News – Worldtourism Wire

How Beneficial is Travel and Tourism to an Economy?

Written by Juergen Steinmetz, June 25, 2021

Tourism lies at the heart of many economies in the world today. According to the World Trade Organization (UNWTO), this sector is a powerful driving force for the growth and development of an economy. From creating part-time and full-time jobs to developing a country’s infrastructure, travel and tourism is inarguably the largest sector of most…

Vacation rental regulation catches up with innovation and UNWTO

Written by Erik Grimaldi, October 14, 2019

Vacation rental regulations are a big issue in many parts of the world and of course for companies like AIRBNB. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has published the first systematic overview of how both national governments and local authorities are addressing and managing new business models in the accommodation industry. The so-called “sharing economy” has experienced significant…

UNWTO and EBRD partner to strengthen sustainable and inclusive tourism

Written by Erik Grimaldi,

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the UNWTO are joining forces to strengthen sustainable and inclusive tourism as a tool for achieving growth and development. Under an MoU, signed by EBRD President Suma Chakrabarti and UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili at the UNWTO Headquarters in Madrid, the two institutions pledge to work together in promoting and fostering tourism…

UNWTO General Assembly celebrates the synergy of film and tourism

Written by Juergen Steinmetz, September 13, 2019

Running right through the 23rd General Assembly in St Petersburg has been the topic of film and tourism. At the start of the Assembly, Spanish entrepreneur and President of Atlético de Madrid football cub Enrique Cerezo joined fellow experts to discuss the film industry’s close links with tourism and its shared values and benefits, including…

Seychelles participated in 110th Session of UNWTO Executive Council

Written by Erik Grimaldi, June 25, 2019

The 110th Session of the UNWTO Executive Council met in Baku, Azerbaijan from June 16-18, 2019. More than 40 Member States joined by representatives from the public and private sectors attended the meeting. Seychelles was represented by Minister Didier Dogley, Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine and Mrs. Anne Lafortune, Principal Secretary for…

UNWTO: Tourism is a global force for growth and development

Written by Erik Grimaldi, June 19, 2019

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has met in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the 110th Session of its Executive Council (16-18 June). At the meeting, Member States endorsed the Organization’s progress and future plans, as outlined Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, and warmly welcomed the participation of the United States as it explores the possibility of rejoining UNWTO. With…

UNWTO: Exports from international tourism hit $1.7 trillion

Written by Erik Grimaldi, June 7, 2019

Exports generated by international tourism reached USD 1.7 trillion in 2018, a 4% increase in real terms over the previous year, a new report from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) shows. For the seventh year in a row, tourism exports grew faster than merchandise exports (+3%), reflecting solid demand for international travel in a generally…

UNWTO: Sustainability a key part of tourism policies, but more still to be done

Written by Erik Grimaldi, June 5, 2019

Countries around the world are integrating sustainability in their tourism policies but the evidence on the results of their implementation remains limited, research carried out for the first “Baseline Report on the Integration of Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns into Tourism Policies” has found. The Baseline Report, prepared by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in…

UNWTO: Local residents remain largely positive to urban tourism

Written by Erik Grimaldi, June 4, 2019

A global survey conducted by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and IPSOS shows a positive picture of local residents’ perceptions towards urban tourism. Looking at 15 countries worldwide, the research also identified what residents consider to be the best ways of managing rising numbers of tourists, highlighting differing attitudes to urban tourism among different socio-demographic…

President Clinton and Minster Bartlett discuss Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre

Written by Erik Grimaldi,

Jamaica Minister for Tourism, the Hon. Edmund Bartlett, met today with former United States President Bill Clinton at the ongoing 4th meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Action Network on Post-Disaster Recovery at the University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, USVI. The President showed great interest in supporting the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis…