News
15 May 2013 International tourism receipts grew by 4% in 2012
Receipts from international tourism in destinations around the world grew by 4% in 2012 reaching US$ 1075 billion. This growth is equal to the 4% increase in international tourist arrivals which reached 1035 million in 2012. An additional US$ 219 billion was recorded in receipts from international passenger transport, bringing total exports generated by international tourism in 2012 to US$ 1.3 trillion.
14 May 2013 UNWTO welcomes Trinidad and Tobago as its new Member
Trinidad and Tobago has become UNWTO’s 156th Member State as the country rejoins the Organization after 35 years. The announcement was made by the Secretary General, Taleb Rifai, at the opening of the 55th Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for the Americas starting today in San Jose, Costa Rica.
8 May 2013 UNWTO & ATM Ministerial Forum welcomes over 25 ministers as second annual meeting emphasises need for aviation and tourism sector synergy
More than 25 ministers took part in the second annual UNWTO & Ministerial Forum at the Arabian Travel Market with delegates sharing their views on how to work together towards long-term aviation and tourism sector growth.
7 May 2013 The United Arab Emirates joins the World Tourism Organization
UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, announced today that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) rejoined the Organization 26 years after having left UNWTO. The announcement was made during the UNWTO & Arabian Travel Market Ministerial Forum on Tourism and Aviation (Dubai, UAE, 7 May 2013).
2 May 2013 Morocco – UNWTO and UNDP support new system of classification for tourism accommodation
UNWTO, the Government of Morocco and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed an agreement to support the Ministry of Tourism of Morocco in the implementation of a new classification system for tourism accommodation establishments. Strengthening the quality of accommodation across all establishments is central to consolidate the competitiveness of Morocco as a tourism destination.
29 April 2013 UNWTO/Tourism Australia report highlights the potential of South-East Asian outbound tourism
Over the past decades, Asia and the Pacific has consolidated its position not only as one of the major tourism destination regions, but also as an increasingly important outbound market. Asia accounts for 14 of the world´s top 50 source markets in terms of international expenditure. ‘Key Outbound Tourism Markets in South-East Asia’, a new joint report by UNWTO and Tourism Australia, responds to the growing need to better understand five of these dynamic source markets and the opportunity they represent to destinations around the world.
26 April 2013 UNWTO and PATA partner to advance tourism for economic growth and development in Asia
Advancing economic diversification, cultural and environmental preservation through tourism are the key objectives of a new Strategic Partnership signed between UNWTO and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) on the occasion of the PATA Annual Summit (25-28 April, Bangkok, Thailand).
25 April 2013 UNWTO organizes first ever World Tourism Day Essay Competition
25 April 2013 The 3rd Silk Road Task Force Meeting defines future Silk Road Action Plan
Delegates from over 15 countries and representatives of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Federation of Tourist Guides Associations, gathered around the 3rd meeting of the Task Force of the Silk Road Task Force (22-23 April, Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan).
24 April 2013 Encouraging Travel Facilitation and Connectivity in Asia Pacific
Travel facilitation, connectivity and the sustainable development of the tourism sector were at the center of UNWTO’s 25th annual statutory meeting for Asia and the Pacific and its adjoining conference on sustainable tourism in Hyderabad, India from the 12-14 April.