The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), a UN specialist agency headquartered in Madrid, Spain, has the mandate to champion and promote sustainable and responsible tourism development and evolution around the world. It demarcates the world into five tourism regions, namely: Africa, America, Asia-Pacific and the America’s.
The UNWTO is headed by Mr. Zurab Pololikashivili, a former Georgian Minister of State as Secretary-General, since January 2018.
World Tourism Day
The General Assembly, the highest organ and decision-making body of the UNWTO, its member-countries, investors, destinations, governments and other industry stakeholders, in 1979 selected and designated September 27th the anniversary of the adoption of the statues of the UNWTO as World Tourism Day (WTD), to among others, remind the world about the strategic role of tourism and its contribution to socio-economic development and transformation around the world.
Theme & host
The General Assembly, at its biannual meeting, selects a theme for WTD and host country for WTD International Grand Durbar. The 2022 edition is on the theme: ‘Rethinking Tourism Development’, and the host of the International WTD Grand Durbar is Bali in Indonesia.
National durbar
The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), Dr. Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed AWAL, the ministry, directors, management, staff, implementing agencies including the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and its regional directorates, the Ghana Tourist Development Company Ltd., the National Commission on Culture (NCC), the Creative Arts Agency (CAA), the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMBB), Bureau of Ghana Languages, the National Film Authority and their stakeholders headed to Wa, the Upper West Regional Capital for national World Tourism Day Durbar.
Ghana 2009
Ghana is an outstanding and influential UNWTO member of good standing, and has accordingly hosted and led important UNWTO international events and conferences, including chairing the UNWTO General Assembly, Committees as well as being the first sub-Saharan African country to host the WTD International Grand Durbar in 2009 on the theme: ‘Tourism- Celebrating Diversity’.
Mr. John Y. Agbeko, Chief Director, Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture says tourism has the key to dramatically turn national socio-economic fortunes around
2022 felicitations
Industry captains and newsmakers from the public and private tourism space, in an exclusive interaction with the Business and Financial Times tourism desk, send their special felicitations with the Ghanaian public on the 42nd anniversary of World Tourism Day – the auspicious anniversary and the foremost international date on the international tourism calendar across the world. Mr. Charles Obeng, Accra Regional Director – Ghana Tourism Authority, reflects on ‘Rethinking Tourism’, theme of the 42nd World Tourism Day, in an interview with the Business and Financial Times tourism desk, called for renewed and sustained tourism through public–private partnership with industry players to make Accra, and Ghana in general, the Tourism Gateway to Africa’s Tourism Treasures Delights.
Accra GTA Director
The Accra Regional Director, Ghana Tourism Authority, in an exclusive interview with the Business and Financial Times tourism desk, especially reflects and relates on the 42nd World Tourism Day, themed: ‘Rethink Tourism’, observed that tourism is very much relevant to Ghana’s Tourism Development aspirations and the larger national quest for accelerated national socio-economic transformation.
Mr. Obeng observed: “Ghana stands tall with outstanding tangible and intangible tourism potential and resources, including heritage, cultural, natural, man-made resources, political stability, safety and security to become the peerless international tourism hub”. He, therefore, made a passionate appeal to all and sundry to support national tourism development.
The Writer is Tourism, Brands & Branding, Communication & Marketing Consultant, Practitioner, Analyst, Advocate & Activist.
