Two major global tourism organizations — the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) — recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the G20 Ministerial meeting that took place last month in Goa, India. The goal of the Memorandum is to promote public-private sector collaboration when it comes to job creation, innovation and promoting a sustainable and resilient travel and tourism sector in a post-pandemic world.
Why It Matters: Strong Partnerships Are the Foundation for Transformation and Change
An African proverb states: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." This sentiment certainly applies here, as these two global tourism powerhouses are aligned in their goals to advance the travel and tourism sector toward a prosperous future. Both organizations have the resources and ability to open new doors for travelers, businesses and destinations, and their partnership has the potential to strengthen travel’s overall recovery.
We are only stronger if we work together to respond to the interconnected challenges facing our sector.
Fast Facts: Who Are the UNWTO and the WTTC?
- UNWTO is the United Nations’ international agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and accessible tourism.
- WTTC was established for business leaders in travel and tourism. WTTC membership includes everything from airlines and airports to hotels, hospitality groups, tour operators, cruise lines and travel advisors, among others.
- The agreement was signed by Julia Simpson, president and CEO of WTTC, and Zurab Pololikashvili, secretary-general of UNWTO.
What They Are Saying: We’re Better Together.
“Through the signing of a historic new Memorandum of Understanding, WTTC and UNWTO embark on a new chapter of collaboration together, uniting our expertise to pave the way for a prosperous future for the travel and tourism sector,” said Julia Simpson, president and CEO of WTTC. “Together, we can create a powerful synergy that will shape the global landscape, opening doors to endless opportunities and benefiting travelers, businesses and destinations alike."
“We are only stronger if we work together to respond to the interconnected challenges facing our sector,” said Zurab Pololikashvili, secretary-general of UNWTO. “Strong public-private partnerships are the foundation to transform tourism and build resilience, and consolidating our partnership with WTTC will achieve exactly what we need — joining efforts to build a better future through tourism.”
