UNWTO commends the Government of Romania to attract more international youth travelers through the country’s first tourism cluster dedicated to young people

UNWTO commends the measures taken by the Government of Romania to attract more international youth travelers through the country’s first tourism cluster dedicated to young people. MADRID, 2014-10-29 — /Travel PR News/ — The new Youth Tourism Cluster, an initiative by the Ministry of Tourism of Romania, brings together state institutions, private companies and international… Read the full press release

The International Renewable Energy Agency and the World Tourism Organization joined forces to promote the use of renewable energies in Islands’ tourism sector

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), an intergovernmental organization dedicated to supporting countries’ efforts to adopt renewable energy, and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the United Nations specialized agency for tourism, have joined forces to promote the use of renewable energies in Islands.  MADRID, 2014-9-2 — /Travel PR News/ — In a Joint Statement on Renewable Energy… Read the full press release

UNWTO opens the applications for the 11th edition of the UNWTO Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism

Madrid, 2014-8-5 — /Travel PR News/ — UNWTO has opened the call for applications for the 11th edition of the UNWTO Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism. Interested candidates can apply until the 31 October 2014. The Award Ceremony will be held during the Madrid International Tourism Trade Fair FITUR in Spain on 28 January 2015. The… Read the full press release

UNWTO and Griffith Institute for Tourism to disseminate tourism knowledge in Asia and the Pacific

Madrid, 2014-7-24 — /Travel PR News/ — Disseminating tourism knowledge, enhancing the expertise on tourism and climate change and advancing sustainable tourism in Asia and the Pacific are some of the areas of cooperation agreed between the Griffith Institute for Tourism (GIFT) and UNWTO (Madrid, Spain, 21 July 2014). The cooperation agreement was signed by UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, and the… Read the full press release

UNWTO addresses the advancement of tourism in Ethiopia and the key role of the sector in the country’s socio-economic development

Addis Abeba/Madrid, 2014-7-24 — /Travel PR News/ — During an official visit to Ethiopia, UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, met with President Mulatu Teshome, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen, and Minister of Culture & Tourism,Amin Abdulkadir, to address the advancement of tourism in Ethiopia and the key role of the sector in the country’s socio-economic development. (Addis Abeba,… Read the full press release

UNWTO and IATA to jointly advocate for innovation and talent development to promote competitive and sustainable tourism development

Madrid, 2014-6-12 — /Travel PR News/ — Advancing innovation and talent development in tourism and air travel is the core component of the first Memorandum of Understanding signed between UNWTO and The International Air Transport Association (IATA). The MOU is part of the objectives set by both organizations of bringing the tourism and air transport agendas… Read the full press release

UNWTO supports tourism recovery of Bohol and Tacloban in Philippines, severely hit by two major natural disasters

Bohol/Madrid, 2014-6-3 — /Travel PR News/ — During a recent visit to the Philippines, UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai visited the Bohol province to review the recovery progress following the 2013 earthquake and deliver a recovery plan for the region’s tourism sector. The Bohol Tourism Recovery Plan is a roadmap to support the recovery of Bohol’s tourism… Read the full press release

UNWTO, UNODC, and African Tourism Ministers support global fight against wildlife crime

Berlin/Madrid, 2014-03-11 — /Travel PR News/ — UNWTO, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and African Tourism Ministers have committed toadvancing the tourism sector’s support in the global fight against the surge in poaching that is threatening one of Africa’s main tourism resources – its unique wildlife and biodiversity. (ITB Berlin, Germany, 6 March 2014). In a… Read the full press release

UNWTO and the Adventure Travel Trade Association partner to enhance global adventure travel sector

Seattle, WA, 2014-03-11 — /Travel PR News/ — The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) signed a new partnership agreement March 7, 2014, during Corporate Social Responsibility Day at ITB Berlin, the world’s largest tourism trade fair. At the crux of the agreement are precedent-setting initiatives dedicated to enhancing the understanding of and professionalization of the… Read the full press release

UNWTO to help Qatar implement its new tourism strategy

Madrid, Spain, 2014-2-28 — /Travel PR News/ — UNWTO is supporting Qatar to implement its new tourism strategy through collaboration in the areas of legislation, institutional strengthening, statistics, marketing and capacity building. During an official visit to the country, where he met H.E. Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister of Qatar and attended the… Read the full press release

UNWTO released its program and activities planned for the ITB Travel Trade Show 2014 in Berlin, Germany, 5-9 March

