Category: Latest Travel News

London, United Kingdom, October 25, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / This is not just another World’s Best list. LTI – Luxury Travel Intelligence – has used the past 12 months to apply the perfect assessment process: a rigorously defined algorithm that measures the performance and values of luxury hotel brands.

This year, our algorithm has 130 touch points relevant to the luxury hotel sector. Each has its own weighted score value with a total maximum accumulative score of 4663.

The touch points relate to overall brand performance, not the performance of individual properties. The focus is on a brand’s ability to deliver: its passion, commitment, ethos and values, as well as the quality of its management and staff.

Continuing investment and how it is utilised is also a major factor – particularly regarding new properties and the refurbishment of existing ones.

Here are this year’s results, reflected as percentages, with last year’s positions in brackets:

1. Mandarin Oriental 81.4% (2)

2. Oetker Collection 81.3% (6)

3. Auberge 79.6% (4)

4. Six Senses 79.0% (1)

5. Aman 78.8% (5)

6. Belmond 76.3% (8)

7. Four Seasons 76.1% (9)

8. One&Only 75.1% (7)

9. Rocco Forte 73.8% (11)

10. Rosewood 72.1% (3)

11. Peninsula 69.8% (New Entry)

12. Raffles 68.5% (New Entry)

• Other brands that rated sufficiently to be monitored throughout the year are (in alphabetical order): 1 Hotels, Alila, Anantara, Banyan Tree, COMO, Dorchester Collection, Firmdale, Jumeirah, Leela, Oberoi, Park Hyatt, Ritz Carlton, Shangri-La, Soho House, Red Carnation, St. Regis, Taj, The Luxury Collection, Viceroy.

• Brands that currently have less than ten properties (our minimum requirement) but rate highly when applying our algorithm are (in alphabetical order): Airelles, Althoff Collection, Bulgari, Capella, Cheval Blanc, JK Place, La Reserve, Maybourne, Montage, Nikki Beach, Pendry, Soneva, Ultima Collection, Virgin Limited Edition.

About The World’s Best Luxury Brands Report
No other organisation connects with the global luxury hotel industry as LTI does. Our researchers engage with everyone from CEOs of the brands we have rated to thousands of managers, staff and guests. This is all part of the process for creating destination-led reports for our members who are affluent, discerning travellers, but it also allows us to create this unique report. Every year the process starts again so the results from previous years have no bearing on the following year. This inevitably leads to volatility in each year’s results, however, this is a dynamic sector, and we want to reflect what is really happening out there.

Mandarin Oriental: World’s Best Luxury Hotel Brand
Mandarin Oriental has always performed well in our annual report. This year, they have improved further across all our touch points, placing them at No1. It is an engaging brand with a loyal and growing following, who appreciate its commitment to excellence. The much-anticipated opening of their London Mayfair property could be a pivotal moment for them.

New Entries
Two Asian luxury hospitality giants have made it on to our top 12 this year. Both Peninsula and Raffles are really demonstrating their commitment to delivering the best in global luxury hospitality. Both brands have always certainly been in the mix but now, via the intricacies of our algorithm, they are really proving their value.

Michael Crompton, Founder of LTI, comments:
‘This year’s results, showing just 0.1% difference between the top two brands, demonstrates how close the race to perfection is within global luxury hospitality. These brands continue to invest significant money and resources into ensuring they deliver the ultimate experience for their guests. Matching the sectors continuing explosive growth with the highest calibre of management and staff is proving to be a significant challenge; we think this will be a determining factor in the results on our leader board, going forward’

About LTI – Luxury Travel Intelligence
We are a global members-only organisation, providing digital, up-to-the-minute reporting for affluent travellers who wish to make informed travel decisions, based on our honest and detailed intelligence. We cover luxury hotels, restaurants, spas and nightlife, in granular detail. We do not sell travel, have a booking engine, or carry advertising. Membership fees are our only revenue and we only answer to our members.

Samarkand, Uzbekistan, October 25, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Despite an earthquake that shook Morocco last September, the country’s Minister of Tourism, Handicrafts, and Social and Solidarity Economy, Fatim-Zahra Ammor, remains optimistic about the nation’s tourism prospects, setting a target of 14 million tourists by the end of 2023.

