Press releases
15 January 2013
Utrecht
Netherlands 		The Dutch Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators commits to UNWTO Code of Ethics
The Dutch Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (ANVR), representing 200 tour operators and 1,400 travel agencies in the Netherlands, has pledged to observe the principles of the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism (Utrecht, the Netherlands, 9 January 2013).
14 January 2013
Madrid
Spain 		UNWTO activities at FITUR 2013
A tourism investment forum for Africa and a debate on tourism prospects in the Middle East and North Africa are among the many UNWTO events planned for the International Tourism Trade Fair, FITUR (Madrid, Spain, 30 January – 3 February 2013).
3 January 2013
New York
United States 		UN General Assembly: ecotourism key to eradicating poverty and protecting environment
A landmark resolution recognizing ecotourism as key in the fight against poverty, the protection of the environment and the promotion of sustainable development has been adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (21 December 2012). 
13 December 2012
Madrid
Spain 		UNWTO welcomes the world’s one-billionth tourist
A British tourist visiting Madrid, Spain on 13 December has been revealed as the symbolic face of the one billion international tourists travelling in 2012. The tourist was welcomed by the Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism of Spain, José Manuel Soria, UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, and the Mayor of Madrid, Ana Botella, at an event in Madrid’s Museo del Prado, held to celebrate a record one billion international tourists in 2012. The event, part of the UNWTO One Billion Tourists: One Billion Opportunities campaign, recalled how tourism can create billions of opportunities for growth and development around the world (Madrid, Spain, 13 December 2012). 
12 December 2012
Madrid
Spain 		International tourism hits one billion
One billion tourists have travelled the world in 2012, marking a new record for international tourism – a sector that accounts for one in every 12 jobs and 30% of the world’s services exports. On the symbolic arrival date of the one-billionth tourist (13 December 2012), UNWTO revealed the actions tourists can take to ensure their trips benefit the people and places they visit, as voted by the public.     
7 December 2012
Lisbon
Portugal 		Tourism key for jobs and exports says President of Portugal accepting the UNWTO/WTTC Open Letter on Travel and Tourism
The President of Portugal, Anibal Cavaco Silva, has highlighted the importance of tourism to the country’s jobs and exports on the occasion of the presentation of the UNWTO / World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Open Letter on Travel and Tourism which aims to rally support for tourism among world leaders (Lisbon, Portugal, 6 December 2012).
30 November 2012
Doha
Qatar 		How tourism can cut emissions – UNWTO outlines strategies at COP18 Doha climate change conference
In its on-going effort to cut global tourism emissions, UNWTO brought together experts from United Nations agencies and Oxford University at UN climate change talks in Qatar to present the latest strategies helping to reduce tourism’s contribution to global warming.
23 November 2012
Madrid
Spain 		German tourism companies pledge to uphold the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism
The German Travel Association (DRV) and thirteen of its members have joined the growing list of tourism enterprises and associations to commit to the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism (Budva, Montenegro, 17 November 2012).
15 November 2012
Madrid
Spain 		UNWTO unveils winners of the 2012 Ulysses Awards
An online tool that allows tourism business to assess and improve their accessibility and an initiative encouraging tourists to stay with families in Malaysia are among the five winners of this year’s UNWTO Ulysses Awards. 
13 November 2012
Madrid
Spain 		Leading scholar awarded top prize for contribution to tourism knowledge
Erik Cohen, one of the world’s leading social science scholars in the field of tourism, has been named this year’s winner of the UNWTO Ulysses Prize for Excellence in the Creation and Dissemination of Knowledge, honoring those within academia making a significant contribution to the advancement of tourism.