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UNWTO becomes “UN Tourism”

UNWTO Becomes “UN Tourism” to Mark A New Era for Global Sector

As of January 24, The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) enters a new era with a new name and brand: UN Tourism . With this new brand, the Organization reaffirms its status as the United Nations specialized agency for tourism and the global leader of tourism for development, driving social and economic change to ensure that “people and planet” are always center stage.

By moving away from acronyms, UN Tourism adopts a more approachable stance and capitalizes on its strengths: the “UN”, signifying authority, and tourism, a simple and relatable concept for all. 

The new brand expression is not only limited to words and messages but also expands into a reinvented visual discourse.  UN Tourism  has a new design language starting from its symbol. “ Bringing the world closer ” is the new tagline that inspires the concept of a Pangea shaping a human figure in action.  This drastic evolution from the former globe symbol reflects the Organization’s emphasis on the dynamic nature of tourism and on putting people first.

With 160 Member States and hundreds of private sector affiliates, UN Tourism has its headquarters in Madrid, Spain, and Regional Offices in Nara (Japan) covering Asia & Pacific, Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) for the Middle East, as well as forthcoming Regional Offices for the Americas (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Africa (Morocco). Its priorities center on promoting tourism for sustainable development in line with the  UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development  and its 17 Global Goals (UN Tourism Press Release, 24 January 2024) .

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Activity Start date ongoing:  Ongoing Activity End date ongoing:  Ongoing Activity:  UNWTO takes charge of the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. UNWTOpromotes the value of tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmentalsustainability, and offers leadership and support in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide.Recognizing the UNWTO’s role in promoting the potential of tourism in fighting poverty and achieving the SDGs,the UN General Assembly declared 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development(IY2017) and as of July 2017, UNWTO features on the DAC/OECD’s list of development assistance organizations.Tourism is included in SDG 14: ‘Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources forsustainable development’ (besides the SDG 8: ‘Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth,full and productive employment and decent work for all and SDG 12: ‘Sustainable Consumption and Production’).Nevertheless, given its cross-cutting nature, it can advance on all 17 SDGs.• In recent years, several capacity-building activities have been carried out by UNWTO and its member states(on a bilateral or regional level) and also with the support of some of the UNWTO Sustainable TourismObservatories in various coastal countries. An example of such a successful project could be the COASTproject (http://www.un.org/depts/los/nippon/documents/Non_recurrent_e_publication_Oceans_final.pdf).• UNWTO pays special attention also to the situation of Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) and to theirchallenges related to the development of a sustainable tourism.• Given the importance attached by UNWTO to the maritime, coastal and inland water tourism, upon theproposal of the Committee on Tourism and Competitiveness, the 22nd General Assembly adopted in China, inSeptember 2017 the definition of “Maritime, coastal and inland water tourism”. The adopted definitions areavailable on this page: http://cf.cdn.unwto.org/sites/all/files/pdf/ctc_definitions_en_web.pdf. Objectives:  Promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism including maritime, coastal and inland water tourism Lead Organization/Partners :  United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Scope of Activity:  Global Websites:  http://www.un.org/depts/los/nippon/documents/Non_recurrent_e_publication_Oceans_final.pdf http://cf.cdn.unwto.org/sites/all/files/pdf/ctc_definitions_en_web.pdf Activity Start date:  Ongoing Activity End date:  Ongoing Submitted By:  Relevant Stakeholder Relevant Stakeholder:  United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

UNWTO – The World Tourism Organization

The World Tourism Organisation  is a united nations agency which is responsible for the development and promotion of tourism at the world level.

The World Tourism Organisation needs its beginnings as the International Congress of Official Tourist Traffic Associations set up in 1925 in the Haghe. In 1934 International Union of Official Tourist Propaganda organization (IUOTOP) was created. However, it was renamed as the International Union of Official Travel Organisation (IUOTO) after World War 2nd in Geneva.

IUOTO was a technical, non-government organization, whose membership at its peak included 109 National Tourist Organisation (NTOs) and 88 associated members, among them private and public sector organizations.

With passes of time as tourism grew and became an integral part of the fabric of modern life, its international dimensions increased and national Governments started to play significant as well as a proactive role in tourism activities such as infrastructure development.

During the 1960s. It was recognized that there is a need for tourists’ development of international, regional, and national levels, and to keep to the peace of tourist development, specialized inter-Governmental machinery is required. That is why in 1967 IUOTO members called for its transformation into an intergovernmental body empowered to deal on a worldwide basis with all matters concerning tourists and cooperated with other international bodies.

In 1970, on the 27th Sept. IUOTO’s Extraordinary General Assembly adopted the statutes of the World Tourism Organisation in Mexico. Thus, IUOTO became the World Tourism Organisation and its first General Assembly was held in Madrid in May 1975 . The Secretariat was installed in Madrid and the Spanish Government provided the initial infrastructure.

In 1979, World Tourism Day created, to be celebrated every year on 27th September. Since the inception of UNWTO, it has been playing a pivotal role in the field of travel and tourism.

In fact, UNWTO is acting as an umbrella organization, and plays a catalytic role in promoting technological transfers and international cooperation, stimulating and developing public-private sector partnership, encouraging the implementation of the Global Code of ethics for tourism, maximizes the possible economical-social, cultural impact of tourism and minimize its negative social, cultural and environmental impact.

To further strengthen its overall role in tourism, UNWTO was converted into a specialized agency of the United Nations.

