future. With approximately 880,000 jobs in the tourism sector requiring specialised training annually by 2030, this degree programme is not just an educational initiative, but a transformative force. It is essential to cultivate the talent needed to drive the sector forward, ensuring sustainable growth and innovation."
Higher education is vital to building a sustainable tourism sector, a priority outlined in UN Tourism's educational roadmap. As one of the most dynamic and rapidly growing sectors, tourism holds a unique position as the largest employer of global youth, with over 50% of its workforce under the age of 25. However, despite this potential, young people face significant challenges. While youth make up 16% of the global population, more than one in five began this decade without being engaged in education, employment, or training. At the same time, the global tourism sector faces a shortage of skilled personnel, particularly in customer service and managerial roles.
This first undergraduate program from UN Tourism program represents a critical step towards bridging this gap. International diversity is achieved by targeting students from all over the world and with teaching taking place in Madrid Lucerne and online. Spain and Switzerland are two countries ranked among the top ten in the World Economic Forum's tourism competitiveness index—Spain being second and Switzerland tenth globally.
The vision of HSLU and UN Tourism is to create a universally accessible programme that empowers the future-oriented transformation of the entire tourism sector.
UN Tourism and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), have partnered to advance Sports Tourism on a global scale.
The new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) marks a step forward in the partnership between the two organisations, highlighting their mutual dedication to advancing sustainable practices and raising awareness about the positive impact of Sports Tourism on destinations. By combining expertise and influence, it aims to leverage the power of world-class sporting events to drive tourism, economic growth, and sustainability.
Our partnership with the Affiliate Member FIA is a crucial step forward in realising this potential
The MoU was signed by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sualyem and UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili during the Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend in Monza, Italy.
UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: "The intersection of sports and tourism offers immense potential for sustainable development, economic growth, and the promotion of cultural exchange. Our partnership with the Affiliate Member FIA is a crucial step forward in realising this potential."
Joining the Secretary-General in signing the agreement, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, said: "This partnership with UN Tourism is a testament to the FIA's unwavering commitment to sustainable tourism and social responsibility. By aligning our global initiatives with UN Tourism's mission, we are not only promoting responsible travel but also setting new benchmarks for sustainability across all FIA events. Our dedication extends beyond advocacy; we are actively implementing sustainable practices, educating future generations, and driving meaningful change in the world of sports and tourism.
UN Tourism and FIA: 40 years of collaboration
Over 40 years of Affiliate Membership with UN Tourism, the FIA has served as the leading entity in the field of global motorsports and sustainable tourism. Under Ben Sulayem's leadership, the Federation oversees some of the world's most prestigious motor racing events, including Formula 1, which draws millions of international fans and significantly boosts local tourism in host cities.
In recognition of his contributions, FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been appointed as UN Tourism's Ambassador for Sustainable Tourism, in the category of "Sport". This appointment highlights his dedication to integrating sustainability into motorsport events and activities, promoting initiatives that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and enhancing the global tourism landscape.
He said: "I am honoured on behalf of the FIA to be appointed as an UN Tourism Ambassador for Sustainable Tourism. The FIA has been a trendsetter in this field across sport, mobility and tourism. Together with our partners at UN Tourism, I will ensure that the federation continues to focus on delivering vital sustainability solutions for all."
Sports Tourism: Growing Relevance
The collaboration between UN Tourism and the FIA will contribute to advancing the understanding of Sports Tourism's potential. With an approximate value of $609 billion, and with a 17.5% annual growth rate, it is one of the fastest-growing sectors within tourism, with the tourism and sports sectors closely linked via their impact both socially and culturally and their roles in economic diversification and social development.
As UN Tourism continues to promote this dynamic field, the upcoming 3rd World Sports Tourism Congress (Madrid, Spain, 28-29 November 2024) will serve as a key platform for advancing these discussions. The FIA is expected to play an active role, bringing its expertise to the forefront of debates on sustainability, economic development, and global collaboration in Sports Tourism.
About the FIA
Founded in 1904, with headquarters in Paris and Geneva, the FIA is a non-profit organisation. It brings together 243 motoring and motor sport club members from 147 countries across five continents. Its Member Clubs represent millions of motorists, mobility users and motor sport professionals and volunteers.
In motor sport, it administers the rules and regulations for all international four-wheel sport, including the FIA World Rally Championship and regional rally championships, to ensure fair, capably regulated and safe events are conducted in all corners of the globe. In the realm of Mobility, the FIA aims to ensure that safe, affordable and clean systems of transport are available to all.