In an exclusive interview with VoyagesAfriq, conducted on the sidelines of the 25th UNWTO General Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Fatim-Zahra Ammor highlighted the remarkable resilience of Morocco’s tourism industry.

Amid initial uncertainty following the earthquake, September unexpectedly emerged as a record-breaking month for Moroccan tourism. This success was attributed in part to the country’s effective crisis communication efforts and the solidarity shown by tourists.

Minister Ammor recalled the initial concerns: “When the earthquake arrived in early September, we were worried about what was going on and how we would end the year in Morocco. We were especially concerned as we were on track for very good numbers. But we showed strong resilience because we began communicating with international partners promptly to reassure them about the real situation in Morocco.”

She maintained that this was crucial because “the earthquake was not in Marrakech, as it was said in the beginning but rather 70 kilometres away. Therefore, for the tourists, the destination remained safe. Even tourists present at the time in Morocco shared their experiences on social media, providing testimonials about the actual situation.”

Minister Ammor expressed confidence in Morocco’s ability to achieve its ambitious tourism target, stating, “we did quite well. We had the best September ever and are planning to reach 14 million tourists by the end of the year, which is an all-time record.”

First published on VoyagesAfriq by Kojo Bentum Williams

Bangkok, Thailand, October 24, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) led the Thai Team to an outstanding finish at the recent IT&CMA in Bangkok with a total of 405 leads across three exhibition areas, while Pattaya, one of Thailand’s MICE Cities, debuted its City Package at the show to lure overseas groups. The impressive number of generated leads follows TCEB’s 23 conference bid win performance concluded at the end of the bureau’s 2023 financial year on September 30.

Thailand Pavilion (40 exhibitors) generated 135 leads, a 43.6% increase from 94 leads achieved last year. Pattaya Pavilion (24 exhibitors) generated 150 leads, while Isan MICE Stand (10 exhibitors) generated 120 leads.

The leads from Thailand Pavilion – 133 for meetings and incentives (24,532 travellers) and two for conventions (2,200 travellers) – is valued at 1,764 million baht.

The leads from Pattaya Pavilion carry a potential yield of 30,000 travellers and 2,000 million baht of revenue. For Isan MICE Stand, the potential yield is 24,000 travellers and 1,600 million baht of revenue.

Pattaya, the designated MICE City for the Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor, took a determined step forward by introducing an all-new incentive package for event planners and organisers called City Package.

Co-created with TCEB, the package offers bidding support, assistance in securing endorsement by relevant government agencies, publicity and promotion, recommendation on venues certified by the Thailand MICE Venue Standards (TMVS) and suppliers, and volunteer and traffic management.

At Isan MICE Stand, buyers met 10 exhibitors from three key cities in Thailand’s northeastern or Isan region – Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, and Nakhon Ratchasima. These cities are economic, transport, cultural, and education hubs for the region. Udon Thani is also the winner of the bid to host the International Horticultural Exposition 2026.

TCEB President, Mr. Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, said: “Thailand put up a tremendous showing at IT&CMA this year and we have the results to show for it – 405 leads. Pattaya and Isan had their standalone stands next to the Thailand Pavilion this year and contributed 270 of the total 405 leads. We noted that buyers are responding to our efforts to introduce potential destinations. More than half of the exhibitors at the Thailand Pavilion this year are from such destinations but that didn’t stop buyers from making enquiries and pushing the number of leads at the Thailand Pavilion well past the 94 last year to 135. We know a mix of novelty and quality is key and TCEB’s product development team and our four regional offices are keeping pace. Look out for more products emerging from every region of Thailand. We do hope our new and potential locations can attract future overseas delegates when they attend 23 conferences Thailand have won bids to host from now up until 2028.”

Samarkand, Uzbekistan, October 23, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / The Executive Council of UNWTO met for the second time in a week to fulfil its statutory obligations and look ahead to a full two years transforming the sector.

