IUOTO

The International Union of Official Travel Organisations (IUOTO) was an international organization created to coordinate official travel and tourism interests among governments and their national tourism bodies. Its mandate included promoting international travel, facilitating cooperation on tourism statistics, policy development, and the exchange of information among member organizations.

Founded in the post–World War II era, IUOTO expanded to include national tourism boards, government agencies, and allied associations from a wide range of countries. It held regular congresses, produced statistics and guidance, and worked with the United Nations and other international bodies to advance tourism development, standardization, and cooperation in travel.

During the 1960s and early 1970s, IUOTO contributed to the standardization of classifications, improvement of data collection, and the use of tourism as a driver of economic development and cultural exchange. As international tourism grew, its functions were progressively aligned with the global governance of tourism in the hands of the United Nations.

Legacy and succession: In the mid-1970s, IUOTO’s mandate was transferred to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), which was established as a specialized agency of the United Nations. By 1975–76, UNWTO absorbed IUOTO’s responsibilities and most of its member organizations, effectively replacing IUOTO as the primary international body for tourism governance.

See also: UNWTO, tourism statistics, international travel organizations.