Dear Affiliate Members,
I am pleased to introduce you to a new edition of the Affiliate Members Newsletter. This monthly publication will inform you about the latest news, events, and initiatives related to your membership and the Affiliate Members' network. Also included is the updated calendar of events for 2024, featuring the main UN Tourism events.
In recent weeks, the African Region has been at the forefront of several significant UN Tourism events. Zambia successfully hosted the last Meeting of the Regional Commission: the Commission for Africa and the 2nd Regional Conference on Brand Africa, focused on "Promoting Africa to unlock tourism investments and the sector's growth potential." Additionally, Zimbabwe hosted the First UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa.
Looking ahead, I am pleased to inform you that the registration for World Tourism Day 2024 Tourism and Peace is now open. This year's celebration will take place in Tbilisi, Georgia on 27 September. Also, I encourage Affiliate Members to mark their calendars for the 3rd World Sports Tourism Congress, which will take place on 28-29 November in Madrid, Spain. This congress will unite ministers, high-level officials, sports legends, and stakeholders to discuss and exchange innovative ideas and insights on sports tourism. The congress will place a particular emphasis on the local impact, contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and strategic planning to enhance tourism and stimulate local economies through sports events.
I am also pleased to report that the new tools and functionalities of the AMConnected+ platform have been received positively by Affiliate Members. The user-friendly interface, inspired by the most widely used social networks, allows for easy navigation based on interests through Regional and Thematic Channels. The mobile version and other available features reflect our commitment to providing value to the UN Tourism Affiliate Membership.
The Affiliate Members and Public-Private Collaboration Department is committed to collaborating and supporting our Affiliate Members' projects to the best of our abilities. We are always available to hear your comments and feedback.
Sincerely,
Ion Vilcu
Director
The UN Tourism Global Conference on Wine Tourism is set to return to focus on traditions and cultural heritage. The eighth edition of the Conference, co-hosted by the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia, will be held in Yerevan (11-13 September 2024).
This year's conference will focus on the theme "Heritage in Every Bottle: Crafting Authentic Wine Tourism Experiences," highlighting the importance of developing strategies that both preserve cultural traditions and benefit local communities. A key focus will be on reviving traditions in the evolving landscape of wine tourism, balancing modernization with cultural heritage.
UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili says: "Wine tourism continues to grow, both in popularity with tourists and as a pillar of rural growth and protector of cultural heritage. The Global Conference on Wine Tourism will once again bring together the most exciting leaders of the sector, and I look forward to welcoming them all to Yerevan, Armenia."
The Global Conference on Wine Tourism will once again bring together the most exciting leaders of the sector, and I look forward to welcoming them all to Yerevan, Armenia
"Armenia is honored to host the 8th UN Tourism Global Conference on Wine Tourism," stated Susanna Hakobyan, Acting Head of the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Armenia. "With our millennia-old winemaking tradition and rich cultural heritage, Armenia is uniquely positioned to showcase its innovative practices and exceptional wine culture. This conference offers a unique platform for collaboration, learning, and advancing the global discourse on wine tourism."
The conference will showcase successful initiatives and provide a platform for exchanging expertise and developing innovative projects. Representatives from iconic wine regions, including the Strada del Barolo (Italy); Bourgogne (France), and Mendoza (Argentina), will present examples of best practices. Iter Vitis - Cultural Route of the Council of Europe, will also share insights from a network perspective.
Participants will explore strategies for attracting and engaging visitors, as well as fostering coordinated efforts among stakeholders to effectively promote wine routes and experiences and maximize their positive impact on local economies and communities.
The conference will feature prominent industry leaders, such Catena Zapata, named World's Best Winery for 2023. Attendees will be able to attend masterclasses at renowned Armenian wineries, such as the historic Areni-1 cave, the oldest known winery in the world. Topics will range from the application of e-commerce strategies in wine tourism to the integration of technology in sustainable wine tourism.
Discussions will also focus on developing effective communication strategies to reach a global audience. Digitalization expert Jochen Heussner (Italy) will engage in discussions with renowned wine tourism specialists, including Alder Yarrow, an acclaimed wine writer (USA), Paul Wagner, from the Culinary Institute of America and Napa Valley College (USA), and Gergely Szolnoki, a Professor of Market Research at Geisenheim University (Germany).
UN Tourism and the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance will work together to implement a common framework for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) for the sector.
The ESG Framework for Tourism Businesses, developed by UN Tourism in collaboration with the University of Oxford SDG Impact Lab, is aimed at helping enterprises across the sector measure and report their sustainability efforts and impacts more consistently and reliably. With this new agreement, UN Tourism will work alongside the Alliance to test the Framework, refine its indicators and relevant tools, and foster stakeholder engagement.
