Executive Council - 123rd session

Tourism can be an effective driver of shared prosperity and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 10 on reducing inequalities. However, policymakers must focus more on inclusive planning, investment, and governance to harness tourism’s full potential for positive change.

UN Tourism has launched the latest edition in its series of investment guidelines: Tourism Doing Business: Investing in Indonesia. This comprehensive publication offers global investors a clear and data-driven overview of the vast opportunities in one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic tourism markets.

UN Tourism has brought together its Members States from across Asia and the Pacific to guide the sector’s development beyond recovery and towards greater resilience and sustainability.

UN Tourism has welcomed Vienna as the newest member of the International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO). With this, Vienna becomes part of a global alliance of 46 destinations dedicated to monitoring tourism’s economic, environmental and social impact at the destination level.

UN Tourism has advanced South-South cooperation in tourism development, putting into action the aims of the Punta Cana Declaration signed by its Member States from Africa and the Americas. Building on the success of the inaugural event, the 2nd UN Tourism Africa & The Americas Summit outlined concrete plans for achieving shared goals, focused on innovation, Technical Cooperation, enhanced connectivity, tourism investments and tourist confidence through security.

UN Tourism and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) have set out a shared roadmap for building a resilient, inclusive, and environmentally responsible tourism sector, through sustainable investments.

UN Tourism and the Ministry of the Economy and Innovation of Lithuania have agreed on a shared vision for tourism development in the country for the period 2025–2027. In addition to accelerating digital transformation, innovation and investments in the sector, the strengthened partnership will also focus on governance and destination management to ensure the continued growth of Lithuanian tourism.

The leadership of UN Tourism has successfully concluded a high-profile visit to China, reinforcing strategic partnerships and advancing sustainable tourism initiatives across key regions. The visit by Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili featured engagements with senior government officials, industry leaders, and international development agencies, further deepening UN Tourism’s collaboration with China.

In a joint effort to promote sustainable development and cultural diversity, UN Tourism and CAF – Development Bank for Latin America and the Caribbean, have launched the Indigenous Tourism Challenge – Latin America and the Caribbean. This initiative seeks to identify and support innovative tourism projects that highlight the richness of cultural expressions and the relationship with the environment of Indigenous peoples in the region.

UN Tourism has presented its “Tourism Doing Business” guidelines, focused on the opportunities for international investors in Namibia’s burgeoning tourism sector.