UNWTO

UNWTO, the United Nations World Tourism Organization, is a United Nations specialized agency dedicated to promoting responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism. Its mandate is to foster development through tourism, help member states manage tourism’s social and economic impacts, and support resilience and crisis response within the sector.

The organization traces its origins to the International Union of Official Travel Organisations (IUOTO), founded in 1925. In the 1970s it was restructured as a United Nations specialized agency, with the Statute entering into force in 1976 and the headquarters established in Madrid, Spain. Today the UNWTO includes member states and several associate members.

Governance is exercised through the General Assembly (the principal decision-making body, meeting at intervals), the Executive Council (elected from member states), and the Secretariat, led by a Secretary-General. The Secretary-General serves a fixed term and oversees the organization’s programs and staff. As of 2024, the Secretary-General is Zurab Pololikashvili, in office since 2017 and reappointed for subsequent terms.

Key activities include collecting and analyzing tourism data, providing policy guidance and technical assistance to member states, and supporting capacity-building and sustainable development projects. UNWTO publishes statistical indicators and reports such as the World Tourism Barometer and Tourism Highlights, and offers guidance on governance, infrastructure, market development, and resilience to shocks.

As part of the United Nations system, UNWTO collaborates with other UN agencies, international organizations, and private-sector partners to maximize tourism’s contribution to economic growth, cultural exchange, and sustainable development.

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