UNWTO Commission for Europe Meets in Sofia

• Europe
• 2 Jun 2023

European tourism leaders have met to advance shared plans for the sector’s future. The 68th meeting of the UNWTO Regional Commission for Europe (31 May – 2 June, Sofia, Bulgaria), assessed the current state of tourism in the region while also recognizing the vital importance of education, jobs and investments for a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Bulgaria Leads High-Level Political Support for Tourism

Ahead of the meeting, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili met with President Rumen Radev and the Prime Minister of Bulgaria Galab Donev, accompanied by Minister of Tourism of Bulgaria Ilin Dimitrov, to discuss shared priorities and areas of cooperation.

• Prime Minister Donev welcomed the latest UNWTO data which shows Bulgaria is among the fastest recovering of European destinations, with international arrivals in the first quarter of year 27% higher than in 2019.
• In recognition of their leadership, President Radev awarded UNWTO Secretary-General Pololikashvili and the Director for Europe Alessandra Priante with the Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius, 1st Class and 2nd Class respectively, at a special ceremony in the Coat of Arms Hall.
• The two parties jointly recognized tourism's importance for driving economic development and strengthening peace and understanding.
• The UNWTO delegation welcomed the Bulgarian Government's work to diversify its tourism sector, with a focus on growing new areas including wellness, health and gastronomy tourism and supporting rural communities.

This is exactly the time to step up our efforts to transform our sector, with a skilled workforce and proper investments vital for making it more resilient, sustainable and inclusive

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: "European tourism is recovering strongly and on track to return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year. This is exactly the time to step up our efforts to transform our sector, with a skilled workforce and proper investments vital for making it more resilient, sustainable and inclusive."

European Members Focus on Key Priorities

High-level delegations representing 40 countries, a historic high participation, including Ministers and Deputy Ministers of Tourism, gathered for the Regional Commission. Member States were given an overview of UNWTO's work, with a focus on:

• Jobs: UNWTO continues to support the Institutions of the European Union in the context of the European Year of Skills, with the co-implementation phase of the EU Transition Pathway for Tourism now underway to re-skill the tourism workforce of the European Union.
• Education: Members were updated on the creation of a first Bachelor's Degree in Sustainable Tourism Management, in partnership with the Lucerne University of Applied Arts and Sciences, and to launch a toolkit designed to help make tourism a subject in high schools worldwide.
• Investments: Identified as a key priority for the sector, UNWTO set the stage for World Tourism Day 2023 (27 September) with its theme of 'Green Investments', and also looked ahead to the UNWTO Tourism Investment Forum (Yerevan, Armenia, September 2023).
• Sustainability: UNWTO continues to guide global tourism's climate action efforts, key works include the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (49 signatories to date, with 17 from European countries), and the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism (800+ signatories to date, more than half from Europe).

The UNWTO Regional Director outlined how European Members champion tourism as a driver of resilience and recovery in the aftermath of the pandemic and amid the fragile socio-political situation in the region, caused by the Russian invasion in Ukraine.

Looking Ahead

Adhering to the Organization's statutory obligations, Members agreed:

• Ukraine will serve as the Chair of the Commission for Europe for the period 2023 to 2025. Greece and Hungary will serve as the Vice Chairs.
• World Tourism Day 2024, to be held around the theme of "Tourism and Peace" will be officially hosted by Georgia.
• The Commission will meet in Uzbekistan this fall for its 69th meeting and in Albania in 2024 for its 70th meeting.

On the eve of the meeting, UNWTO launched the Global Startup Competition for Mega Events and MICE Tourism, with the support of the Government of Uzbekistan and the participation of UEFA, the International Congress and Convention Association, and Mastercard. Finally, following an earlier announcement, UNWTO and Aviareps announced that Albania, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Romania and Uzbekistan will be the first five countries to benefit from their collaboration.

