42nd Plenary Session of UNWTO

Roman Torso Palatine Museum Rome

Rome [ENA] Immediate priorities for tourism’s vital restart and the longer-term task of ensuring the sector continues to be a key pillar of sustainable development and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has once again brought leaders from across the sector together for high-level talks aimed at strengthening cooperation between the public and private sectors. In this 2020 characterized by a health emergency that has

involved citizens and institutions, Culture and Tourism have been and continue to be points of reference for everyone, young and old. The need to remain at home or at work without being able to enjoy the beauties of cultural heritage, now recognized for their role as 'activators of psycho-physical well-being', has favored and strengthened digital offers, not intended as mere substitutes for on-site tourism, but in a certain way engaging and immersive experiences.The 42nd Plenary Session of the United Nations specialized agency’s Affiliate Members provided a unique, high-level platform to allow Members to share their best practices and proposals for recovery.

With the theme “Recovering Tourism. Rebuilding Trust. Reinforcing Partnerships,” the Session reiterated the wider priorities of UNWTO, above all restoring confidence in international travel and promoting collaboration at every level. Participants were encouraged to make use of the new Affiliate Members Virtual Corner, launched to coincide with the Plenary Session. Tourism needs the support of governments and international organizations to grow back and grow back stronger and more resilient, benefitting many millions of people and businesses worldwide.

The Plenary Session focused on laying the foundations for UNWTO’s Programme of Work for 2021. Tourism continues to be a key pillar of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and further enhancing sustainability and inclusivity across the whole of the sector is an important task of UNWTO. UNWTO’s Affiliate Members, who include businesses, academia and civil society actors, will play an important role in the United Nations specialized agency’s work in the challenging months ahead.

Painting attributed to Raphael: Saint Luke painting the Virgin, Rome

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “The engaged participation of every part of our sector will be needed to restart tourism and drive recovery. From the start of this crisis, tourism has led the way in adapting to the new reality and putting public health concerns first. Now, tourism needs the support of governments and international organizations to grow back and grow back stronger and more resilient, benefitting many millions of people and businesses worldwide.” Making good on UNWTO’s pledge to lead by example, this hybrid meeting again confirmed that international travel is safe and that tourism is proactively become accustomed to the new post-COVID reality.

In all, more than 200 delegates took part in the Plenary Session, either in-person or virtually, with the diversity of tourism on full display. Against the backdrop of Plenary Session, the UNWTO Affiliate Members Distinction Awards show how tourism is living up to its status as the ultimate people-first sector. The event celebrates those stakeholders who that best embodied the spirit of solidarity and determination that underlined the sector’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. IFEMA, was recognized for its response to the crisis, in particular for allowing its exhibition spaces to be repurposed for healthcare. At the same time, CNN was recognized for its inspirational communication campaigns.