Tourism Policy Cooperation within the Framework of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

© World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations with its headquarters in Madrid; its membership includes 161 countries and territories. 

Germany has been a full member of UNWTO since 1976. Being an elected member of the UNWTO Executive Council (until 2013), Germany actively contributes to the work of UNWTO. The Executive Council is responsible for ensuring that the Organization carries out its work and adheres to its budget. 

The work of UNWTO aims at "the promotion and development of tourism with a view to contributing to economic development, international understanding, peace, prosperity, and universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion."  UNWTO pays particular attention to the interests of developing countries. Therefore it is committed to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals geared toward reducing poverty. 

The UNWTO programme of work for the period 2010-2011 comprises the following two strategic objectives:

• ensuring the further improvement of the competitiveness of destinations and
• promoting the development of sustainable tourism in line with the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism. The Code consisting of ten Articles comprises the ethical "principles" for the various stakeholders in the tourism sector: governments, public authorities and workers in the tourism industry as well as tourists and visitors.

For Germany, UNWTO is a key forum for multilateral participation in the global development of tourism with a view to promoting peace, economic growth and  employment and reducing poverty.