Related links

• Download the News Release in PDF
• UNWTO Regional Department for Europe
• Bachelor of Science in International Sustainable Tourism
• Investments Strategy
• Global Tourism Plastics Initiative
• UNWTO Partners With AVIAREPS to Launch Destination Marketing Grants

EBRD and UNWTO Facilitate Tourism Recovery in Greece

• Europe
• 6 Apr 2023

· EBRD and UNWTO joined forces with the Ministry of Tourism in Greece to support tourism recovery
· Four key recovery projects were implemented and completed
· Focus on economic recovery, marketing, and institutional strengthening

UNWTO and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have successfully worked alongside the Greek Government to help the country's tourism sector recover from the impacts of the pandemic.

As part of a wider effort to boost resilience and accelerate recovery in the wake of the worst crisis in the history of tourism, the Bank selected several areas of UNWTO's "COVID-19 Tourism Recovery Technical Assistance Package" to implement in Greece. This package was built around three main pillars of intervention: economic recovery, marketing and promotion, and institutional strengthening and building resilience.

Four projects of critical importance for the tourism sector at the time were selected and implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism of Greece, namely:

1. Measurement of COVID-19's impact and development of monitoring guidelines: Within this project, tourism data needs were aligned between the Bank of Greece, the Hellenic Statistical Authority, and the Ministry of Tourism. Ten areas of intervention were identified, along with 25 actions for improvement of monitoring, and training was provided to seven representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, the Bank of Greece and the Hellenic Statistical Authorities.
2. Preparation of a roadmap to support tourism MSMEs and job retention: The project included reviewing the existing support measures for MSMEs, interviewing tourism national associations, MSMEs, and professionals, and designing a seven-action roadmap. Moreover, 41 tourism professionals, travel agencies, hotels, and secondary accommodation establishments were trained on a range of topics, including digital marketing tools, HR management, analysing tourism data to identify opportunities, and improving the quality of services and the overall tourist experience.
3. Updating the Tourism Marketing Strategy: Key international and domestic markets trends were analysed both during and post-pandemic. Six areas of intervention were identified, and the passenger survey questionnaires of the Athens International Airport and the 14 regional airports operated by Fraport have been updated to measure newly selected indicators. The strategy was also presented at a seminar with the foreign offices of the Greek National Tourism Organisation, in collaboration with its headquarters.
4. Development of a Tourism Crisis Management Plan: The first such plan for the Ministry of Tourism, identifying various types of crises, outlining concrete response mechanisms, roles, and processes, and introducing a case study simulation.

Along with the UNWTO and EBRD teams working on the project, a team of experts in crisis management, statistics, marketing, and MSMEs was brought in to spearhead the implementation, transfer knowledge and work closely with the Ministry of Tourism and stakeholders for the delivery of the project activities envisaged.

Recovery Package Delivers Results

As a leading destination, both within Europe and worldwide, Greece has consistently maintained its relevance in the global tourism market and emerged resilient during the long-lasting financial and economic crisis of the past decade. In the context of the pandemic, Greece then managed to sustain and increase the contribution of its tourism sector to its national economy and was one of the first European countries to reopen to international visitors in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Looking ahead, the work done under the Tourism Recovery Technical Assistance Package will enable the Ministry of Tourism to monitor closely the performance of the sector and systematically respond to and address any crises that might occur affecting the tourism sector of Greece. EBRD continues to support the Greek tourism sector through targeted investments or financing that promote sustainable and inclusive tourism and enhance youth employment and backward linkages with local economies. UNWTO remains active in Greece to support the tourism development of local destinations through projects on the ground while strengthening the close and continuous collaboration with the country.

Related Links

• Download the News Release in PDF
• UNWTO: Technical Cooperation
• UNWTO: Regional Department for Europe

UNWTO Unites South East Europe Tourism Ministers Around Shared Sustainability Goals

• Europe
• 5 Apr 2023

UNWTO celebrated the Future of Environmental Sustainable Tourism in Albania (FESTA), setting the foundations for unprecedented high-level collaboration among Tourism Ministers in the region (Tirana, 3-5 April).

Advancing UNWTO's work on promoting collaboration across borders, Secretary-General Pololikashvili hosted the first ever meeting of Ministers of Tourism from South East Europe. Here, Ministers from eight countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia) explored opportunities for greater cooperation on projects in the region. Participants agreed on plans to hold annual meetings of Ministers and State Secretaries to deliver better regional collaboration for tourism in the region.