Aims & Objective of UNWTO

Through tourism , UNWTO aims at stimulating economic growth and job creation, providing incentives, protecting the environment, and cultural heritage, promoting peace, prosperity, and respect for rights. The UNWTO’s main missions/aims are as:

• To create employment opportunities.
• To improve international understanding and contribute peace among all the nations of the world.
• To create intercultural awareness and personal friendships.
• To promote and develop responsible, sustainable , and universally accessible tourism.
• To stimulate and develop responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism.
• To stimulate and develop public-private sector partnerships.
• To develop and encourage the implementation of the Global Code of ethics for travel and tourism.
• To help in equalization in Economic opportunities.
• To coordinate and cooperate with the other international Agencies in tourism promotion and development.
• To focus on destination development.
• To promote the use of information technology.
• To develop Human Resources.
• To promote and spread the message of peace, harmony through quality educations and training.
• To develop a conceptional framework for tourism an encourage to use.

Membership of UNWTO

In 2003 UNWTO membership reached 141 countries, seven territories, and 360 affiliate members representing the private sector educational institutions, tourism associations and local tourism bodies. The UNWTO has three categories of membership:

Full Member

• Associate Member
• Affiliated Member

It is opened to all Sovereign states. At present, full members are 141 countries. India is the founder member of UNWTO.

Associate Members

This type of membership is opened to all territories not responsible for their external relations. The membership requires the prior approval of the Government which assumes responsibility for their external relations. At present seven territories are associated members.

Affiliate Members

Affiliate membership comprises a wide range of organizations and companies working directly in travel, tourism, and related sectors. These may include airlines, cruises, transport, hotels, resorts, restaurants, tour operators , travel agents , banking institutions, insurance companies, and other travel-related organizations. Moreover, the affiliate members made up of three groups namely:

• The UNWTO Business Council
• The UNWTO Education Council
• The UNWTO Task Force in Destination Management

The affiliate membership requires endorsement by the government of the state in which the headquarters of the applicant is located.

The UNWTO is the only inter-governmental organization that offers membership to the operational sector and in this way offers a unique contact point for discussion between government officials and industry leaders. UNWTO broad-based afflicted membership also has its own programmes of activities which includes, regular meetings, seminars, workshops, the conference on the specific topic such as e-business for tourism, and public-private sector cooperation and partnership.

Organizational Structure of UNWTO

UNWTO administration is carried out under a secretary-general, executive council, regional commission, committees, and secretariat, etc. The overall control and management of UNWTO lie with the General Assembly, which takes place every year. Thus, the bodies and organizational structure of UNWTO follows as:

General Assembly

It is the supreme and principal body of UNWTO . The General Assembly is composed of members and associate members, whereas affiliate members and representations of other international organizations can participate as observers. Every four years it elects a Secretary-General. General Assembly meets every year to approve the budget and program of work and to debate topics of vital importance to the tourism sector.

Executive Council

It is important for the smooth working of UNWTO. In fact, the Executive Council is a Governing board of UNWTO, is responsible for ensuring that the organization carried out its functions to achieve goals/objectives. The board meets twice a year and is composed of 27 members elected in the general assembly in a ratio of one for every five full members.

Spain has a permanent seat on the executive council as a host country of UNWTO’s headquarters. Further, representatives of associate and affiliate members participate in Executive council meetings as observers.

Regional Commissions

Strengthen and support the efforts carried out by the National Tourism administration, UNWTO has established a regional commission. At present, UNWTO has six regional commission – Africa, the Americas, East Asia and the Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia.

Each region receives special attention from its regional representative based at the headquarter in Madrid. The commissions meat at least a year and are composed of all the full, associate members from the region and affiliate members from the region participate as an observer. In the special effort to help boost tourism to Sub-Saharan Africa, UNWTO has developed a specific program of technical activities for the years 2003-04.

Committees of UNWTO

UNWTO has appointed various committees of Full, Associate and affiliated members to advice UNWTO administration and to achieve its mission, these committees are:

• Programme Committee
• Budget and Finance Committee
• Statistic and micro-economical analysis of tourism Committee
• The quality support Committee
• Education Council
• Business Council
• Sustainable development of the Tourism Committee
• Tourism Ethics Committee

Secretariat of UNWTO

Secretariat is the hierarchy of authority and responsibility through which UNWTO works. It tells us who is responsible for what. The UNWTO Secretariat is led by Secretary-General, these officers are responsible for implementing UNWTO programs. The UNWTO Business Council is head by a full-time chief executive and is supported by the Regional Commission and Committee.

Role and Contribution of UNWTO

At the beginning of the new millennium, tourism has firmly established as the number one industry in most of the counties of the world. For more than a dozen countries, tourism is the fastest-growing economic sector in terms of foreign exchange earnings, job creation, and an important factor in the balance of payment.

UNWTO has been playing an increasingly important role to make tourism as a number one industry at global, regional, and national levels. Since its inception i.e. from 1924 UNWTO has taken various initiatives to promote and develop tourism in a systematic and scientific way such as:

• Develop intercultural awareness and personal friendship.
• Encourage investment in tourism.
• Help in equalize economic opportunities.
• Develop international understanding and peace.
• Regional development.
• Develop sustainable and responsible tourism.
• Cooperate and coordinate with international agencies for tourism development.
• Provide leadership, and quality education.
• Destination development and management.
• Promote technology.
• Develop statistical measurement.
• Develop ethics and social responsibility.

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