At the 119th session of the Council, also held in Samarkand, Members endorsed the Organization’s Programme of Work for 2024 and 2025. This sets out its intentions for the two years, with both strategic objectives and programmatic priorities. As UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili noted: “We know where we are going, we know what we want, and we know our priorities for tourism.”

We know where we are going, we know what we want, and we know our priorities for tourism

New Members welcomed

The 120th session of the Executive Council was held in a clear spirit of international friendship and collaboration. In Samarkand, the Council thanked its outgoing Members for their service and active participation in helping guide the Organization over the past four years. Members also welcomed the new Members of the Council, namely Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, China, Colombia, Czechia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Republic of Korea, Lithuania, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda and Tanzania.

Saudi Arabia to continue as Chair

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will continue as Chair as Executive Council for 2024. His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism for Saudi Arabia, thanked all Members for their support and reaffirmed his commitment to advancing shared priorities and the Programme of Work. Secretary-General Pololikashvili thanked Saudi Arabia for their continued leadership and for his consistent and ongoing active support of the tourism sector.

Members also endorsed the Democratic Republic of Congo to serve as First Vice-Chair of the Council, and for Jamaica to serve as Second Vice-Chair.

Subsidiary bodies and looking ahead

The Council fulfilled its statutory obligations with elections to its subsidiary bodies, with a commitment to fair and equal representation of all global regions. Members voted on the countries that will serve on the UNWTO Programme and Budget Committee until 2025 or 2027, including representatives of the non-Council Member States and from the Affiliate Members Network. The composition of the Council’s Committees on statistics, competitiveness, sustainability and online education were also determined.

To conclude the meeting, Members agreed that the 121st Session of the UNWTO Executive Council will take place in Prague, Czechia, in the first semester of 2024.

Beijing, China, October 23, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Thailand’s Prime Minister Mr. Srettha Thavisin, during his first official visit to China this week, presided over the signing ceremony of a letter of intent (LOI) between the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and eight leading tourism players in China – Huawei Technologies, Trip.com Group, Meituan.com, Spring Airlines, Sina News, Alipay, iQIYI, and Jego Trip – to boost Chinese tourists’ confidence and quality tourism to Thailand.

Mr. Srettha said, “The Thai government places importance on reinforcing the comprehensive Thailand-China strategic partnership and strengthening cooperation in areas, such as trade and investment, education, art and culture, and tourism. To facilitate Chinese travellers, the visa exemption scheme has been put in place from now until 29 February 2024. This signing of the LOI will lay a framework for long-term strategic cooperation on promoting quality tourism and maintaining tourists’ confidence in Thailand.”

The LOI signing ceremony was held today at Kerry Hotel, Beijing, China. The agreement was signed between Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT Governor, and top executives of the eight strategic tourism partners – Huawei Technologies’ Mr. Walter Ji, Trip.com Group’s Mr. Sun Bo, Meituan’s Ms. Lu Menxi, Spring Airlines’ Mr. Wang Yu, Sina News’ Mr. Cong Song, Alipay’s Mr. Zhou Yi, iOIYI’s Mr. Yang Xianghua, and Jego Trip’s Dr. Yong Ji.

Ms. Thapanee said, “This LOI is the largest cooperation agreement that represents the greatest coverage of travel alliance businesses in the Chinese market covering all steps of the customer journey. From obtaining Thailand’s travel information through iQIYI and Sina News, planning and booking trips via the Trip.com Group, Meituan.com, Alipay, and Jego Trip to travelling to Thailand with Spring Airlines, TAT aims to leverage this partnership to elevate the positive image of Thailand as a tourist destination, boost Chinese tourists’ confidence, and roll out tourism promotions to stimulate more travel to Thailand.”

The cooperation with eight of China’s leading tourism players, including top tech companies, online tourism platforms, airlines, and online banking is expected to help strengthen cooperation in tourism-related technology for the Thai tourism industry as well as promote quality tourism to Thailand.

Ultimately, this will help reach the target of 4 million to 4.4 million Chinese tourists in 2023, generating over 200 billion Baht, and bringing the overall number of this year’s tourist arrivals to 25-30 million.

From 1 January to 15 October 2023, Thailand recorded a total of 2,645,885 Chinese tourists, thus making it the second largest tourist market.