We must first focus on two priorities, namely people and investments, because without the right people or the proper investments, our plans for a transformed tourism will not get off the ground

Governance and cooperation

Organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment of the Republic of Albania in partnership with UNWTO, the three-day forum brought together public and private sector leaders to focus on the challenges and opportunities of sustainable travel. Opening the Forum, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili underscored the great progress that tourism has made in becoming more sustainable, while stressing that much more needs to be done: "We must first focus on two priorities, namely people and investments, because without the right people or the proper investments, our plans for a transformed tourism will not get off the ground."

Further emphasising this policy priority, UNWTO's leadership joined the Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj and Albania's Minister for Tourism Mirela Kumbaro to lead high-level discussions focused on more and better-targeted investments in tourism. Expanding on the importance of strong and clear governance for advancing plans for greater sustainability across the tourism sector,

Tourism and the European Green Deal

Within the framework of FESTA, Secretary-General Pololikashvili met with Executive Vice President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans to discuss tourism's role in advancing the European Green Deal, which he leads. UNWTO is spearheading tourism's shift to greater sustainability, including through the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism and the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative.

Related Links

• Download the News Release in PDF
• Future of Environmental Sustainable Tourism in Albania (FESTA)
• UNWTO Regional Department for Europe
• Albanian Prime Minister Welcomes UNWTO Leadership and Embraces Shared Goals

Albanian Prime Minister Welcomes UNWTO Leadership and Embraces Shared Goals

• Europe
• 4 Apr 2023

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili has met with His Excellency Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania, to explore shared priorities for boosting tourism’s role in economic development and social opportunity.

On his first official visit to Albania, Secretary-General Pololikashvili reaffirmed his vision for a tourism transformed around the priorities of jobs, education and investments, and met both Prime Minister Rama and from Minister of Tourism Mirela Kumbaro to explore common goals and potential areas of greater collaboration. In the area of investments, the two parties identified the possibility of producing a new set of Investment Guidelines for Albania with the aim of supporting tourism projects focused on sustainability.

UNWTO will continue to work closely with Albania to ensure the enormous potential is fully realized both here and across the wider region

Advancing a shared commitment to youth empowerment through tourism, Prime Minister Rama joined the Secretary-General in presenting certificates of participation to the Albanian delegation at the first UNWTO Global Youth Tourism Summit held last year. The With Mayor of Tirana Eeion Veliaj, the UNWTO leadership discussed the opportunities of innovation and smart tourism, against the backdrop of ‘Tumo Piramide’, one of the biggest startup hubs in the Balkans. The Secretary-General Pololikashvili confirmed UNWTO’s interest in working with the Government and Albanian innovators to boost innovation across the wider region.

Tourism delivering for Albanian people

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili says: “I am extremely pleased to be in Albania and witness the Government embracing tourism as and economic and development driver to offer a brighter future for people in both cities and rural areas. UNWTO will continue to work closely with Albania to ensure the enormous potential is fully realized both here and across the wider region.”

Secretary-General Pololikashvil also commended the Albanian Government for their strong support for the sector, both during and the pandemic and as tourism recovers. Albania enjoyed one of the strongest increases in international tourist arrivals in the region, outperforming all the European Union countries in 2022 with a 19% rise in visitors.

UNWTO to join Sustainability Forum

The high-level UNWTO delegation will also join tourism leaders from across the region for the Future of Environmental and Sustainable Tourism in Albania (FESTA, Tirana, 3-5 April). Themed “Harnessing the power of South Eastern Europe through regional cooperation in tourism”, UNWTO will emphasize the vital importance of jobs, education and investment to build a more sustainable and inclusive tourism sector. 

Related Links

• Download the News Release in PDF
• UNWTO Regional Department for Europe

UNWTO Delegation in Rome to Boost Partnerships with Italian Government

• Europe
• 31 Mar 2023

The UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili, has concluded an official visit to Italy, strengthening key partnerships and advancing tourism for education, rural development and peace.

During the three-day official visit to Italy and the Vatican City, the UNWTO delegation met with:

• Minister of Tourism of Italy, Daniela Garnero Santanchè
• Deputy Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, Antonio Tajani
• Director-General of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Mr Qu Dongyu.
• Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See.

