26/02/2024
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is the United Nations’ specialized agency, responsible for the promotion of sustainable, responsible, and universally accessible tourism. As the leading international and the only intergovernmental organization in this field, UNWTO promotes tourism as a driver of economic growth,
inclusive ▶ development, and environmental
sustainability. It supports the advancement of tourism practice, policy, and ▶knowledge worldwide by generating market knowledge, promoting competitive and ▶ sustainable tourism policies and instruments, and fostering tourism.
▶ education and ▶ training for its members. It also provides the world’s most comprehensive collection of tourism-related ▶ statistics, including the regularly issued UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, aimed at monitoring the short-term
evolution of ▶ international tourism flows (UNWTO n.d.). Its membership includes 156 countries, 6 territories, 2 permanent observers, and over 400 affiliate members, the latter representing the private sector, educational institutions, trade associations, and local tourism authorities.