From December 1 to 3, Madrid will host the 24th General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), where the agenda to reactivate world tourism after the negative impact of the pandemic will be defined, with a commitment to a more inclusive and sustainable tourism .
More than 500 delegates from around the world, including Ministers of Tourism from UNWTO Member States, international organizations, as well as leaders from the private sector and civil society, will participate in the meeting of the supreme body of this specialized agency of the United Nations. .
The UNWTO Secretariat will present a comprehensive update of its work program, while bringing together the global tourism sector to relaunch tourism. During the meeting, which will be attended by the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, a special message from the Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, will be screened.
Innovation, education and rural development
In accordance with UNWTO's core priorities, the General Assembly will focus on building for the future through innovation, education and tourism for rural development.
In Madrid, the official headquarters of the UNWTO, the organization will launch its new initiative 'Digital Futures for SMEs', designed to help small tourism businesses take advantage of the benefits of innovation.
Likewise, the winners of the first edition of the UNWTO initiative “Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO” will be announced, recognizing the best examples of rural destinations that embrace tourism as a pillar of growth and opportunity. , while the UNWTO 2021 Student League will celebrate the future of the sector.
The Secretary General of the UNWTO, Zurab Pololikashvili, will present its report to Members, outlining how the Organization led the global tourism response to the unprecedented crisis caused by COVID-19, in particular by ensuring vital support for jobs and businesses and by ensuring standards and Harmonized protocols to restore confidence in travel. The report will also set out plans for a more inclusive and resilient future, including the revision of the UNWTO 2030 Agenda for Africa and the first International Code for the Protection of Tourists, also designed to restore confidence in travel.
The Secretary General thanked the Spanish Government for agreeing to host the event, after the Kingdom of Morocco was forced to renounce sponsoring it due to public health considerations. "In difficult circumstances, Spain has stepped forward to host this important General Assembly. In the UNWTO host city, Madrid, world tourism will come together to plan a future in which our sector develops its unique potential as a pillar of growth. inclusive and opportunities for all ", has assured Zurab.
For the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, “The celebration of this international event will allow to strengthen the leadership of Spain in world tourism and of Madrid as the headquarters of the UNWTO, which will be the epicenter of the debate on the reactivation of tourism and its contribution to the great challenges such as sustainability, digitization and social and territorial cohesion. Spain will share in this event its experience in the vaccination process and in the implementation of the Covid Certificate that is allowing our country to be considered as a safe destination and the ambitious plan of modernization and competitiveness of the tourism sector that will allow increasing the quality, sustainability, digitization and diversity of our tourism ”.
Statutory Meetings and Elections
The 24th session of the General Assembly will begin with the celebration of the Plenary Session of the Affiliate Members of the UNWTO. Here, private companies, destination management organizations, and representatives of civil society and academia, will share initiatives for the recovery of tourism and ideas for sustainable growth. They are also expected to approve the revised legal framework for Affiliate Members, which will continue to promote UNWTO's transition to a more agile, dynamic and responsive organization.
The UNWTO Program and Budget Committees will meet to underline the Secretariat's commitment to transparency. Members will also be asked to confirm the appointment of Secretary General Pololikashvili for a second term, following the recommendation of the UNWTO Executive Council held earlier in the year. Together Members will also vote on the themes of the 2022 and 2023 World Tourism Day celebrations, and the host country of the 25th General Assembly in 2023.
MEDIA ACCREDITATION
Send to accreditations@mincotur.es before Monday, November 29 at 9:00 am:
– Name and surname
– Type and number of the identity document
– Date of birth
