Tag Archives: UNWTO

Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) key partner of UNWTO in the promotion of sustainable tourism

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Madrid, Spain, 2017-Apr-22 — /Travel PR News/ — Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh Region and Chairman of the Tourism Development Council of the region, His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Chairman of Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) launched Saudi… Read the full press release

UNWTO World Tourism Barometer: China continued to lead international outbound tourism with 12% increase in spending

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MADRID, 2017-Apr-13 — /Travel PR News/ — 2016 results on expenditure from major outbound markets reflect increasing demand for international tourism across the world, as reported in the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. With a 12% increase in spending, China continued to lead international outbound tourism, followed by the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and… Read the full press release

Tourism Potential in Russian Regions of the Silk Road Discussed In UNWTO Seminar

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Madrid, Spain, 2017-Mar-26 — /Travel PR News/ — The potential of tourism itineraries and products in the Russian regions of Silk Road has centred the debates of a Seminar conducted last 12 March in Moscow by UNWTO. The Seminar was held in the framework of the UNWTO Silk Road Programme in cooperation with the Russian… Read the full press release

UNWTO Secretary General Welcomes Japan’s Commitment To Tourism Development

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Madrid, Spain, 2017-Mar-26 — /Travel PR News/ — The Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Taleb Rifai, applauded Japan’s commitment to tourism development as one of the significant pillars of the socio-economic agenda during a recent official visit to Japan. Meeting Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Mr Rifai welcomed Japan’s Action Program for Tourism focused on… Read the full press release

Contribution of tourism to sustainable economic growth of the MENA region a main focus on UNWTO & ATM Ministerial Forum 2017

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The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are expected to welcome 195 million international tourists by 2030. Between 25 million and 50 million new jobs will be required in the region over the next decade. Over 20 Ministers and industry leaders will gather at the Ministerial Forum to discuss how tourism can play a role… Read the full press release

UNWTO to Present Draft Text of Its First International Convention in May

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The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is working to convert the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism into an international Convention, in order to increase the commitment of all stakeholders to its principles. The process is being led by an intergovernmental Working Group composed of representatives of 36 UNWTO Member States.  MADRID, Spain, 2017-Mar-13 —… Read the full press release

UNWTO commends H.E. Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa in his efforts in preserving and promoting culture in Bahrain

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At the invitation of H.E. Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities and Chairperson of the Board of the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage, UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, attended the celebrations of Bahrain’s Spring of Cultures Festival, which coincided with Arab Tourism Day on February 25.  MADRID,… Read the full press release

UNWTO held a successful inaugural World Conference on Smart Destinations

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Over three days (15-17 February) more than 100 speakers from 20 countries convened in Murcia, Spain to present solutions and experiences for ‘smart destinations’. The 1st UNWTO World Conference on Smart Destinations was organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and the Digital Agenda of Spain and… Read the full press release

UNWTO to hold 3rd International Congress on Ethics and Tourism on 27-28 April 2017 in Poland

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Coinciding with the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development to be celebrated throughout 2017, the third International Congress on Ethics and Tourism will be held in Poland, on 27-28 April 2017. Organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in collaboration with the European Commission (EC) and the Government of Poland, the event will focus… Read the full press release

UNWTO Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism winners will be announced on 18 January 2017

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UNWTO has announced the finalists of the 13th edition of the UNWTO Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism. The 12 finalists were selected among 139 applicants from 55 countries. The winners will be announced on 18 January 2017 at the UNWTO Awards Ceremony, organized for the fourth consecutive year in collaboration with Madrid International… Read the full press release

World Committee on Tourism Ethics awards Ilunion Hotels with UNWTO Ethics Award

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The World Committee on Tourism Ethics (WCTE) has awarded Ilunion Hotels with the UNWTO Ethics Award. The Award distinguishes Ilunion Hotels for its work in the area of accessible tourism for all and its contribution to change attitudes, break down social barriers and make the accommodation industry more inclusive. MADRID, Spain, 2016-Nov-21 — /Travel PR… Read the full press release

