Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
United Nations World Tourism Organization
The
(UNWTO) is the most widely recognized and the
leading international organization in the
field of travel and tourism today. It serves as a global forum for
tourism policy issues provides moral leadership for
the vast international tourism sector, and is a
practical source of tourism know-how for its mem-
bers. Its membership includes 154 countries, 7
territories, and more than 400 af
liate members
representing local government, tourism associa-
tions, educational institutions, and private-sector
companies, including airlines, hotel groups, and
tour operators. With its headquarters in Madrid,
UNWTO is a specialized agency of the United
Nations (UN). UN specialized agency status entitles
UNWTO to participate as a full member in the
United Nations System Chief Executives Board for
Coordination (CEB), which elaborates systemwide
strategies in response to overall intergovernmental
directives on economic cooperation and develop-
ment. UNWTO
United Nations World Tourism Organization
The United Nations World
Tourism Organization is an
of
s participation will enable it to
highlight the role of tourism in support of socio-
economic development and the achievement of the
Millennium Development Goals.
The specialized agencies function on an auton-
omous basis, with their own charter, budget,
governing boards, staff, and publishing operations.
They make annual or biennial reports to the
Economic and Social Council. The General Assembly can examine their budgets and make recom-
mendations; however, each specialized agency exercises
final control over its operations.
Thus, UNWTO is vested by the United Nations with a central and decisive role in promoting the
development of responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism, with the aim of
contributing to economic development, international understanding, peace, prosperity, and universal
respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms. In pursuing this aim, UNWTO
pays particular attention to the interests of the developing countries in the
field of tourism.
The United Nations World Tourism Organization had its beginnings as the International Union of
Of
cial Tourist Publicity Organizations, set up in 1925 in The Hague. It was renamed the International
Union for Of
cial Tourism Organizations (IUOTO) after World War II and moved to Geneva. IUOTO
was renamed the World Tourism Organization (WTO), and its
first General Assembly was held in
Madrid in May 1975. The Secretariat was installed in Madrid early the following year at the invitation of
the Spanish government, which provides a building for the headquarters. In 1976, UNWTO became an
executing agency of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); in 1977, a formal
cooperation agreement was signed with the United Nations. In October 2003, UNWTO became
a specialized agency of the United Nations and reaf
rmed its leading role in international tourism.
UNWTO is committed to the United Nations Millennium Development goals, geared toward reducing
poverty and fostering sustainable development.
UNWTO is engaged in many activities. The transfer of tourism know-how to developing countries
is a major task. Here, UNWTO contributes decades of experience in tourism to the sustainable
development goals of nations throughout the world. UNWTO projects are based on the policy of
sustainability, ensuring that the economic bene
ts of tourism development are not offset by damage
to the environment or to local cultures.
'
cial specialized agency
of the United Nations and
has the objective of
promoting and developing
tourism worldwide. Shown
here is the UN headquarters
building in New York City.
PhotobyRonNelson.
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