Discover how the UNWTO Gastronomy Tourism Project in Ubud is shaping cultural heritage, boosting the local economy, and fostering sustainability.

Saudi Arabia emerged as the second fastest-growing tourist destination in the world. The information is taken from a report of the UNWTO Barometer.

Tourism Climate Action Initiatives

Introduced at COP25 in Glasgow (2021), the Glasgow Declaration marked a pivotal moment in climate commitment, with endorsers pledging to achieve Net-Zero by 2050 at the latest. Beyond this overarching goal, the signatories vowed to formulate and implement dedicated Climate Action plans aligned with the Declaration’s Five Pathways: Measure, Decarbonize, Regenerate, Collaborate, and Finance. This commitment extended globally, with notable progress highlighted in Dubai.

In a groundbreaking collaboration, Booking.com and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) have introduced a series of free online courses aimed at fostering sustainability within the global hospitality sector. The initiative, titled “Sustainable Stays,” features four courses covering essential aspects of sustainable practices: local community engagement, energy usage & greenhouse gases, food & waste management, and water management.

The pressing need for a consistent legal framework to assist tourists was underscored by the pandemic. In response to this unprecedented crisis in tourism, the UNWTO swiftly developed a groundbreaking International Code for Tourists. This landmark legal instrument, approved at the 24th UNWTO General Assembly in 2021, was created in record time after consultations with over 100 countries, both Member States and non-Members, and representatives from the private sector. Recognized as a crucial tool for restoring confidence in travel, the Code has gained acceptance from 22 countries to date.

The collaboration between the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Infecar (Feria de Gran Canaria) aims to identify entrepreneurs who play a pivotal role in reshaping the landscapes of hotels and new business models.

International tourism is on track to recover almost 90% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of this year. A report from UNWTO states that.

The achievement stems from robust initiatives to advance Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector, with close collaboration between UNWTO and the Saudi Ministry of Tourism on key projects. In 2021, UNWTO established its Regional Office for the Middle East in Riyadh, positioning it as a global hub for tourism innovation, education, and rural development.

Zurab Pololikashvili, the Secretary-General of the UNWTO, highlighted that the most recent UNWTO data indicates a nearly complete recovery of international tourism from the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 crisis. Many destinations have not only reached but surpassed pre-pandemic …

Bahrain will become the first Middle Eastern nation to host the 9th UNWTO’s World Forum on Gastronomy happening in 2024.