Tourexpi
On an official visit to Berlin, UN Tourism
Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili met with the Federal Government
Coordinator for Maritime Economy and Tourism, Mr. Dieter Janecek, and
participated in a session of the Committee on Tourism of the German Bundestag.
In the bilateral meeting with the Federal
Coordinator, discussions focused on following priority areas:
Protection of Tourists: The Secretary General and
the Federal Coordinator addressed the importance of safeguarding tourists in
the context of global challenges. They emphasized the need for robust
frameworks to ensure the safety, consumer protection and well-being of all
travellers.
Sustainability: Both parties underscored their
commitment to sustainable tourism practices. The Secretary-General invited
Germany to use the organization’s platforms to in the field to share its
extensive knowledge and expertise leading the global efforts to preserve
natural resources and cultural heritage for future generations, including a
strong focus on climate action.
Women empowerment: The Secretary-General reported
on the success of the Centre Stage initiative, which was launched and piloted
with the support of German authorities and in collaboration with UN Women.
Empowering women across tourism sector and at all levels was identified as a
common priority for future collaboration as the project is scaled up and
implemented in other countries.
Rural Development: Both parties exchanged their
experiences with the various initiatives that promote rural destinations as the
vehicles of sustainable development. The Secretary General highlighted the
potential of the Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism supporting rural
destinations.
Sharing UN Tourism achievements
Following the bilateral meeting, the Secretary
General attended a session of the Committee on Tourism of the German Bundestag.
He provided a comprehensive report on the recent achievements of the
organization, which included:
Post pandemic recovery: Detailing efforts to
support the tourism sector’s recovery from the pandemic through the development
of policy guidance, safety protocols and technical cooperation projects on the
ground.
Strengthening organizational capacity:
Consolidating stable and reliable financial contributions through the
collection of membership fees and arrears as well as through voluntary
contributions and partnerships with the private sector;
Advancements in sustainable and responsible
tourism: Highlighting initiatives that promote environmental conservation, such
as the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, and inclusion in the
tourism sector, highlighting the Centre Stage project and the San Marino Action Agenda for Accessible Tourism for All;
Multilateral cooperation: Strengthening the
organization's role as a platform for exchange of knowledge and expertise,
emphasizing Germany’s potential to contribute to the process.
The Secretary-General expressed his gratitude for
Germany’s active role in promoting sustainable and inclusive tourism. He
highlighted the importance of continued collaboration to address the evolving
challenges faced by the global tourism industry.
Image
Credit: © UN Tourism
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