UN Tourism and Germany will strengthen bilateral cooperation with a focus on gender equality, sustainability and tourist safety to promote inclusive and responsible travel practices globally.
The UN Tourism Organization and the German Federal Government have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation, with a focus on gender equality, sustainability and enhanced tourist protection.
UN Secretary-General for Tourism Zurab Pololikashvili paid an official visit to Berlin, where he met with Dieter Janeczek, Federal Government Coordinator for Maritime Economy and Tourism, and attended a meeting of the Tourism Committee of the German Bundestag.
The bilateral meeting with the Federal Coordinator focused on the following priority areas:
Tourist protection: The Secretary-General and the Federal Coordinator noted the importance of keeping tourists safe against the backdrop of global challenges. They stressed the need for a robust framework to ensure the safety, consumer protection and well-being of all travelers. Sustainability: Both sides emphasized their commitment to sustainable tourism practices. The Secretary-General called on Germany to use the organization’s platform to share on the ground its extensive knowledge and expertise in leading global efforts to protect natural resources and cultural heritage for future generations, including with a focus on climate action. Women’s empowerment: The Secretary-General reported on the success of the Centre Stage initiative, which was launched and piloted in partnership with UN Women, with the support of the German authorities. As this project is scaled up and implemented in other countries, women’s empowerment throughout the tourism sector and at all levels was identified as a common priority for future collaboration. Rural development: Both sides exchanged experiences of different initiatives promoting rural tourism destinations as a means of sustainable development. The Secretary-General highlighted the potential of Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism in supporting rural tourism destinations.
Sharing the success of UN Tourism
Following the bilateral meetings, the Secretary General attended a meeting of the German Bundestag’s Tourism Committee and gave a comprehensive report on the organization’s recent achievements, including:
Post-pandemic recovery: Details efforts to support the tourism sector’s recovery from the pandemic through policy guidance, safety protocols and the development of on-the-ground technical cooperation projects. Strengthening institutional capacity: Consolidating stable and secure financial contributions through the collection of membership fees and arrears, voluntary donations and partnerships with the private sector. Promoting sustainable and responsible tourism: Highlighting initiatives that promote environmental conservation and inclusion in the tourism sector, such as the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, highlighting the Centre Stage project and San Marino’s “Accessible Tourism for All” action plan. Multilateral cooperation: Strengthening the organization’s role as a platform for the exchange of knowledge and expertise and highlighting Germany’s potential to contribute to the process.
The Secretary-General expressed his appreciation for Germany’s active role in promoting sustainable and inclusive tourism. He stressed the importance of continued cooperation to address the changing challenges facing the global tourism industry.
Theodore is co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of the TravelDailyNews Media Network and is responsible for business development and planning long-term opportunities for TravelDailyNews.