MADRID, Spain, 2014-2-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — The launch of an international campaign against trafficking, the 4th Silk Road Ministers’ Meeting dedicated this year to visa facilitation and the meeting of World Tourism Network on Child Protection, are among UNWTO’s activities during the ITB Travel Trade Show 2014 (Berlin, Germany, 5-9 March, 2014). 4th Silk Road Ministers’ Meeting on Visa Facilitation… Read the full press release

UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai met with federal and state government officials in Australia

Madrid, Spain, 2014-2-14 — /travelprnews.com/ — The UNWTO Secretary-General concluded a 5-day trip to Australia where he met with federal and state government officials as well as main private sector associations and UNWTO Affiliate Members. During his visit, Mr. Rifai underscored the progress made by Australia in converging with UNWTO’s main policy recommendations: supporting travel facilitation, intelligent… Read the full press release

UNWTO World Tourism Barometer unveils international tourist arrivals grew by 5% in 2013 reaching a record 1,087 million arrivals

Madrid, Spain, 2014-1-20 — /travelprnews.com/ — International tourist arrivals grew by 5% in 2013, reaching a record 1,087 million arrivals, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. Despite global economic challenges, international tourism results were well above expectations, with an additional 52 million international tourists travelling the world in 2013. For 2014, UNWTO forecasts 4% to… Read the full press release

UNWTO’s planned activities for the International Tourism Trade Fair FITUR Madrid 22-26 January 2014

Madrid, Spain, 2014-1-17 — /travelprnews.com/ — The presentation of the 2013 UNWTO Awards, a Ministerial Debate on the future of tourism in the Middle East and North Africa and a business-to-business event connecting African tourism companies with Spanish and Portuguese counterparts are among the many UNWTO activities planned for the International Tourism Trade Fair, FITUR (Madrid, Spain,… Read the full press release

UN General Assembly adopted resolution on “Sustainable tourism and sustainable development in Central America”

Madrid, Spain, 2014-1-6 — /travelprnews.com/ — Sustainable tourism is an ally of poverty eradication in Central America and the three dimensions of sustainable development – social, economic and environmental – as reflected in the UN resolution on “Sustainable tourism and sustainable development in Central America”. The 193-member UN General Assembly adopted the resolution unanimously during its… Read the full press release

UNWTO World Tourism Barometer: international tourism grew by 5% in the first nine months of 2013

Madrid, Spain, 2013-12-13 — /travelprnews.com/ — In the first nine months of 2013, international tourism grew by 5% according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. The number of international tourist arrivals reported by destinations around the world increased by some 41 million between January and September, growing above UNWTO’s initial forecast and creating an important stimulus to… Read the full press release

17 Portugal tourism associations signed the Private Sector Commitment to the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism

Madrid, Spain, 2013-12-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — Seventeen of Portugal´s foremost tourism associations have signed the Private Sector Commitment to the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, pledging to implement the ethical principles of the Code in their policies and operations. The signing took place coinciding with the 3rd UNWTO International Conference of Tourism and the Media (Estoril,… Read the full press release

UNWTO and UNESCO to cooperate on sustainable tourism and the protection of natural and cultural heritage

UNWTO and the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) forged a new cooperation agreement consolidating efforts on sustainable tourism and the protection of natural and cultural heritage (26 November 2013, New York, USA). Madrid, Spain, 2013-11-29 — /travelprnews.com/ — Under the Memorandum of Understanding, signed by UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai and UNESCO Director General, Irina Bokova, in… Read the full press release

Laos Prime Minister receives UNWTO/WTTC Open Letter on Travel and Tourism from UNWTO Secretary-General

Madrid, Spain, 2013-11-18 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Prime Minister of Laos, Thongsing Thammavong, acknowledged tourism as central to the agenda of the government of Laos when accepting the UNWTO/WTTC Open Letter on Travel and Tourism from UNWTO Secretary-General, in support of mainstreaming the sector in the national and international agendas. Prime Minister Thammavong said, “Tourism development is… Read the full press release

The 5th World Ecotourism Conference “Marine and Coastal Ecotourism: Oceans of Uncertainties, Waves of Opportunities” – Cebu, Philippines 13- 15 November 2013

Cebu, Philippines, 2013-11-8 — /travelprnews.com/ — The 5th World Ecotourism Conference – “Marine and Coastal Ecotourism: Oceans of Uncertainties, Waves of Opportunities” will be organised jointly by the Department of Tourism of the Philippines andDiscoveryMice, in collaboration with UNWTO in Cebu City, Philippines from 13 to 15 November, 2013. Objectives of the 5th World Ecotourism Conference A key objective of the World Ecotourism Conference… Read the full press release

