PR No.: PR15077

“It's exciting to see the work of the agencies up close in areas such as childhood, sustainable tourism, refugees or decent work, and also to analyse what has been achieved and what remains to be done,” said a group of visitors to the exhibition 'United Nations, a Global Village'.

In the first joint action of this kind to be held in Spain, visitors were able to write messages and convey their wishes to the United Nations as well as to interact with the staff of the agencies that are represented in Spain. One of the most moving celebrations was the mass release of balloons bearing the wishes that had been written by visitors throughout the day. Hundreds of people joined the countdown led by journalist Teresa Viejo, who moderated the meeting with members of civil society. The event featured a video message from Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the organization, as well as discussions among representatives of agencies present in Spain and civil society organizations regarding the relevance of the UN and the challenges it faces.

“All of the United Nations agencies share a common objective: to build a better world for all. We will continue to work together to make a difference,” said Márcio Favilla, Executive Director of the Madrid-based World Tourism Organization, the only specialized agency with its permanent headquarters in Spain. Susana Malcorra, Chef de Cabinet of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was present among the representatives of the agencies and said that “we are in a time of challenges but also of opportunities, and Agenda 2030 with the Sustainable Development Goals constitutes a tool to unify voices and to end poverty and hunger in the world.”

In addition to acknowledging the progress accomplished, the discussion also included critical reflection and touched upon strategies for improving the United Nations system. Mercedes Ruiz-Giménez, President of the Spanish NGDO Platform, insisted upon “the need to provide more transparency to the system and to increase the presence of women in leadership posts.”

In the closing ceremony, Francesca Friz-Prguda, the UNHCR representative in Spain, recalled the human tragedy of refugee movements and the need to work in a coordinated manner. Just in 2015, Friz-Prguda pointed out, “some 700,000 people have arrived in Greece and Italy, mostly as refugees; more than 3,100 drowned. There are currently 60 million people displaced by conflict in the world, the highest figure ever recorded by UNHCR; and this does not include the five and a half million Palestinian refugees with whom the UNRWA is working”.

The soprano Pilar Jurado, ILO ambassador for the eradication of child labour, closed the event together with the boys and girls of the Las Rozas Choir by singing ‘Nana para dormir a un niño que no descansa’, now considered an anthem in the fight against child labour.

This joint celebration of all the UN agencies represented in Spain is part of the programme of activities to commemorate this 70th anniversary, which include a visit by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who will be in Spain from 28 to 30 October.

 

Useful links:

70th anniversary of the United Nations

Official celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the UN in Spain

 

Contacts:

UNWTO Media Officer Rut Gomez Sobrino
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60 

UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme

Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218 

PR No.: PR15080

“This year is a most important one for humanity: the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other mechanisms (...) The UN family in Spain has to play a key role (...) to help the Spanish people to make a commitment to the SDGs,” said the Secretary-General.

“We are honoured to have the presence of the UN Secretary-General in Madrid today, and to celebrate this anniversary with him and all the agencies,” said Márcio Favilla, Executive Director of the World Tourism Organization, the only agency with its permanent headquarters in Spain, which organized the event in conjunction with all the representatives of the United Nations system in Spain.

During his stay in Madrid, Ban Ki-moon, the top official of the United Nations, met with King Felipe VI and Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, among other authorities, and attended the main event marking the 60th anniversary of Spain’s entry, held at the Royal Palace.

This eleventh visit to Spain by Ban Ki-moon—the last was in 2013—came at a key moment for Spain, as it is currently one of the ten non-permanent members of the Security Council and held the chairmanship of the UN body during the month of October. 

 

Agencies, funds and programmes represented in Spain

UNWTO - World Tourism Organization

UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

UN Millennium Campaign

United Nations Support Base

FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization

UNRWA - United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

ILO - International Labour Organization 

WHO - World Health Organization

UN-Water

UN-Habitat - United Nations Human Settlements Programme

WFP - World Food Programme

Global Compact Network Spain

UNICEF Spain

UNU - United Nations University

 

Contacts:

UNWTO Media Officer - Ruth Gomez Sobrino
Tel: (+34) 91 567 8160 

UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme

Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218 

PR No.: 15082

As explained by UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, who led the presentation with the Head of Georgian National Tourism Administration, George Chogovadze and the Georgian Ambassador to Spain, Zurab Pololikashvili, “Wine tourism represents a growing segment with immense opportunities to diversify demand. In the case of Georgia, this potential is well-known and we are very pleased to be holding the first UNWTO Global Conference on Wine Tourism in the country”.

“Georgia’s unique wine-making traditions date back 8,000 years and are part of UNESCO’s intangible heritage, creating the ideal base to host the Wine Tourism Conference. Herewith, the country’s recent success in attracting a growing number of tourists, its development in terms of tourism products, branding and marketing present an excellent platform to share best practices, experience and knowledge¨ said Dimitry Kumsishvili, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia.

Gastronomy and wine have become key components for experiencing the culture and lifestyle of any destination and a growing travel motivation. To foster the development of this segment UNWTO has launched in September 2015, the UNWTO Gastronomy Network.

