Friday, November 19, 2021
Recently, the UNWTO leadership has addressed an informal meeting of EU Ministers Responsible for Tourism and also strengthening the relation with the European Institutions.
The Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union included tourism on its program of work. It recognized the heightened relevance of the sector and significance of a comprehensive post-pandemic recovery. Zurab Pololikashvili, the UNWTO Secretary-General, while addressing the ministers praised the efforts of the European leaders in safeguarding the tourism jobs as well as businesses. He also commended them for playing a major role in reinstating confidence in international travel through harmonized rules and EU Digital COVID Certificate introduction.
Also, the Secretary-General provided the EU Ministers with a general idea of the work of UNWTO, leading the sector’s response to the emergency times, as well as more recent accomplishments in advancing tourism’s climate action.
Margaritis Schinas, Vice President of the European Commission, led the UNWTO Global Tourism Crisis Committee.
Margaritis created this to unite the sector and offer clear, harmonized recommendations for recovery. Also, the Vice President visited Madrid’s UNWTO Headquarters for a close discussion with the Secretary-General.
This recent involvement strengthens the ties even more between UNWTO and the European Institutions.This intervention will help in building on the work done prior to the pandemic. The UNWTO leadership visited Brussels in February 2020. As well as addressing the European Parliament, Secretary-General Pololikashvili also has a meeting with Ministers and Secretaries of State for tourism of European Countries that made the role of tourism clear in driving inclusive growth across the region as well as advancing the ambitions of the European Green Deal.
Of late, in October, UNWTO leadership returned to Brussels, with a more in-depth program focusing on tourism’s place in recovery and future growth for European economies and societies.
Tags: UNWTO, Zurab Pololikashvili
