Unwto News
Seychelles tourism minister St. Ange steps down to pursue UNWTO aspirations
Alain St. Ange has stepped down from his post of Seychelles minister of tourism. He will be replaced by Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, who will be sworn in today by president Danny Faure as the new minister of tourism, civil aviation, ports and marine for the Republic of the Seychelles.
Poland to host International Congress on Ethics and Tourism in April
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 April 27th-28th, 2017. Organised by the World Tourism Organisation, the event will focus on the shared responsibility of all stakeholders in promoting a more sustainable tourism sector.
UNWTO secretary general stresses EU links
During a recent visit to Brussels, Belgium, the secretary general of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, Taleb Rifai, discussed how to reinforce the collaboration of the organisation with the European Union. Rifai met the EU commissioners for education, culture, youth and sports, Tibor Navracsics; for environment, maritime affairs and fisheries, Karmenu Vella; and for international cooperation and development, Neven Mimica.
UNWTO secretary general Taleb Rifai congratulates St Petersburg on World Travel Awards success
The secretary general of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, Taleb Rifai, has congratulated St Petersburg on its recent success at the World Travel Awards. The Russian cultural hotspot was recognised with the title of World’s Leading Cultural City Destination by voters at the World Travel Awards during the Grand Final Gala Ceremony in the Maldives earlier this month. The title is in addition to that of Europe’s Leading Destination, which St Petersburg won for the second year in succession in September.
UNWTO highlights ecological potential of international tourism
With the objective of advancing the contribution of the tourism sector to biodiversity preservation the World Tourism Organisation participated in the UN Biodiversity Conference COP13, in Cancun, Mexico. The conference is focused on mainstreaming biodiversity across relevant sectors, especially agriculture, fisheries, forestry and tourism.
UNWTO endorses tourism growth in Sudan
UNWTO secretary general, Taleb Rifai, has expressed the commitment of the World Tourism Organisation to support Sudan’s tourism development during his recent official visit to Sudan. The visit coincided with a three-day regional executive training on crisis communication in tourism organised by UNWTO and the UNWTO Themis Foundation.
Amadeus partners with UNWTO for Kenya tourism programme
Amadeus, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, and the ministry of tourism of Kenya have agreed to work together to help young people and women in underprivileged communities access employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in the travel and tourism industries. The pilot programme is scheduled for launch in Kenya before the end of 2017.
World Travel Market 2016: UNWTO launches Phoenicians tourism route
An integral component of Mediterranean trade and culture, the Phoenicians’ Route links 18 countries with a common heritage. With the aim of revitalising this itinerary as a tourism route, the World Tourism Organisation, ministry of tourism of Lebanon and Council of Europe launched the Phoenicians’ Route Cultural Tourism Programme, which integrates public and private sector, at World Travel Market in London.
World Travel Market 2016: UNWTO predicts near one billion tourists by September 2016
Destinations around the world welcomed 956 million international tourists between January and September 2016, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. This is 34 million more than in the same period of 2015, a four per cent increase. Demand for international tourism remained robust in the first nine months of 2016, though growing at a somewhat more moderate pace.
Egypt welcomes UNWTO executive council to Luxor
The city of Luxor in Egypt is hosting the 104th meeting of the executive council of the World Tourism Organisation today. The meeting will discuss the three priorities of the organisation for 2016-2017: safe, secure and seamless travel; the impact of technology in the tourism sector; and sustainability.
Egyptian Tourist Authority to welcome UNWTO to Luxor
The ministry of tourism and Egyptian Tourist Authority have announced their sponsorship of the 104th session of the World Tourism Organisation Executive Council in Luxor. The event will be held from October 30-31st, 2016. Luxor is also hosting the fifth UNWTO Global Summit on City Tourism, attended by representatives and participants from many different countries all over the world.
UNWTO: International tourism continues upward trend in early 2016
International tourist arrivals worldwide grew by four per cent between January and June 2016 compared to the same period last year. Destinations worldwide received 561 million international tourists (overnight visitors), 21 million more than in 2015, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer.