World Tourism Organization (UWTO)

The World Tourism Organization (UWTO) is one of the specialized agencies of United Nation formed in 1957 to promote responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. It acts as arbitrator, articulator and facilitator to implement economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability and also act as a leader for advancing worldwide knowledge on tourism policies.

It has 157 member countries, 6 associates’ members and 480 affiliate members who represent the private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations and local tourism authorities.

Governing Bodies of World Tourism Organization (UWTO)

The governing bodies of UWTO work on democratic principle and its structure of governing bodies are discussed below:

• General Assembly: It is apex body of the World Tourism Organization who meets every two years to approve and recommend the entire budget and programme of work to the tourism sector. It elects a Secretary-General every four years. The office is consists of member countries, associates members and affiliates members participate as observer.
• Regional Commissions: It is one of the subsidiary organs of the General Assembly which is consists of Six Regional Commissions which meet once in year. Every commission has one chairman and Vice-chairman who are elected for a term of two years.
• Executive Council: It is governing board of UWTO whose responsibility is to ensure that organisation works according to the organisational norms and their budget.
• Committees: It is specialized advising bodies whose prime function is to advise member countries on management and programme content. It is consists of the Programme and Budget Committees, the Committees on Statistics and the Tourism Satellite.
• Secretariat: It is supervising and executive body of UWTO. The prime function is to implement UWTO’s programme of work and serving the need of member countries.  

Functions of World Tourism Organization (UWTO)  

• Streamlining tourism as global agenda: It has experienced that tourism is one of the factor of cultural synthesis and also fastest growing economic sectors in the World. It is a key driver for socio-economic progress.
• Sustainable Developments of Tourism:  It refers to the developments of environmental, economic and socio-cultural aspects of tourism in a way of long-term sustainability which applied to all forms of tourism in all types’ destinations, including mass tourism and the various niche tourism segments.
• Ethics and Social Responsibility:  The prime function of UWTO is to promote responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism which guided by the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism designed by UWTO.
• Development of Tourism: The UWTO brings tourism specific experience and expertise in a common platform to create synergies for a more coordinated, effective and efficient delivery of technical assistance to developing countries and also to established healthy competition among national’s in tourism sectors.
• Fostering of Knowledge: The motive of UWTO is to formulate and implement educational policies, plans and instruments which contribute to an improvement in the quality, competitiveness and sustainability of the tourism sector through excellence in education and training.