Tag Archives: General Assembly

UN Tourism Ambassadors joined in celebrating the establishment of 2027 as the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism. At the Organization’s headquarters in Madrid, the UN Tourism leadership welcomed the Ambassadors to Spain of 24 Member States to look ahead to the seminal year. They included His Excellency Farrukh Tursunov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan, which sponsored the Resolution for the year ahead of its adoption by 86 Member States at the UN General Assembly in February. Rosario Sánchez Grau, Secretary of State for Tourism of Spain, host country of UN Tourism, was also present to mark the occasion. The adoption of the Resolution to proclaim 2027 the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism was a joint achievement. So it is only right we come together today to celebrate it welcoming the dignitaries, UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “The adoption of the Resolution to proclaim 2027 the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism was a joint achievement. So it is only right we come together today to celebrate it. The year will allow us to make clear tourism’s unique ability to drive development and opportunity, while also stressing the need to ensure that the sector’s growth is sustainable in every way and resilient enough to weather future shocks and challenges.” The UN General Assembly Resolution calls on “UN Tourism to facilitate the organization and implementation of the International Year, in collaboration with Governments, relevant organizations of the United Nations system, international and regional organizations and other relevant stakeholders.”

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has announced that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is to host its 26th General Assembly, taking place in 2025. The news follows the recent hosting of the United Nations Environment Program’s (UNEP’s) MENA Climate Week, held in Riyadh in October 2023. The UNWTO announcement was made during the participation of HE Ahmed Al-Khatib, Minister of Tourism, at the 25th General Assembly, held in the city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from October 16-20, 2023. As a distinguished member of the General Assembly, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia plays a significant role on the international stage, and will now prepare for its next meeting in 2025. The General Assembly is the governing body of the UNWTO, established in 1975, and featuring representatives from 159 Member States, alongside private sector representatives and non-governmental organizations. HE Ahmed Al-Khatib, Minister of Tourism, said: “I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Highness the Crown Prince, may God protect them, for their unwavering support of the Kingdom’s tourism sector. Our hosting of the 26th General Assembly underscores our commitment to lead global tourism towards a brighter and more collaborative future. It also highlights our significant achievements in the Executive Council, which the Kingdom assumed leadership of in 2023.” The hosting of the 26th General Assembly in 2025 will be a momentous celebration, supported by various activities aimed at raising awareness of tourism’s role in promoting sustainable development and global peace. The event will provide an opportunity for the Kingdom to showcase its unparalleled tourism and cultural developments, and bolster international cooperation in this vital sector. The Kingdom’s selection as host is a testament …