Bangkok, Thailand, October 21, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School is accepting student applications for long-term programmes in 2024, featuring special promotions to delight cooking enthusiasts. Enjoy exclusive privileges by enrolling and paying full tuition for all long-term programmes for the 2024 academic calendar by the end of October 2023. Promotions include special tuition rates (before the new price increase) and scholarships of up to 10,000 baht, available to Thai and international students. Furthermore, interest-free installment plans are offered for programme fees (to 10 months with participating credit cards).

Those keen on pursuing their culinary dreams can apply for a special early bird promotion from today until October 31, 2023. The promotion applies to programmes for any term in the 2024 academic year. The limited promotion offers a chance to master the culinary craft at Le Cordon Bleu Dusit, a renowned world-class culinary school.

Le Cordon Bleu Dusit’s long-term programmes include a certificate accredited by the Ministry of Education.

Students can choose from 5 programmes that cover culinary art, Cuisine, Patisserie, Bakery and Thai Cuisine. Learners will acquire techniques from world-class chefs that can be applied to future careers. The long-term programmes have varying durations, with weekday terms ranging from 3 to 9 months and Saturday terms spanning 6 to 18 months.

The academic calendar for weekday courses is divided into 4 terms: January – March, April – July, July – September, and October – December, while the Saturday semester comprises 2 terms: January – July and July – January 2024.

The learning process consists of two classes: Demonstration Class and Practical Class, both overseen by a chef instructor who provides guidance and advice. To complete their studies, students will undergo a final exam, encompassing both written and practical components. All instruction and learning will be conducted in English, with a Thai interpreter available in demonstration classrooms.

For additional information, please visit https://www.cordonbleu.edu/thailand/programmes/th

About Le Cordon Bleu Dusit
Le Cordon Bleu Dusit, a renowned culinary school in Thailand and ASEAN is located on the 17th floor of Central Tower, Central World, Bangkok, and stands as a beacon of culinary education excellence. With a proud history spanning 16 illustrious years since its establishment in 2007, the school is the result of a fruitful collaboration between the esteemed Le Cordon Bleu International and the renowned Dusit International, a leading name in Thailand’s hospitality domain.

Le Cordon Bleu Dusit offers culinary education to both Thai and international students from around the world. Rooted in the rich heritage of French culinary artistry, the school’s programs are recognized by the Ministry of Education, solidifying its place as a pinnacle of culinary education not only within Thailand but also throughout the ASEAN region.

The hallmark of Le Cordon Bleu Dusit’s approach is the “Watch, Learn, and Do” philosophy. This technique imparts fundamental cooking skills and techniques from basic to advanced levels. The school emphasizes practical experience alongside theoretical knowledge, allowing students to flourish in their culinary journey.

With a Le Cordon Bleu global network encompassing 35 schools across 20 countries, the school continues to stand at the forefront of culinary education. Here in Thailand, Le Cordon Bleu Dusit has nurtured over 20,000 graduates, who have gone on to become pillars in both the service and food industries.

San Sebastian, Spain, October 20, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / The 8^th UNWTO World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism was held Oct. 5-7 in Donostia–San Sebastian, Spain. The event was organized by UNWTO and its Affiliate Member, the Basque Culinary Center (BCC), with the support of the Basque Government, the Provincial Council of Guipuzkoa, the City Council of Donostia-San Sebastian, and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism of Spain. More than 300 delegates from 50 countries attended, with 1500 connections on the UNWTO YouTube channel.

Forum Theme: Back to the Roots

With this theme, the topics of promotion and preservation of local products, the contribution of tourism to sustainable development, innovation, and food waste all took center stage. The two-day dialogues with over 40 international speakers discussed many key areas.

Opening the Forum, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili stated, “Gastronomy Tourism can play a leading role in promoting responsible agricultural practices, protecting biodiversity, and reducing the environmental footprint. It can also create new opportunities for communities to thrive and protect their heritage and traditions and become an engine of growth and diversification for destinations supporting our roadmap towards the Sustainable Development Goals.”

