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Sustainable tourism in Americas gets boost from UN
OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza
UNWTO and the Organization of American States (OAS) have signed a cooperation agreement aimed at developing sustainable tourism policies and enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of the tourism sector in the Americas.
The agreement was signed by UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, and OAS Secretary-General, José Miguel Insulza, during the annual meeting of the UNWTO Regional Commission for the Americas.
Both parties have committed to strengthen collaboration, share information and work together on issues of common interest, including training, research and the collation of statistical tourism data.
The agreement was made through the OAS Department of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism, which along with the UNWTO recognizes the importance of developing sustainable tourism policies, promoting productivity and competitiveness of the entire sector, and strengthen the development of public policies for the tourism sector.
In particular, the agreement establishes a regulatory framework for:
- facilitating collaboration in the development of sustainable tourism policies;
- strengthening institutional governmental capacities;
- developing and implementing projects of joint research;
- exchanging professional personnel for the strengthening of study and research programs;
- collecting statistical tourism data;
- establishing competitiveness indicators; and
- creating tourism security and media diffusion programs, among others.
Mr. Rifai said the agreement would provide mutual benefits to UNWTO and the OAS, as well as their Members State and the broader international tourism community.
“The OAS is our natural partner in the Americas, given its mandate to promote the economic, social and cultural development of the region,” he noted. “Through joint projects and activities, this cooperation agreement will allow us to maximize tourism’s contribution to this goal, while at the same time making best use of our resources to support our Member States.”
International tourist arrivals in the Americas reached an all-time high in 2010, growing 7% to 150 million and generating US$ 182 billion in receipts. Results from the first months of 2011 have seen arrivals increase by 5%, in line with the world average.
Relevant links:
52nd Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for the Americas:
Organization of American States: Department of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism:
First Results for 2011:
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