UNWTO/WTM Minister Summit: Tourism and Security: Promoting Safe and Seamless Travel

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Minister of Tourism from over 50 countries and leaders from the private sector companies and associations will convene at the Ministers Summit organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the World Travel Market in London, to discuss safe, secure and seamless travel.  MADRID, Spain, 2016-Nov-04 — /Travel PR News/ — The 10th edition of the… Read the full press release

Revised tourism visa scheme promotes Qatar as world-class stopover destination

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Ministry of Interior, Qatar Airways and Qatar Tourism Authority work together to expand free transit visa stays in Qatar from 48 hours to 96 hours Nearly 30 million annual Qatar Airways passengers can plan a Doha stopover more easily UNWTO Secretary General: new scheme is significant change and will result in increase of visitors to… Read the full press release

1st UNWTO Global Conference on Wine Tourism in the Kakheti wine region of Georgia on 7-9 September 2016

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The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), in collaboration with the Georgian National Tourism Administration, is organizing the 1st UNWTO Global Conference on Wine Tourism in the Kakheti wine region of Georgia on 7-9 September 2016. MADRID, 2016-Aug-24 — /Travel PR News/ — “Georgia’s unique wine-making traditions date back 8,000 years and are considered by UNESCO as intangible… Read the full press release

UNWTO supports Government of Indonesia’s decision to grant free visa to citizens from 169 countries

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UNWTO has expressed its full support to the decision of the Government of Indonesia to grant free visa to citizens from 169 countries. The measure looks for attracting international tourism to the country by simplifying travel procedures and follows research by UNWTO and WTTC that shows that visa facilitation in the ASEAN economies could create… Read the full press release

UNWTO launches neZEH e-toolkit to support hotels in Europe to comply with nearly-Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB) regulations

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The nearly-Zero Energy Hotels (neZEH) e-toolkit, which is available online at: www.nezeh.eu assesses the energy performance of hotels and proposes measures to improve efficiency and increase the use of renewable energy sources towards nearly-zero consumption. The toolkit is the outcome of a three-year long project funded by the European Union. MADRID SPAIN, 2016-Jul-13 — /Travel… Read the full press release

First World Conference on Tourism for Development highlighted on role of tourism in fighting poverty and building peace

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The role of tourism in fighting poverty and building peace were the key focus of the First World Conference on Tourism for Development. Opening the conference, Premier Li Keqiang underlined the role of tourism in lifting people out of poverty and the importance of stepping up international cooperation in tourism. The event, organized by UNWTO… Read the full press release

United Nations approves the adoption of 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development

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MADRID, 2015-12-8 — /Travel PR News/ — The United Nations (UN) General Assembly has approved the adoption of 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. The resolution, adopted on 4 December, recognizes “the importance of international tourism, and particularly of the designation of an international year of sustainable tourism for development, in… Read the full press release

4th UNWTO International Conference on Tourism and the Media to be hosted in Tunisia on 12-13 November 2015

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Building stronger partnerships between tourism destinations and the media will be the topic of the 4th UNWTO International Conference on Tourism and the Media, to be hosted in Tunisia on 12-13 November 2015. MADRID, 2015-11-12 — /Travel PR News/ — The conference is organized with the support of CNN International and counts on the participation… Read the full press release

UNWTO, IFEMA/FITUR and Casa Africa partner with Spanish Federation of Travel Agencies to promote the Tourism Investment and Business Forum for Africa – INVESTOUR 2016

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UNWTO, IFEMA/FITUR and Casa Africa signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Spanish Federation of Travel Agencies (CEAV) to promote the Tourism Investment and Business Forum for Africa – INVESTOUR 2016, among the tourism companies in Spain. MADRID, 2015-11-12 — /Travel PR News/ — The seventh edition of INVESTOUR will be held on 21 January… Read the full press release