Joxe Mari Aizega, General Manager of BCC added, “This edition of the Forum celebrates the deep-rooted connection between tourism, gastronomy, and producers, highlighting the essential role they play in promoting the well-being of local communities. It also fosters a deeper understanding of the interrelationship between gastronomy and tourism, the diverse range of producers, and the challenges and opportunities that arise from these synergies.”

The Forum put the spotlight on gastronomy tourism’s role in preserving local territories and promoting sustainable practices. Tourism ministers of Bulgaria, Puerto Rico, and Zimbabwe discussed the policy framework for the development and promotion of gastronomy tourism that can only bring benefits to destinations and local communities.

Jointly presented by representatives of UNWTO and BCC on stage, the Forum concluded Ten Key Takeaways, which included: reducing food waste; offering more experiential services; building a gastronomy tourism roadmap for Africa; advancing agritourism; stronger alliances to bring producers and chefs together; preserving traditions and heritage with academic support; education to improve the food chain; responsible storytelling, etc.

UNWTO Sustainable Tourism Ambassadors Appointed

Three chefs were designated UNWTO Sustainable Tourism Ambassadors, i.e., Chef Fatmata Binta of Ghana, a dedicated contributor to promoting African gastronomy and community development; Chef Martín Berasategui, a native San Sebastian with the most Michelin stars in Spain (12 stars); and Michelin star Chef Pedro Subijana, a visionary, author, and co-founder of the New Basque Cuisine movement. Chefs Berasategui and Subijana are both trustees of BCC, underscoring their commitment to culinary excellence and education. The appointments recognized the chefs’ outstanding work in gastronomy and the enhancement of local produce and community development.

Elevated and encouraged, Chef Binta stated, “We have teamed up to ensure that both gastronomy and agritourism deliver on their potential to provide opportunities for women, youth, and all. We are leaving no one behind.”

Africa: A Land of Opportunity

With gastronomy tourism being one of the pillars of the UNWTO Agenda for Africa: Tourism for inclusive growth, the Forum explored the sector’s potential as a source of inclusive growth across the continent.

The First Lady of Zimbabwe, Her Excellency Dr. Auxillia Mnangagwa, was recognized by Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili for championing gastronomy tourism in Zimbabwe. The First Lady addressed the audience: “Gastronomy Tourism globally has become an effective tool for attracting tourists, particularly those who are cognizant of the natural and nutritional value embedded in traditional foods. As nations, we should be able to tap into our nutritional traditional cuisines to ensure healthy living and the socio-economic development of our nations. This is in line with our heritage-based philosophy for promoting tourism.”

UNWTO awarded Zimbabwe 100 scholarships from IE University in recognition of Zimbabwe’s strengthening of high-quality tourism education. A group of Zimbabwean university students also attended the Forum and experienced culinary education in San Sebastian.

Two African countries, Botswana and Zimbabwe, organized onsite stands. Botswana flew in meats and all supplies and cooked the Botswana official national dish, Beef Seswaa, and other delicacies, while Zimbabwe showcased traditional instruments like Mbira, along with various Zimbabwean snacks and Mapfura Wine, a modified version of Mukumbi Beer. The African demonstration brought African cuisine to life and grabbed attention.

In May 2023, Zimbabwe hosted the first Southern African Development Community regional gastronomy tourism competition. It created a platform for African countries to work together. Zimbabwe intends to expand the program further on the African continent. In his speech, Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili stated that Africa deserves a large-scale event to help boost its gastronomy tourism sector.

Stay Relevant to Industry Needs

Two moderators jointly led an interactive session, Sharing Is Caring. Through the Mentimeter app, moderators polled nine questions for the audience’s feedback, including definitions, challenges, strategies, priorities, etc. The topics for the next Forum also emerged clearly as education, sustainability, marketing, and storytelling.

The Forum offered a series of technical sessions, field trips, and tastings, providing an immersive gastronomic experience. Practical topics included reducing food waste, creating value for visitors and producers, overcoming legal obstacles faced by producers, utilizing digital tools, etc., all of which served the needs of businesses, large or small.

