UN Tourism Focuses on Resilience Building in Jamaica

(IN SHORT) During an official visit to Jamaica, UN Tourism led by Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili emphasized the importance of building a resilient tourism sector. With international arrivals nearing pre-pandemic levels, the focus has shifted to protecting the industry from future shocks. The visit coincided with the second Global Tourism Resilience Day, marked by high-level meetings… Read the full press release

UN Tourism Secretary-General Concludes Successful Visit to Iran, Emphasizing Tourism Resilience and Rural Development

(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 press release

UN Tourism Invites Applications for 2024 Best Tourism Villages Initiative Promoting Rural Prosperity

(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 press release

FITUR 2024: UNWTO Highlights Tourism Investment, Sustainability, and Collaboration

(IN SHORT) The FITUR International Tourism Trade Fair, with Ecuador as the official partner country, is set to be a platform for tourism innovation and collaboration from January 23 to 26, 2024. The UNWTO will focus on fostering investment opportunities, strengthening international partnerships, and addressing sustainable development and climate action. Key highlights include investment forums,… Read the full press release

UNWTO General Assembly Convenes in Samarkand, Uzbekistan to Chart Future Course for Global Tourism

Madrid, Spain, 2023-Oct-21 — /Travel PR News/ — The General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization has met for the 25th time in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. As its own data indicates that global tourism is on track to reach up to 95% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of this year, the Assembly brought sector leaders… Read the full press release

UNWTO Executive Council Approves Vision and Workplan for Transforming Tourism Sector

Madrid, Spain, 2023-Oct-21 — /Travel PR News/ — The Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization has analysed and approved its vision to transform the sector. Meeting for its 119th session, Members were also presented with the Organization’s Programme of Work for the past months, with a focus on core priorities as well as a… Read the full press release

UNWTO Global Investment Forum 2023: Charting the Path for Sustainable Tourism Investment

Madrid, Spain, 2023-Oct-21 — /Travel PR News/ — The “where, why, how and how much?” of tourism investments were the focus of high-level dialogues within the framework of the UNWTO General Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. With UNWTO data analyses making clear the vital need for both increasing levels of traditional and non-traditional investments in the… Read the full press release

UNWTO Unveils Best Tourism Villages 2023 Recognizing Rural Excellence

Madrid, Spain, 2023-Oct-21 — /Travel PR News/ — The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has announced its list of Best Tourism Villages 2023. The accolate recogonizes villages that are leading in nurturing rural areas and preserving landscapes, cultural diversity, local values, and culinary traditions. In this third edition 54 villages from all regions were selected from… Read the full press release

Winston Duke Appointed UNWTO Ambassador for Responsible Tourism to Promote Global Philanthropy and Sustainable Travel

Madrid, Spain, 2023-Oct-08 — /Travel PR News/ — The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has announced the appointment of acclaimed actor Winston Duke as its newest Ambassador for Responsible Tourism. Recognized for his exceptional talent and commitment to global philanthropic efforts, Duke will advocate for sustainable tourism practices and raise awareness about the transformative power of… Read the full press release

UNWTO Appoints Chef Ambassadors for Sustainable Tourism at 8th World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism

Madrid, Spain, 2023-Oct-08 — /Travel PR News/ — The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has appointed Chef Fatmata Binta and world-renowned Basque Chefs Martín Berasategi and Pedro Subijana as Ambassadors for Sustainable Tourism, in the framework of the 8th UNWTO World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism co-organized with Basque Culinary Center (BCC). The UNWTO thus recognises their… Read the full press release

UNWTO Launches ‘Tourism Opens Minds’ Initiative to Promote Open-Minded Travel Choices

Madrid, Spain, 2023-Sep-29 — /Travel PR News/ — UNWTO has launched a new global initiative designed to unite and encourage nations, tourism sector leaders and consumers to be more open-minded when choosing a travel destination. Announced during the World Tourism Day celebrations in Riyadh, “Tourism Opens Minds” will showcase the powerful role that tourism plays… Read the full press release