Czech Republic and UNWTO further strengthen ties with two-year Cooperation Plan

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The Czech Republic and UNWTO have signed a two-year Cooperation Plan on the occasion of UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai’s first official visit to the country (Prague, Czech Republic, 3-4 August 2015). MADRID, 2015-8-19 — /Travel PR News/ — Mr. Rifai’s visit followed an invitation from the Minister for Regional Development, Karla Šlechtová, with whom he… Read the full press release

3rd Int’l Conference on Financing for Development: UNWTO: Tourism’s underrepresentation in international financing for development flows remains a critical hurdle to overcome in order to fully deploy its development potential

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Despite its wide-reaching socio-economic impacts, tourism still receives limited attention as a tool for development.On the occasion of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 13-16 July), UNWTO calls for higher support for tourism in international financing for development flows to maximize the sector´s contribution to sustainable development across the globe. … Read the full press release

1st UNWTO World Forum on Food Tourism jointly organized by UNWTO and Basque Culinary Center to be held on 27-28 April 2015 in Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain

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Gastronomy and tourism are natural allies and mutually reinforce one another. The many links between gastronomy and tourism and the opportunities for closer cooperation between both areas will be explored at the 1st UNWTO World Forum on Food Tourism, jointly organized by UNWTO and the Basque Culinary Center (Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain, 27-28 April 2015).  … Read the full press release

UNWTO joins UNESCO in urging immediate action to safeguard the world’s cultural heritage

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MADRID, 2015-3-4 — /Travel PR News/ — UNWTO is appalled by the systematic destruction of cultural and religious artefacts in Syria and Iraq, the last of which in the Mosul Museum in Iraq. On behalf of the international tourism community, UNWTO joins UNESCO in urging immediate action to safeguard the world’s cultural heritage. “As stated… Read the full press release

UNWTO research: poaching and illicit trade in wildlife serious threat to tourism industry in Africa

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MADRID, 2015-3-4 — /Travel PR News/ — Wildlife watching tourism is one of the most important tourism segments in Africa, according to new UNWTO research released on the occasion of World Wildlife Day. In view of tourism’s potential in advancing inclusive growthacross the continent, poaching and illicit trade in wildlife pose a serious threat to… Read the full press release

UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai addressed ITB 2015 opening in Berlin, Germany

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MADRID, 2015-3-4 — /Travel PR News/ — In his ITB 2015 opening address, UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai highlighted how new technologies are changing society and shaping the tourism sector, shifting power from governments and companies to citizens and consumers. Rifai recalled that with power comes responsibility and highlighted tourism´s capacity to overcome prejudice in an… Read the full press release

The new UNWTO report Hotel Classification Systems: Recurrence of Criteria in 4 and 5 Star Hotels compares criteria recurrence in 30 European destinations and six destinations in other regions

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MADRID, 2015-3-2 — /Travel PR News/ — The new UNWTO report Hotel Classification Systems: Recurrence of Criteria in 4 and 5 Star Hotels, identifies the common criteria among 4 and 5 star hotels, providing valuable insights for destinations wishing to revise existing or establish new hotel classification systems. Benchmarking international accommodation standards can help destinations… Read the full press release

UNWTO announces activities at FITUR 2015, 28 January – 1 February 2015, Madrid, Spain

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MADRID, 2015-1-21 — /Travel PR News/ — Models of sustainable tourism production and consumption, the role of technology in accessible tourism for all, the future of tourism in the Middle East and North Africa, tourism investment in Africa and shopping tourism are among the many topics to be addressed at UNWTO activities during the International… Read the full press release

The Pacific Asia Travel Association will be supporting partner of the 2nd Pacific Asia Indigenous Tourism Conference (PAITC) in Vancouver, Canada from September 12 -14, 2015

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BANGKOK, 2014-12-22 — /Travel PR News/ — The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is pleased to be a supporting partner of the second Pacific Asia Indigenous Tourism Conference (PAITC), The event, organised by the World Indigenous Tourism Alliance (WINTA) and Aboriginal Tourism British Columbia (AtBC), will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia from September 12 -14, 2015…. Read the full press release