United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

About United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

• It is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.
• Functions: It serves as a global forum for tourism policy issues and encourages the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism.
• It was established in 1975.
• Members: Membership of the UNWTO includes 159 countries.
• Official languages: The official languages of UNWTO are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
• Organisation structure:
  • General Assembly: It is the principal gathering of the World Tourism Organization. It is composed of full members and associate members. It meets every two years.
  • Executive Council: It is UNWTO’s governing board. It is composed of 35 members elected by the General Assembly in a ratio of one for every five full members. It meets at least twice a year.
• Headquarter: Madrid, Spain

Key facts about Best Tourism Villages initiative

• It was launched in 2021 by UNWTO.
• It is part of the UNWTO Tourism for Rural Development Programme.
• The programme works to foster development and inclusion in rural areas, combat depopulation, advance innovation and value chain integration through tourism and encourage sustainable practices

Q1) What is the United Nations?

It is an international organization founded in 1945 to promote peace, security, and cooperation among member countries. The United Nations works on a wide range of issues, including diplomacy, humanitarian aid, human rights, and sustainable.

Source: PM hails Gujarat’s Dhordo for being awarded as Best Tourism Village by UNWTO