The Forum dedicated a session for five selected finalists from previous UNWTO Startup Competitions on Gastronomy to pitch their ideas. Oh Les Chefs of France took the winning title for its plans to introduce a locally crafted, quality food delivery app. The winning prize included access to a workspace within the LABe-Digital Gastronomy Lab for six months, engaging in the program Culinary Action!, which is BCC’s gastronomy entrepreneurship program, and a six-month membership in the GOe Digital Community.

The Forum attracted a broad range of grass-roots professionals: a marketing manager from an Indian village up in the Himalayas was seeking ideas to expand gastronomy tourism in his village and beyond; a Rwanda coffee marketing coalition manager was figuring out how his exportation could leverage the international gastronomy tourism trend; and a tour agent on an Irish island was looking for inspiration to best support the islander suppliers. The networking opportunities added further to attendees’ takeaway bundles.

Donostia-San Sebastian Under Spotlight

The Forum was held at Tabakalera, a facility conveniently located by the River Urumea. Tabakalera used to be a tobacco factory, and today it’s a large cultural center equipped for hosting exhibitions and conferences.

BCC is an internationally renowned culinary institute, offering accredited degrees. It’s responsible for helping bring the Forum to the region eight years ago, which takes place in Donostia-San Sebastian every second year. Joxe Mari Aizega of BCC commented, “Hosting this Forum means a series of significant benefits for our city and the region. BCC is honored to help present this important Forum on the international stage, which will continue to strengthen the deep-rooted connections between tourism, gastronomy, and producers globally.”

BCC held two consecutive dinner events for the Forum. The Chefs of Mahaia Kolektiboa, a group of chefs committed to the evolution of Basque cuisine, prepared the first dinner, with the entire supply proudly coming from local producers, setting an excellent example of local sourcing.

Donostia-San Sebastian is accessible by five airports as well as trains and buses. It is a city made for walking. Several Forum official hotels were in the historic Old Town, which is known for having the highest concentration of bars in the world, providing the attendees with easy access for a night out.

The Forum organized Technical Visits with five different excursions for attendees to experience and savor regional gastronomy. The itineraries covered Rioja, the internationally popular wine region, with top-ranked wines from critics and connoisseurs.

The 9^th UNWTO Gastronomy Tourism Forum will be held in Bahrain in 2024—the first time for the Forum to take the stage in the Middle East. Following the announcement, Bahrain hosted the final dinner at BCC to welcome international visitors.

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Haybina Hao reporting for Travelindex on travel, agritourism, adventure travel, destinations.

Haybina is an international travel industry journalist and reports in both Chinese and English. Linkedin

Samarkand, Uzbekistan, October 21, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Global tourism leaders have further advanced plans for a more ethical, diverse sector led by a growing UNWTO. The 25th session of the UNWTO General Assembly convened for a second day to examine, discuss and approve the Organization’s work, with a focus on expanding its global presence, ethics and legal frameworks and the role of public-private partnerships

New Regional and Thematic Offices

UNWTO’s commitment to moving closer to its Members and being on the ground in every region was further emphasized as the Assembly was given an update on work to establish new Regional and Thematic offices. Members heard:

• The Regional Office for the Middle East, opened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2021, is an established hub for tourism education and tourism for rural development. From here, UNWTO has opened the Riyadh School for Hospitality and Tourism, launched a first Education Toolkit for high schools, and also launched the Best Tourism Villages initiative.
• UNWTO signed an agreement with the Government of Brazil to establish a Regional Office in Rio de Janeiro, to be focused on investments.
• The planned Regional Office for Africa in Marrakesh, Morocco, will focus on the priorities of innovation and investments in tourism.
• The hosts of this Assembly, Uzbekistan, presented its proposal to establish a Thematic Office for Tourism on the Silk Road. The proposal was approved by the 119th session of the UNWTO Executive Council.

Ethics Committee

The General Assembly further built on UNWTO’s leading work to create a more ethical and accessible sector, while also increasing confidence in travel and tourism. The Global Code of Ethics were the foundation for UNWTO becoming a UN agency. In Samarkand, the Assembly approved new members to serve on the World Committee of Tourism Ethics, with a clear commitment to diversity. Members also looked ahead to the International Conference on Accessible Tourism, due to take place in San Marino in November.

