Monaco takes part in the 24th Session of the World Tourism Organization

The Principality of Monaco took part in the 24^th Session of the World Tourism Organization, held from 30 November to 3 December 2021 in Madrid at the headquarters of this UN organisation. H.E. Ms Catherine Foutrier-Rousseau, Monaco's Ambassador to Spain and Permanent Representative of Monaco to the UNWTO, was accompanied at this meeting by Mr. Guy Antognelli, General Delegate for Tourism, and Ms Isabelle Tello, Head of Section. This General Assembly brought together more than 1,000 delegates from 135 countries, including 84 Tourism Ministers. 

These few days of meetings were devoted to a post-pandemic analysis of this sector, which is of crucial importance for many countries, including the Principality, in addition to studying the development of more inclusive, more sustainable tourism.

At this meeting, the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization delivered his report to the members, stressing the important role played by the Organization, which was able to unify players in world tourism in the face of the COVID-19 crisis, thus ensuring vital support for employment and businesses and harmonised standards and protocols. The report also set out a programme of action for a more inclusive, more resilient future for the development of the sector in the African continent by 2030 and the first international code on tourist protection.

As a side-event of the General Assembly, a Thematic Session, opened by the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, addressed various topics related to the development of the tourism sector, on the subject of "Building for the future: innovation, education and rural development". The General Assembly also designated the city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, as the venue for the Organization's 25^th Session in 2023.