Tourism Ministers call for closer coordination of tourism and aviation policies at UNWTO & World Travel Market (WTM) Ministers’ Summit

London, United Kingdom, 2013-11-8 — /travelprnews.com/ — Improving air connectivity through a closer coordination of tourism and aviation policies to ensure the sustained growth of the tourism sector and of air transport was the commitment stemming from the annual UNWTO & World Travel Market (WTM) Ministers´ Summit (London, United Kingdom, 5 November 2013). Critical issues related to… Read the full press release

Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) attended 3rd World Tourism Conference in Malacca, Malaysia

Malacca, Malaysia, 2013-10-25 — /travelprnews.com/ — Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) attended the third edition of World Tourism Conference, an event jointly organized by World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Government of Malaysia in Malacca, Malaysia from 21-23 October 2013. The theme of World Tourism Conference 2013 is “Global Tourism: Game Changers and Pace Setters”. The opening… Read the full press release

Visa facilitation top priority for UNESCO/UNWTO Silk Roads Heritage Corridors Workshop

Madrid, Spain, 2013-10-16 — /travelprnews.com/ — Tourism and heritage experts called for more effective visa systems to support tourism development at the UNESCO/UNWTO Silk Roads Heritage Corridors Tourism Strategy Workshop. The workshop aimed to define a tourism management roadmap for two UNESCO Silk Road Heritage Corridors crossing China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan (7-8 October 2013, Almaty,… Read the full press release

New report reveals visa facilitation could create 2.6 million new jobs in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

Bali, Indonesia, 2013-10-01 — /travelprnews.com/ — A new report by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) shows that visa facilitation could create up to 2.6 million new jobs in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies by 2016. The report was presented on the occasion of the APEC High Level Policy… Read the full press release

2nd UNWTO Global Summit on City Tourism in Moscow 19-20 September 2013

Madrid, 2013-09-20 — /travelprnews.com/ — The upcoming 2nd UNWTO Global Summit on City Tourism, “Innovative strategies for improving competitiveness and the development of new business models” in Moscow, capital city of the Russian Federation, (19-20 September 2013) will set the stage for the second phase of the “Cities” project initiated by UNWTO last year. Organized… Read the full press release

UNWTO: International tourist arrivals reached almost 500 million in H1-2013, up 5% YoY

Madrid, 2013-08-27 — /travelprnews.com/ — International tourist arrivals grew by 5% during the first half of 2013 compared to the same period of 2012, reaching almost 500 million, according to data just released by UNWTO. Growth was above the projection made at the beginning of the year (+3% to +4%) and is also exceeding the trend of… Read the full press release

UNWTO: 298 million international tourists traveled worldwide between January and April 2013

Madrid, 2013-07-17 — /travelprnews.com/ — A total of 298 million international tourists travelled worldwide between January and April 2013, 12 million more than in the same period last year according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. Prospects for the current tourism peak season remain positive with some 435 million tourists expected to travel abroad in the… Read the full press release

World Trade Organization’s Fourth Global Review of Aid for Trade meeting in Geneva emphasized the increasingly prominent role of tourism in developing countries

Madrid/Geneve, 2013-07-17 — /travelprnews.com/ — The developmental impact and potential of tourism was highlighted at the World Trade Organization’s Fourth Global Review of Aid for Trade in Geneva. At the meeting, UNWTO emphasized the increasingly prominent role of tourism in developing countries, particularly Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and called for increased support for tourism in international aid… Read the full press release

UNWTO welcomes Azerbaijan´s implementation of new e-visa system aimed to attract more international tourists

Madrid, 2013-06-28 — /travelprnews.com/ — UNWTO welcomes Azerbaijan´s implementation of a new e-visa system streamlining visa applications into an electronic format, aimed to attract more international tourists into the country. The electronic visa system, operational since March 2013, was administered upon the decree of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, to facilitate visa procedures for foreigners… Read the full press release

UNWTO, Casa Árabe partners for tourism development and promotion in Arab countries

Madrid, 2013-06-20 — /travelprnews.com/ — UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai and Casa Árabe Director General Eduardo López Busquets have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote sustainable tourism development and strengthening institutional capacity in Arab countries (Madrid, 10 June 2013). Signed at UNWTO headquarters in Madrid, the Memorandum furthers cooperation between UNWTO and Casa Árabe in common… Read the full press release