UNWTO: Five Pillars to Boost Tourism Sector

Aiming to boost the development of the tourism sector, the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) will focus on five pillars during the period 2018-2019, it was announced on Friday.

Following the 108th meeting of the Executive Council of the UNWTO that took place in the city of San Sebastian, Spain, between May 23-25, it was announced that for the period 2018-2019, the organization will focus on innovation and the digital transformation; investments and entrepreneurship; education and employment; safe, secure and seamless travel; and social, cultural and environmental sustainability.

In order to address new tourism challenges and trends and improve the business environment for the sector, the UNWTO will pay special attention to scaling up innovation and digitalization in the sector.
“This will lead to the creation of new job and business opportunities, an increase of investments in tourism, and enhanced competitiveness and sustainability for the sector,” the UNWTO said in an announcement.

The UNWTO will focus on the five pillars under Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, who took office in January 2018.

During the meeting of the Executive Council, Pololikashvili also presented the organization’s new leadership structure, put in place to increase efficiency in achieving UNWTO’s goals of adding value to members, increasing membership and serving the tourism sector as a whole.

“This is a time of renewal for our organization. Listening closely to the opinions and needs of all our members and partners is key”, Pololikashvili said.

Pololikashvili obtained the support of the Executive Council for the priorities that will set up the work of the organization for the coming years. Likewise, the key governing body supported the new structure of the UNWTO, its renewed institutional image and the designated management team for the implementation of the agreed programme of work.

The 109th, 110th and 111th sessions of the UNWTO Executive Council will take place in Bahrain, Azerbaijan and Russia, respectively.

UNWTO Executive Council

The Executive Council represents the UNWTO’s governing body, responsible for ensuring the ‎organization’s compliance with its program of work. The Executive Council meets at least twice a year and is ‎composed by 33 members elected by the General Assembly in a ratio of one for every ‎five Full Members. As host country of UNWTO’s Headquarters, Spain has a permanent ‎seat on the Council. Representatives of the Associate Members and Affiliate ‎Members participate in Executive Council meetings as observers.