World Tourism Day 2023 Celebrates Tourism and Green Investments in Riyadh

Madrid, Spain, 2023-Sep-26 — /Travel PR News/ — The stage is set for World Tourism Day 2023, with the global sector to come together around them theme of Tourism and Green Investments. In what is set to be the biggest celebration to date, the official celebrations will be held of 27 September in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia…. Read the full press release

International Tourism Reaches 84% of Pre-Pandemic Levels in 2023, Led by Middle East, Europe, and Africa

Madrid, Spain, 2023-Sep-20 — /Travel PR News/ — International tourism has continued to recover from the worst crisis in its history as arrival numbers reached 84% of pre-pandemic levels between January and July 2023, according to the latest data from UNWTO. The Middle East, Europe and Africa lead the global sector’s rebound. Tourism on Track for Full… Read the full press release

8th UNWTO World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism Returns to Spain: Spotlight on Rural Development and Culinary Heritage

Madrid, Spain, 2023-Sep-13 — /Travel PR News/ — The World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism will return to Donostia-San Sebastian in Spain (5-7 October) to focus on how tourism can foster rural development, build economic resilience, and preserve cultural heritage. Held under the theme ‘Gastronomy Tourism: Back to the roots’, the Forum will put the spotlight… Read the full press release

UNWTO and India’s G20 Presidency Launch Dashboard to Drive Tourism Contributions to Sustainable Development Goals

Delhi, India, 2023-Sep-06 — /Travel PR News/ — UNWTO and India’s G20 Presidency, have joined hands to launch a new tool to advance the contribution of tourism policies and initiatives towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ahead of the G20 Leaders’ Summit next 9-10 September, UNWTO has worked with the Presidency through India’s Ministry of… Read the full press release

UNWTO Collaborates with Thassos Municipality to Foster Inclusive Tourism Recovery and Development

Madrid, Spain, 2023-Aug-31 — /Travel PR News/ — UNWTO will work with the Municipality of Thassos in Greece to help the island rebuild its tourism sector in an inclusive way. The new joint project will focus on two core issues, namely tourism marketing and community involvement in tourism on Thassos. The work is part of… Read the full press release

UNWTO and Alpitour World Partner to Drive Innovation and Sustainability in Tourism

Madrid, Spain, 2023-Jul-07 — /Travel PR News/ — UNWTO will work with Alpitour World as a strategic partner to advance innovation, education and sustainability across every part of the tourism sector. Reflecting UNWTO’s focus on harnessing the power of public-private partnerships, the newly-signed Memorandum of Understanding with Alpitour World, will see the two organizations work… Read the full press release

UNWTO and AVIAREPS partner to offer destination marketing grants in Europe

Madrid, Spain, 2023-Mar-30 — /Travel PR News/ — 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… Read the full press release

Applications Open for UNWTO’s Best Tourism Villages Initiative to Drive Rural Development and Wellbeing

Madrid, Spain, 2023-Mar-24 — /Travel PR News/ — UNWTO has opened applications for the third edition of its Best Tourism Villages initiative. Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO was launched in 2021 as part of the Organization’s work to make tourism a driver of rural development and wellbeing. To date, over 70 villages from almost 40 countries have… Read the full press release

UNWTO Launches Women in Tech Startup Competition in the Middle East

Riyadh, KSA, 2023-Mar-17 — /Travel PR News/ — UNWTO has launched a new Startup Competition to support women tourism tech entrepreneurs and innovators across the Middle East. Announced at Biban 2023, Saudi Arabia’s largest SME conference, the Women in Tech Startup Competition: Middle East, will further advance UNWTO’s work to make tourism a pillar of women’s… Read the full press release

Antigua & Barbuda Embraced as New UNWTO Member to Drive Economic Growth through Tourism

Americas, 2023-Feb-09 — /Travel PR News/ — UNWTO has identified the potential of tourism to drive economic growth and social opportunity across its newest Member State, Antigua and Barbuda. The Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to Spain, Dr. Dario Item, along with the embassy’s Advisor, Daniel Yakovlev, were welcomed to the UNWTO headquarters in Madrid… Read the full press release

