WHAT
The European Union will be an official participant in FITUR, Spain’s largest tourism trade fair at IFEMA – Feria de Madrid, Madrid, Spain , as UNWTO hosts a special high-level discussion on the role of tourism in the EU’s sustainability agenda.
WHO
• Ms. María Isabel Oliver Sagreras, Secretary of State for Tourism for Spain
• H.E. Mr. Gari Cappelli, Minister of Tourism of Croatia
• Zurab Pololikashvili, UNWTO Secretary-General
• Tourism Ministers of Europe
• EU Tourism Stakeholders and private sector leaders
WHERE
IFEMA, Sala N102
WHEN:
Wednesday, 22 January 2020, 15:00 – 16:00
For the very first time, European Union will have an official presence at FITUR, Spain’s leading tourism trade fair. Organised by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), this special high-level event will provide a platform for European Member States to engage in a stimulating discussion on ways to advance the contribution of the tourism sector to the EU Green Deal.
The new EU Green deal was released in December 2019 by the EU Commission. This forms an integral part of the Commission’s efforts to implement the UN 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. This event is particularly relevant since tourism is still not directly referenced nor identified as a driving force of sustainable development in Europe, despite its acknowledged status as a pillar of the global development agenda.
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), a United Nations specialized agency, is the leading international organization with the decisive and central role in promoting the development of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. It serves as a global forum for tourism policy issues and a practical source of tourism knowhow. Its membership includes 159 countries, 6 territories, 2 permanent observers and over 500 Affiliate Members.