The Members of the Executive Council recommended that Secretary-General serve a third term in office. The proposal for a new mandate was put to the Council by Uzbekistan, with Members voting in favor of the agenda item, which will now be put to the General Assembly.

The UNWTO Global investments Forum took place yesterday opening a platform to discuss tourism investments with Ministers, CEOs and investment experts. Main highlights of the Forum include:

• Tourism Investment Guidelines for Uzbekistan and Mauritius
• Winners of the UNWTO Mega Events Startup Competition
• Albert, Co-Founder of Traveloka, new UNWTO Ambassador for Responsible Tourism

The 25th session of the UNWTO General Assembly opens today to chart the path for a sustainable tourism recovery. UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili, will present his Report to the Assembly, outlining how the Organization has led the global tourism response to the unprecedented crisis caused by COVID-19 as well as programmes instituted to build a robust global tourism sector.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, applauds the efforts of the UNWTO, and urges global tourism industry stakeholders to join hands.

Today's Plenary Sessions set the scene and discussions for what will be the pathway to recovery of the tourism sector as well as the growth of the sector. The Secretary-General Report, which includes the Programme of Work, will outline the progress of the Organization's flagship projects and other developments since the last General Assembly.

The Report gives as a comprehensive overview of the past, present, and future activities, as well as the challenges and priorities of UNWTO across various areas. It covers a wide range of topics such as sustainability, innovation, investments, education, and statistics among others.

19 October, we will unveil the extraordinary marvels of rural tourism, as all is set to meet the Best Tourism Villages of the 2023 edition. Keep an eye on UNWTO channels to discover, greet and celebrate the new rural destinations that make sustainable tourism a driver in the development of local communities.