(NEWS) ALMATY, Kazakhstan, 2025-Oct-24 — /Travel PR News/ — Tourism leaders and changemakers from across Europe have joined forces to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment through the “Almaty Call to Action”, a landmark outcome of the First Regional Conference on the Empowerment of Women in Tourism in Europe, held from 22–23 October in Almaty. The… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) PATA’s 2025 Face of the Future Award recognized Yeji Cho of the Korea Tourism Organization as Grand Winner for her leadership in accessible and cooperative tourism initiatives. Three additional honourees—Poornaka Delpachitra of Intrepid Travel (sustainability), Dr. Bella Vongvisitsin of Hong Kong Metropolitan University (strategic management) and Nikhil Jeet of DDP Group (leadership)—were celebrated… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) From 16 to 18 July 2025, Kinshasa will stage the inaugural World Music and Tourism Festival under President Félix Tshisekedi’s High Patronage, with UN Tourism as a supporting partner. Branded “The Rumba Route for Peace,” the three-day Festival at CCAPAC spotlights Congolese Rumba—recognized by UNESCO in 2021—and its capacity to drive tourism, economic… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) UN Tourism has introduced the Safe Destinations Challenge to source innovative solutions that reinforce tourism resilience, safety, and sustainability, beginning in Europe, which drew 747 million international visitors in 2024 (58 percent of the global total). The initiative underscores Europe’s exposure to over 1,700 disasters in the past 50 years—ranging from climate events… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) Travel Insights 2025: Focus on Europe, co-published by Amadeus and UN Tourism, reveals that emerging markets in Central and Eastern Europe—led by Azerbaijan’s 26 percent year-on-year growth in air bookings—are gaining traction among international travelers. While traditional leaders like Spain, the U.K., Italy, France, and Germany continue to dominate (accounting for 71 percent… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) UN Tourism has signed memoranda with Croatia’s Ministry of Tourism and Sport and the University of Zagreb to establish a Research Centre for Sustainable Tourism and to inaugurate a Sustainable Tourism Awards. The Centre will generate applied research and policy guidance in governance, sustainability, knowledge exchange, multi-stakeholder collaboration, climate action, and tourism law,… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) UN Tourism and the World Tourism Alliance have released a joint report stressing the importance of inclusive tourism planning and governance in accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 10 on reducing inequalities. The report outlines how tourism can drive shared prosperity if policies prioritize social equity, community development, and reinvestment… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) UN Tourism’s leadership recently wrapped up a significant visit to China, during which Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili engaged with top government and industry figures to reinforce strategic partnerships and promote sustainable tourism initiatives. The visit highlighted China’s role in digital transformation and sustainable development within the tourism sector, while also supporting China’s Global Development… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) Caribbean Airlines is sponsoring Day 2 of the 3rd Global Tourism Resilience Day Conference and Expo, taking place in 2025. The event, focused on “Coastal Management for Tourism Resilience using Digital Technologies,” will bring together stakeholders in the tourism industry to explore innovations aimed at improving the resilience of coastal tourism. By partnering… Read the full news article
NAYARIT, 2024-Dec-06 — /Travel PR News/ — Zurab Pololikashvili, current Secretary-General of UN Tourism, will run for re-election for a new term in the period 2026-2029. The UN Tourism Executive Council to select the candidates will be held between May 28 and 30, 2025. The Executive Council will then recommend to the General Assembly the… Read the full news article
UN Tourism is looking for start-ups and scale-ups that are revolutionizing the tourism sector through cutting-edge solutions. (IN SHORT) UN Tourism is launching the Global Artificial Intelligence Challenge, inviting innovative start-ups and scale-ups to submit solutions that enhance tourism, sustainability, and economic growth. The challenge encourages projects in areas such as smart destinations, digital transformation,… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) UN Tourism has recognized five innovative community tourism projects in Colombia as part of the “Innovation Challenge: Community Tourism: Colombia,” held during its 122nd Executive Council session in Cartagena. The winning initiatives, selected across various categories, spotlight efforts in gamified tourism, conservation, cultural journeys, social empowerment, and sustainable travel. These projects reflect UN… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) At the World Travel Market Ministers Summit, UN Tourism and WTTC led discussions on AI’s