Published on : Thursday, June 20, 2019
The US has highlighted supporting tourism as a driver of sustainable development. A high-level delegation of the Government attending the World Tourism Organization Executive Council said that the US is considering the possibility of re-joining the UN agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and accessible tourism.
The 110th Session of the UNWTO Executive Council is meeting this week in Baku, Azerbaijan, with Member States joined by representatives from the public and private sectors. The US accepted the personal invitation of Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili to join the talks. Emma Doyle, Principal Deputy Chief of Staff to the President of the United States, announced before the Council that “The United States is exploring the possibility of re-joining the World Tourism Organization”, and added that her country looks forward to working with the UNWTO “to encourage tourism around the world.”
Quoting President Trump, Doyle said that “America First does not mean America alone”, and added: “We believe that there is tremendous potential for UNWTO, with its focus on job creation and education, to be a beacon of innovation for other international organizations.”
Ms. Doyle headed the US delegation to the UNWTO Executive Council along with Ambassador Kevin E. Moley, Assistant US Secretary of State.
A founding member of the UNWTO, the United States is at present one of the world’s biggest tourism markets, both as a destination and as a source of international tourists. In 2018, the US welcomed more than 60 million tourists.
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