# Blog1 World Tourism Organization (WTO)

           
          The World Tourism Organization is the leading international organization in the field of travel and tourism. It serves as a global forum for tourism policy issues and a practical source of tourism know-how and statistics.

Its membership includes 139 countries, seven territories and some 350 Affiliate Members representing regional and local promotion boards, tourism trade associations, educational institutions and private sector companies, including airlines, hotel groups and tour operators.

Through tourism, WTO aims to stimulate economic growth and job creation, provide incentives for protecting the environment and cultural heritage, and promote peace, prosperity and respect for human rights.

                                        

    How WTO Works

   

                 

The principle organs of the World Tourism Organization are the:

General Assembly

The General Assembly is the supreme organ of the World Tourism Organization. It meets every two years to approve the budget and programme of work, and to debate topics of vital importance to the tourism sector. Every four years it elects a Secretary-General. The General Assembly is composed of voting delegates representing Full Members and Associate Members. Affiliate Members and representatives of other international organizations participate as observers.

Executive Council

The Executive Council is WTO’s governing board, responsible for ensuring that the organization carries out its work and sticks to its budget. It meets twice a year and is composed of 26 members elected by the General Assembly in a ratio of one for every five Full Members. Associate Members and Affiliate Members participate in Executive Council meetings as observers.

Regional Commissions

WTO has six regional commissions—Africa, the Americas, East Asia and the Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and South Asia. The commissions meet at least once a year and are composed of all the Full Members and Associate Members from that region. Affiliate Members from the region participate as observers.

Secretariat

The Secretariat is led by Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli, who supervises about 80 full-time staff at WTO’s Madrid headquarters. These officials are responsible for implementing WTO’s programme of work and serving the needs of members.

The Affiliate Members of WTO are supported by a full time Executive Secretary at the Madrid headquarters, a position that is financed by the Spanish government. An Advisory Council of Affiliate Members'meets once a year to make programme recommendations to the Secretariat. The Secretariat also includes a regional support office for Asia-Pacific in Osaka, Japan, financed by the Japanese government.

Global Code of Ethics for Tourism

A fundamental frame of reference for responsible and sustainable tourism, the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism (GCET) is a comprehensive set of principles designed to guide key-players in tourism development. Addressed to governments, the travel industry, communities and tourists alike, it aims to help maximise the sector’s benefits while minimising its potentially negative impact on the environment, cultural heritage and societies across the globe.

Adopted in 1999 by the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization, its acknowledgement by the United Nations two years later expressly encouraged UNWTO to promote the effective follow-up of its provisions. Although not legally binding, the Code features a voluntary implementation mechanism through its recognition of the role of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics (WCTE), to which stakeholders may refer matters concerning the application and interpretation of the document.

The Code’s 10 principles amply cover the economic, social, cultural and environmental components of travel and tourism:

Article 1: Tourism's contribution to mutual understanding and respect between peoples  and societies

Article 2: Tourism as a vehicle for individual and collective fulfilment

Article 3: Tourism, a factor of sustainable development

Article 4: Tourism, a user of the cultural heritage of mankind and contributor to its enhancement

Article 5: Tourism, a beneficial activity for host countries and communities

Article 6: Obligations of stakeholders in tourism development

Article 7: Right to tourism

Article 8: Liberty of tourist movements

Article 9: Rights of the workers and entrepreneurs in the tourism industry

Article 10: Implementation of the principles of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism

                          

Accessible Tourism

UNWTO is convinced that the facilitation of tourist travel by persons with disabilities is a vital element of any responsible and sustainable tourism development policy. In this spirit of mainstreaming disability issues, the Organization’s General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/492(XVI) in 2005, entitled “Accessible Tourism for All”. Featuring a series of recommendations to the sector, it highlighted the necessity of providing clear information on the accessibility of tourism facilities, the availability of support services in destinations for persons with disabilities, and the training of employees on the special needs of these individuals. The document, prepared with the help of experts provided to the Organization.

Sustainable tourism

"Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities"

 Thus, sustainable tourism should:

1) Make optimal use of environmental resources that constitute a key element in tourism development, maintaining essential ecological processes and helping to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity.

2) Respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities, conserve their built and living cultural heritage and traditional values, and contribute to inter-cultural understanding and tolerance.

3) Ensure viable, long-term economic operations, providing socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders that are fairly distributed, including stable employment and income-earning opportunities and social services to host communities, and contributing to poverty alleviation.

Seven categories under the theme “Seven Amazing Wonders”

•        Thainess: The art of Thai living, traditional Thai hospitality, lifestyles  and cultural tourism products

•       Treasure: Heritage and history, world heritage sites, historical attractions,temples and museums

•        Beaches: Thailand popular beach resort destinations

•        Nature: National parks, soft adventure 
          and ecotourism products

•        Health and Wellness: Medical tourism, spa 
          and health resorts

•        Trends: Boutique hotels, shopping centers,
          dining and night life

•        Festivals: International and Thai festivals and events