In a productive meeting with Minister of Tourism Daniela Garnero Santanchè and her Cabinet, the UNWTO leadership focused on the timely topic of tourism education and youth empowerment, recognized as a key priority for tourism. In July 2022, Italy hosted the first UNWTO Global Youth Tourism Summit in Sorrento, a flagship initiative aimed at making youth a part of the decision-making process for the sector. Building on this, the meeting explored more ways of collaborating around the theme of education, while also advancing joint work on other priorities designed to rethink and transform tourism, both in Italy and globally.

Tourism is growing as a force for rural development, and, through a focus on education and training, as a force for youth empowerment

Minister Santanchè said: "We are ready to continue cooperating with the UNWTO in order to make the tourism industry stronger, more sustainable, innovative and inclusive. We want tourism to contribute more and more to the development of nations and to become a real vehicle for personal professional and social growth, in particular for the youth and women."

Close partnerships with Italy

In a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, the UNWTO delegation commended Italy's commitment to enhancing tourism's status as a pillar of rural development. Sauris Zahre and Isola del Giglio are now recognized as UNWTO Best Tourism Villages and Italy has also worked with UNWTO on promoting wine and gastronomy tourism for job creation, economic empowerment and the protection of heritage.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili says: "Italy is one of the world's top destinations. It's also a strong supporter of UNWTO's mission to make tourism matter: here, tourism is growing as a force for rural development, and, through a focus on education and training, as a force for youth empowerment."

Looking ahead, the Italian Government's representatives highlighted upcoming events and initiatives which may benefit from further collaboration with UNWTO. These include  a new project on diaspora tourism, "Turismo delle Radici", the Jubilee Year 2025 in Rome, and the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina. UNWTO Secretary-General Pololikashvili expressed his full support for Italy's bid to host EXPO 2030 in Rome.

Tourism for rural development and peace

Building on a Memorandum of Understanding signed between both UN agencies in September 2020, the UNWTO delegation also undertook an official visit to the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

FAO Director-General Mr Qu Dongyu recognized the importance of tourism and the two UN agencies identified several areas for deeper collaboration, including around the UNWTO Best Tourism Villages initiative and in developing capacity-building programmes to improve the tourism potential of FAO Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIHAS) sites and its Digital Villages pilots.

Also in Rome, UNWTO Secretary-General Pololikashvili met with Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See. The Holy See holds Observer status within UNWTO and Pope Francis has championed tourism as a bridging force for peace and understanding, particularly among global youth.

Related link:

• Download the News Release in PDF
• UNWTO: Regional Department for Europe
• Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO
• UNWTO and FAO Strengthen Partnership as Leaders Meet in Rome

UNWTO and FAO Strengthen Partnership as Leaders Meet in Rome

• Europe
• 30 Mar 2023

The importance of tourism for the economic development and empowerment of rural communities was underscored as the leaders of UNWTO and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) met in Rome today.

At the start of his official visit to Italy, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili was welcomed to the FAO headquarters for a meeting with FAO Director-General Mr Qu Dongyu. Building on a Memorandum of Understanding signed between both UN agencies in September 2020, the high-level meeting focused on the importance of intensifying collaboration to scale up tourism's contribution to rural development.

UNWTO is proud to work closely with FAO around a shared determination to drive inclusive development and to make tourism a source of employment and opportunity for rural areas

Both leaders recognized the common goals and methods of several key projects, most notably FAO's Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Sites (GIAHS) and its Digital Villages Initiative, and UNWTO's Best Tourism Villages, which recognizes those rural destinations that are harnessing the power of tourism as a source of development and opportunity. At the same time, the two Heads of Agency identified the need to boost development and roll-out of capacity-building programmes to improve the tourism potential of FAO GIAHS sites and pilot Digital Villages.

UNWTO and FAO: Stronger Together

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: "UNWTO is proud to work closely with FAO around a shared determination to drive inclusive development and to make tourism a source of employment and opportunity for rural areas. I welcome FAO Director-General Mr Qu Dongyu's recognition of the importance of tourism and look forward to further strengthening our partnership."

