The city of San Sebastian, Spain hosted the 108th meeting of the executive council of the World Tourism Organisation.

During the meeting, secretary general Zurab Pololikashvili obtained the support of this key governing body for the priorities that will set up the work of the organisation for the coming years.

Likewise, the council supported the new structure of the UNWTO, its renewed institutional image and the designated management team for the implementation of the agreed programme of work.

Under Pololikashvili, who took office in January this year, the UNWTO will focus on five pillars for the period 2018-2019: innovation and the digital transformation; investments and entrepreneurship; education and employment; safe, secure and seamless travel; and social, cultural and environmental sustainability.

In order to address new tourism challenges and trends and improve the business environment for the sector, the organisation will pay special attention to scaling up innovation and digitalisation in the sector.

This will lead to the creation of new job and business opportunities, an increase of investments in tourism, and enhanced competitiveness and sustainability for the sector.

The secretary general also presented the organisation’s new leadership structure, put in place to increase efficiency in achieving UNWTO’s goals of adding value to members, increasing membership and serving the tourism sector as a whole.

“This is a time of renewal for our organization.

“Listening closely to the opinions and needs of all our members and partners is key,” Pololikashvili stated during the opening ceremony.

The 109th, 110th and 111th sessions of the UNWTO executive council will take place in Bahrain, Azerbaijan and Russia, respectively.