Executive Council - 123rd session

A new initiative by UN Tourism, the Mountain Partnership Secretariat at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO) seeks to strengthen the connection between agrifood systems and tourism in seven Pacific Islands. By designing tourism experiences and itineraries that showcase local products and gastronomy, the project aims to maximize value for producers, communities, and destinations in the Pacific SIDS.

UN Tourism has named Dr. Larry Dwyer, Professor and Adjunct Fellow at the University of Technology Sydney, as the winner of the 2025 Ulysses Prize for Excellence in the Creation and Dissemination of Knowledge in Tourism.

At Japan’s Expo 2025, UN Tourism highlighted the key role of innovation and education for driving transformation and female empowerment in the sector.

The 2nd UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa reinforced the region’s growing commitment to make gastronomy tourism a key driver in social and economic development.

Destinations are increasingly focusing on fashion to enhance the tourism experiences and empower local communities, especially among indigenous populations, as well as small-scale creators and businesses.

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.