FAO Director-General Mr Qu Dongyu commended UNWTO's work, noting the sector's importance for addressing rural poverty and providing empowerment to communities outside of cities. He said: "Sustainable rural tourism can help reduce poverty, support resilient agrifood systems and conserve cultural heritage and ecosystems for better production, better nutrition，a better environment and a better life. leaving no one behind. Let's work together to promote sustainable rural agritourism  and  to empower youth and women in the rural communities through decent jobs."

Tourism, gastronomy, development

Looking ahead, UNWTO Secretary-General Pololikashvili also emphasised the importance of gastronomy tourism for development, most notably in Africa, and the role of both local production value chains and heritage across the continent, and invited the FAO Director-General to key UNWTO events, including the 8th UNWTO World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism (San Sebastian, Spain, 5-6 October 2023).

Related links

• Download the News Release in PDF
• UNWTO and FAO to Work Together on Tourism for Rural Development
• Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO

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UNWTO Partners With AVIAREPS to Launch Destination Marketing Grants

• Europe
• 29 Mar 2023

UNWTO will work with its Affiliate Member AVIAREPS to offer grants for destination marketing and research services to five countries in Europe.

The UNWTO + AVIAREPS Destination Marketing Grant will allow selected Member States to benefit from a range of digital marketing services, to be supplied on a pro bono basis. Services include as assistance with campaign websites, landing pages, webinars, online press conferences, e-learning programmes and virtual events provided via the AVIAREPS Ecosystem. The grants will also cover destination research and analysis, PR services and will allow the recipient to participate in various AVIAREPS Roadshows, held throughout the year to connect travel industry buyers with destinations.

With our Affiliate Member AVIAREPS, we are proud to support tourism professionals across Europe to build skills and knowledge to promote their destinations and accelerate recovery

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili says: “Tourism is one of the most dynamic sectors in the world, and UNWTO is committed to driving innovation forward and supporting education and training at every level. With our Affiliate Member AVIAREPS, we are proud to support tourism professionals across Europe to build skills and knowledge to promote their destinations and accelerate recovery”.

Thomas Drechsler, COO Tourism at AVIAREPS adds: “We are delighted to partner with UNWTO to support selected countries free of charge to quickly get back on their feet after the pandemic and to boost the sustainable expansion of their tourism industry. We are excited to provide our latest digital solutions, international networks, and expertise, to the countries selected by UNWTO, and hope to expand this collaboration with UNWTO to all regions around the world.”

UNWTO will announce which of the five of its European Member States will be eligible for the grants in due course.

Related links:

• Download the News Release in PDF
• UNWTO Affiliate Members

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Applications Now Open for 2023 UNWTO Students’ League: Bosnia and Herzegovina Edition

• Europe
• 27 Mar 2023

UNWTO and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina have teamed up to launch the 2023 UNWTO Students’ League.

The new 'Off the Beaten Track' challengeaims to create a networking environment that will enable cultural connections between students, governments and businesses. Teams of students will be tasked with developing projects which showcase how tourism can contribute to rural development, a better understanding of different cultures and foster peace.

Registration is now open for teams ofhigh school students (14-18) and for undergraduate tourism and hospitality students up to the age of 25. Applications will close 16 April 2023. A Final4 Competition, hosted by UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina, is planned for June. Here, the top 4 teams from each category will compete to be named the overall winners.

This latest edition of the UNWTO Students' League will once again aim to inspire and empower young people by providing them hands-on experience within the tourism sector alongside online learning sessions guided by national and international tourism experts. The challenges will require them to develop and present creative and sustainable solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing the sector. For this edition, students will be required to focus on supporting sustainable rural tourism development through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) along the Via Dinarica trail in the country.

The 2023 UNWTO Students' League: Bosnia and Herzegovina is organized by UNWTO, under the framework of UNDP BiH "Building Relations for intercultural Dialogue (BRIDGE) Project" which counts on the financial support of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS). The initiative is implemented and co-financed by the United Nations Development Programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNDP BiH) in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH.

Related links:

• Download the News Release in PDF
• Learn more and apply here