UN Tourism Executive Director Zoritsa Urosevic says: "The ESG Framework for Tourism Businesses is set to transform the tourism sector by establishing harmonised and essential standards for companies to assess and report their sustainability efforts. The collaboration between UN Tourism and the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance highlights how commitment and strategic partnerships can drive alignment and significant progress in ESG."
Glenn Mandziuk, Chief Executive Officer of the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, adds: "Collaborating with UN Tourism on the development of a harmonised ESG Framework represents a significant milestone for the global tourism industry. This partnership not only underscores our commitment to sustainability but also highlights the collective power of our industry to drive meaningful change. By establishing standardised metrics and fostering greater alignment between the private and public sectors, we are paving the way for a more sustainable and resilient future for tourism worldwide."
The partnership comes as tourism businesses face increasing pressure to disclose their ESG actions and impacts. The ESG Framework for Tourism Businesses is rooted in the Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism (SF-MST), endorsed by the UN Statistical Commission with unanimous support from all 193 UN Member States, and strives to bring greater and much-needed alignment between private and public sector data.
Alongside this, the Alliance's Net Positive Hospitality Pathway and Framework is designed to harmonise metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs), develop standards, and streamline reporting within the hospitality industry.
UN Tourism continues to deliver on its Agenda for Africa, bringing the region’s Members together around a focus on investments, multilateral cooperation and education.
The 67th meeting of the UN Tourism Regional Commission for Africa (22-24 July) welcomed public and private sector leaders from across the region. The Member States met as Africa's tourism sector experiences strong recovery. During the first quarter of 2024, arrivals were up 5% compared to pre-pandemic levels. This positions the continent as the second-best performer globally, surpassing all regions except the Middle East.
Zambia, as the whole African region, is an excellent example of the positive impact of tourism, which leads to new investments and job creation.
Secretary General, Zurab Pololikashvili, stated, “Zambia, as the whole African region, is an excellent example of the positive impact of tourism, which leads to new investments and job creation. Furthermore, our Members come together in Livingstone as Zambia is celebrates 60 years of peace and independence, an inspiration as we get set to mark World Tourism Day around the theme of ‘tourism and peace’ in September.”
In the last 10 years alone, Africa has attracted over 160 greenfield projects in tourism, representing a total capital investment of USD 10.7 billion, and the potential to create over 24,000 jobs. Recognizing this positive trend, the Commission Meeting Session featured a special Ministerial-level discussion focused on global tourism investment trends, with a special emphasis on the promising tourism outlook in Zambia. The session offered insights into sustainable development opportunities and strategies to attract and secure tourism investments. Key talking points included sustainable tourism development strategies, enhancing Africa's global tourism competitiveness and innovation in tourism marketing and branding.
The meeting also saw the launch of a new set of the Investment Guidelines for Zambia. The publication focuses on tourism and inclusive growth in Zambia, which aligns with the UN Tourism Agenda for Africa, identifying opportunities for global investors.
At the meeting, Memorandums of Understanding were signed for the creation of the Tourism Centre of Excellence in Livingstone, Zambia and the Academy for Culinary Arts in Zimbabwe.
The Academies will add to the growing network of education centres supported by UN Tourism, helping give workers the skills they need to thrive in the sector and so drive economic growth and social opportunity. Secretary-General Pololikashviki also announced 100 scholarships for the UN Tourism Online Academy to each of the countries.
Out of 50 technical cooperation projects worldwide, UN Tourism is currently working on 13 in 10 African countries covering areas such as tourism statistics, digital transformation or skills development. Several technical cooperation projects are currently being developed in the region, aligning with the five pillars of the Agenda for Africa: branding, connectivity, innovation, education, and investments. Secretary-General Pololikashvili also confirmed that UN Tourism will work with its Members across the region to develop and implement a new communication strategy designed to showcase the uniqueness of African destinations.
Additionally, Members embraced the Secretariat’s emphasis on safety and security recommendations in the UN Tourism Agenda for Africa which includes a tourism police initiative in collaboration with The West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).
With the aim of widening the portfolio and expanding on-the-ground presence of the organization, the establishment of a new Regional Office in Marrakesh is currently under discussion.
Looking ahead, UN Tourism will hold a first joint meeting of its Regional Departments for Africa and the Americas (Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, 3-5 October 2024). Here, Members of both Commissions will meet to discuss South-South cooperation through investments, education, cultural roots, creative industries, and innovation.