Start-ups Revolutionizing Tourism Sector Recognized by UNWTO Awake Tourism Challenge

Madrid, Spain, 2023-Feb-02 — /Travel PR News/ — UNWTO has announced the winners of its Awake Tourism Challenge, celebrating the start-ups that are reshaping the sector in every global region. The Challenge was the second edition of the UNWTO Global Startup Competition focusing on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Entrants were judged on how they are contributing to the… Read the full press release

Yucatán joins UNWTO’s International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories to boost responsible and sustainable tourism development

UNWTO has welcomed Yucatán’s Tourism Observatory into its International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO). Americas, 2023-Jan-26 — /Travel PR News/ — The Yucatán Tourism Observatory was established in 2018 to generate and manage information around tourism development. This work has identified key challenges and opportunities and so led to the design of relevant policies… Read the full press release

UNWTO and CAF Partner to Boost Sustainable Tourism Investment in the Americas at FITUR 2023

Madrid, Spain, 2023-Jan-24 — /Travel PR News/ — At FITUR 2023, UNWTO served as the bridge between public and private leaders to advance plans to build a more diverse, resilient and sustainable tourism sector. With the latest UNWTO data pointing to a return to pre-pandemic arrival levels in some world regions in 2023, Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili once again… Read the full press release

International Tourism Set to Return to Pre-Pandemic Levels in Europe and Middle East in 2023: UNWTO Report

Madrid, Spain, 2023-Jan-18 — /Travel PR News/ — After stronger than expected recovery in 2022, this year could see international tourism arrivals return to pre-pandemic levels in Europe and the Middle East. Tourists are nonetheless expected to increasingly seek value for money and travel closer to home in response to the challenging economic climate. Based… Read the full press release

UNWTO unveils ‘Best Tourism Villages 2022’

Madrid, Spain, 2022-Dec-22 — /Travel PR News/ — From Austria to Vietnam, 32 destinations from all around the world have been named as ‘Best Tourism Villages 2022’ by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The accolade recognizes rural destinations that are embracing tourism as a driver of development and new opportunities for jobs and income, while… Read the full press release

UNWTO strengthens commitment to support Moroccan MSMEs

Africa, 2022-Dec-01 — /Travel PR News/ — UNWTO is stepping up its commitment to make Micro, Small and Medium-Enterprises agents of transformation for the tourism sector. Against the backdrop of its Executive Council in Marrakesh, the United Nations specialized agency outlined plans to support 10,000 Moroccan MSMEs benefit from digitalization. The joint action plan, developed alongside the… Read the full press release

UNWTO Affiliate Members network expands with 18 new entities

UNWTO has welcomed 18 new Affiliate Members into its global network. Madrid, Spain, 2022-Nov-29 — /Travel PR News/ — The newly admitted UNWTO members reflect the diversity of the broad tourism sector, with private companies, Destination Management Organizations, universities, professional associations, Intergovernmental Organization and NGOs, all represented. The new additions also reflect UNWTO’s global mission, six from… Read the full press release

The 6th edition of the Wine Tourism conference kicks in on 19 September 2022, in Alba, the Piemonte region, Italy

Madrid, Spain, 2022-Sep-15 — /Travel PR News/ — UNWTO and the Government of Italy will celebrate the 6th Global Conference on Wine Tourism. Under the theme ‘What’s next? Wine tourism pairs with Innovation…’ and building up on the success of the past five editions, this 6th edition will take place on 19-21 September 2022, in Alba in the… Read the full press release

His Holiness Pope Francis on building a better future for tourism during the UNWTO’s first Global Youth Tourism Summit

Sorrento, Italy, 2022-Jun-29 — /Travel PR News/ — His Holiness Pope Francis has sent an historic message of support to UNWTO’s first Global Youth Tourism Summit. As the Summit gets underway in Sorrento, Italy, His Holiness called on young participants to make the most of the unique opportunity to develop the knowledge and the skills… Read the full press release