impact on the tourism sector, introducing the “AI for Good in Tourism” roadmap. Key topics included AI-driven research, workforce upskilling, investment strategies, and a new AI Challenge for tourism innovators. UN Tourism aims to harness AI’s potential for… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) On October 30, 2024, UN Tourism and Qatar Tourism celebrated the second annual Qatar Tourism Awards, recognizing innovation and excellence in the tourism sector. The event received approximately 1,200 applications, showcasing the rapid growth of Qatar’s tourism industry, which has seen a 147% increase in international arrivals from 2019 to 2024. The awards… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) On October 30, 2024, UN Tourism launched a new dataset focused on tourism employment in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), aimed at enhancing the monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This initiative addresses a critical gap in assessing tourism’s impact, specifically regarding its role in job creation and economic growth,… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) UN Tourism, in partnership with the TUI Care Foundation, has launched the “Colourful Cultures” small grants initiative to support rural artisans across several African countries, including Morocco, Mozambique, and South Africa. This program invites civil society organizations and NGOs to submit proposals for projects aimed at empowering local artists, especially women and youth,… Read the full news article
As part of its focus on rural development, UN Tourism has concluded an executive training session for sector leaders from across the Asia and the Pacific region. (IN SHORT) UN Tourism held an executive training session in Brunei for sector leaders from Asia and the Pacific, focusing on rural tourism development. The event aimed to… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) UN Tourism has taken a significant step to enhance education and skills development in Africa by establishing the first collaborative Academies in the region. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Ministry of Tourism of Zambia to create the ZITHS Mukuni International Academy for Tourism and Hospitality, aimed at equipping students and… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) UN Tourism hosted its first Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, with support from the Basque Culinary Center and the patronage of the First Lady of Zimbabwe, Dr. Auxillia C. Mnangagwa. The event gathered 200 delegates from 33 countries to discuss leveraging gastronomy for sustainable tourism. Key discussions… Read the full news article
UN Tourism has joined its Members in celebrating the establishment of 2027 as the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism. (IN SHORT) UN Tourism has designated 2027 as the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism. The announcement was celebrated at UN Tourism’s Madrid headquarters with ambassadors from 24 Member States, including the Ambassador of Uzbekistan, which… Read the full news article
Over 260 villages from more than 60 countries representing the five regions of the world have put themselves forward for the 2024 edition of Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism 2024. This marks the highest volume of applications ever received in the past four editions. (IN SHORT) A record-breaking 260 villages from over 60 countries… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) The UN Tourism and Hotelschool The Hague have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on pioneering projects in the hospitality industry, aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship while enhancing education. With a focus on stimulating fresh ventures within the hospitality sector and promoting sustainability, the partnership seeks to provide valuable… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) UN Tourism and the European Committee of the Regions have collaborated on a comprehensive study highlighting the transformative potential of rural tourism in fostering socio-economic development across Europe. The report emphasizes the resilience of rural tourism in the face of challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and its capacity to stimulate economic diversification, preserve… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) Zurab Pololikashvili, the Secretary-General of UN Tourism, concluded a fruitful official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran. Leading a high-level delegation, Pololikashvili participated in the inauguration of the Tehran International Tourism Exhibition and engaged in bilateral meetings aimed at advancing shared objectives in tourism resilience, diversity, and rural development. During the visit,… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) UN Tourism, formerly known as the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), has initiated the call for applications for the 2024 edition of its “Best Tourism Villages” program. This initiative aims to recognize rural destinations where tourism is harnessed as a tool for sustainable growth, cultural preservation, and economic development. Member states are encouraged to… Read the full news article