UNWTO pledges reform
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The UNWTO has concluded its 19th General Assembly with a pledge to reform and strengthen the organisation. More than 1,000 representatives from UNWTO’s member states unanimously agreed to adopt proposed reforms to the tourism body, aimed at making it “more responsive, efficient and relevant in the face of current and future challenges”.
“Over the last two years UNWTO has embarked on a gradual but determined reform process,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, presenting the White Paper to the Assembly in South Korea.
Rafai said that the White Paper, entitled ‘A Reform Process for a More Relevant UNWTO’, was a response to shifting international realities.
“UNWTO is well aware of the changing context of the tourism sector and of the needs of its members. This is reflected in the White Paper which proposes to reinforce the work of the organisation in competitiveness and sustainability while adopting new areas of work such as domestic tourism, employment in tourism and tourism governance”, Rifai said.
The final day of the General Assembly also saw Liberia welcomed as a new full member of the UNWTO, bringing the organisation’s total membership to 155 states and more than 400 affiliate members.
The 20th session of the UNWTO General Assembly will be jointly held by Zambia and Zimbabwe in 2013.