 

Additional info:  

To know more about the Affiliate Members Programme at the UNWTO, click here

For more information about the Conference, click here

UNWTO AM Report Vol. 4 'Global Report on Food Tourism' 

 

 Contacts:

UNWTO Media Officer: Rut Gómez Sobrino

Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60 

UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme

Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218

PR No.: 15081

The inclusion of youth in the tourism sector through training and employment opportunities, resource and energy efficiency, and capacity building for SMEs are among the key areas covered by the agreement. UNWTO and the EBRD will also cooperate in identifying best practices and in knowledge sharing.

The EBRD President, Sir Suma Chakrabarti, said “Tourism is a major contributor to the economies of many EBRD countries of operations. This partnership will enable both organisations to work together, with both the public and private sector,  to  promote sustainable and inclusive practices in the tourism industry. The EBRD aims in particular to promote youth inclusion in the industry in regions where young people are facing substantial challenges in participating in the economy due to skills mismatches and limited access to training opportunities.”

“The tourism sector is making a fundamental contribution to the current economic recovery and can play a leading role in advancing inclusive development, namely in terms of job creation. By partnering with the European Bank for Development and Reconstruction we will be able to create opportunities to generate more and better employment opportunities while supporting the transition of the sector to a more sustainable path” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.

The agreement was signed in the framework of the EBRD’s commitment for supporting inclusive and sustainable tourism in the countries of operation of the Bank, particularly in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean region and the Western Balkans. The cooperation will benefit from UNWTO’s experience and expertise in the areas of education and training through the UNWTO.Themis Foundation and of sustainability through initiatives such as the Hotel Energy Solutions (HES) and the Collaborative Actions for Sustainable Tourism (COAST) project.

The EBRD, owned by 64 countries and two intergovernmental institutions, is supporting the development of market economies and democracies. Follow them on the web, Facebook  and Twitter.

 

Useful links:

European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) 

Tourism Driving Trade, Fostering Development and Connecting People

UNWTO / European Commission Directorate-General Development and Cooperation Guidebook “Sustainable Tourism for Development”  (available in English and French)

 

Contacts:

UNWTO Media Officer: Rut Gómez Sobrino
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60

UNWTO Communications and Publications Programme
Tel: (+34) 91-567-8100
Fax: (+34) 91-567-8218

EBRD principal media adviser: Svitlana Pyrkalo
Tel: (+44) 207 338 7105

PR No.: PR15052

Mr. Rifai’s visit followed an invitation from the Minister for Regional Development, Karla Šlechtová, with whom he met to discuss how to further strengthen the working relationship between the Czech Republic and UNWTO. Also present during the meeting were Klára Dostálová, First Deputy Minister, Section of Regional Development, Ministry of Regional Development; Jitka Mattyašovská, Director of Tourism, Ministry of Regional Development; Monika Palatková, General Director, CzechTourism; and Kateřina Fialková, Department of Multilateral Economic Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“The cooperation with UNWTO is very important for us and I am very glad that the Secretary-General has accepted my invitation to visit the Czech Republic. It is his first official visit to this country. During our meeting we have discussed many topics that can enhance the good cooperation between UNWTO, the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Regional Development in the field of tourism, including the competitiveness of the Czech tourism sector and capacity building. In this regard, we have discussed possible internships at UNWTO for the staff of the Ministry of Regional Development. Subsequently, their knowledge can be used in the Czech Republic. At the same time, we have agreed to collaborate on issues related to the European Union and the Chinese market. According to UNWTO the Asian market is increasingly important and the Czech Republic will obviously continue in this direction. I am very glad that I have had the opportunity to meet Dr Rifai in person,” said Ms. Šlechtová.

“Tourism is one of the strong pillars of the Czech economy, a clear result of robust political support. I would especially like to commend the Czech government for its commitment to facilitate visa procedures and improve competitiveness and quality of the sector at both national and regional levels, which will help boost Czech tourism and further advance its ability to deliver positive impacts across the country”, said Mr. Rifai. “I would also like to highlight the decision of the Visegrad 4 group, currently presided by the Czech government, to promote the region as one tourist destination. This collaborative effort has resulted in a significant growth of international visitors to the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, and sets an excellent example for successful multilateral tourism cooperation“.

The meeting resulted in the signing of a Cooperation Plan between UNWTO and the Czech Republic , mapping out several areas of collaboration for the forthcoming two years. Among them, advancing institutional know-how in tourism in the form of analyses, studies and compilation of tourism statistics.

In addition, Mr. Rifai met with the Mayor of Prague, Adriana Krnáčová, to discuss the growing importance of city tourism and the rapidly evolving MICE industry in the Czech capital, which has been benefiting greatly from such tourism segments in recent years. Mr. Rifai also visited Karlovy Vary, one of the most important spa towns of the Czech Republic, to meet the Lord Mayor, Petr Kulhánek.

On the occasion of the visit, the Private Sector Commitment to the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism was signed by four Czech tourism entities: The Association of Tour Operators and Travel Agents, Czech Confederation of Commerce and Tourism, The Association of Czech Travel Agents and the Royal Spa, Kur & Medical Spa Hotels.

Note to editors:

According to UNWTO data, international tourist arrivals in the Czech Republic reached 10.6 million (+3%), contributing over 6 billion euro in tourism receipts to the economy in 2014. The results for first quarter of 2015 show a growth of international tourist arrivals and tourism receipts with 7% and 3% respectively, compared to the same period in 2014.

 

Useful links:

UNWTO Regional Programme for Europe

Private Sector Commitment to the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism

 

Contacts:

UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme

Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218