During the Plenary Session, UNWTO formally welcomed those Members that have already agreed to adhere to the International Code for the Protection of Tourists. To date, Argentina, Brazil, Lebanon, Lithuania, Portugal, Senegal, Thailand, Uruguay and Venezuela have all agreed to adhere to the landmark legal instrument. The Code was designed during the pandemic, with the first harmonized international legal framework set to play a key role in restoring consumer confidence in travel.

World Tourism Day Report

Just three weeks after World Tourism Day 2023, Member States were given an update on UNWTO’s work growing the sector’s global day of observance. The Secretary of the Assembly provided a recap of the past two events and looked ahead to the two years to come.

• World Tourism Day 2022 was hosted in Bali, Indonesia, around the theme of Rethinking Tourism, with the 2023 celebrations – the biggest to date – held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, around the theme of Tourism and Green Investments. The General Assembly agreed to adopt the “Tourism Opens Minds” pledge, introduced by UNWTO that day, and recommends that the Secretariat takes steps to advance the initiative, including through the funding of relevant programmes and campaigns.
• Members of the General Assembly approved the themes and the hosts for the next two years. For 2024, the theme will be “Tourism and Peace”,  to be hosted by Georgia, and then Malaysia will host World Tourism Day 2025 around the theme of Tourism and Sustainable Developments.

Strong, stable Organization

In his report to the General Assembly during the First Plenary, Secretary-General Pololikashvili highlighted the ongoing work to strengthen and modernise the Organization. Members of the Assembly agreed to Extend the mandate of the Task Force on Redesigning Tourism for the Future until the 26th session of the General Assembly. The Task Force aims to reinforce UNWTO’s role in guiding the global sector forward through long-term strategy and vision. Nine Member States were approved to serve on the Task Force for the next two years. Members were provided with an update on the reforms to reinforce UNWTO’s compliance with UN standards, most notably through the Joint Inspection Unit.

The General Assembly voted with 73% in favour of Secretary-General Pololikashvili being permitted to present his candidature for a third mandate.

Affiliate Members

UNWTO’s Affiliate Members represent the broad diversity of the sector, counting on representatives from business, academia and civil society. The Report of the Chair of the Board of Affiliate Members gave the Assembly an update on work done over the past two years, with a clear focus on growing the Affiliates’ role in the mission of the Organization as a whole. Members welcomed the achievements of the Affiliate Members network, including in efforts to grow new areas of tourism to promote economic diversity and resilience.

Travelindex Group participated and contributed as international media at the just concluded UNWTO 25th General Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Travelindex also introduced to UNWTO Members and Affiliates its groundbreaking and world’s first AI-Powered tool to unlock the potential of gastronomy tourism.

Saudi Arabia to host the 26th General Assembly

To conclude, Members agreed that the 26th session of the UNWTO General Assembly will be held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Samarkand, Uzbekistan, October 20, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has announced its list of Best Tourism Villages 2023. The accolate recogonizes villages that are leading in nurturing rural areas and preserving landscapes, cultural diversity, local values, and culinary traditions.

In this third edition 54 villages from all regions were selected from almost 260 applications. A further 20 villages have joined the Upgrade Programme, and all 74 villages are now part of the UNWTO Best Tourism Villages Network. The villages were named during the UNWTO General Assembly, taking place this week in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Tourism can be a powerful force for inclusivity, empowering local communities and distributing benefits across regions

“Tourism can be a powerful force for inclusivity, empowering local communities and distributing benefits across regions,” emphasizes UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. “This initiative acknowledges villages that have harnessed tourism as a catalyst for their development and well-being.”

A global network of local communities

Launched in 2021, the Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO initiative is part of the UNWTO Tourism for Rural Development Programme. The Programme works to foster development and inclusion in rural areas, combat depopulation, advance innovation and value chain integration through tourism and encourage sustainable practices.

As in previous editions, the villages are evaluated under nine key areas:

• Cultural and Natural Resources
• Promotion and Conservation of Cultural Resources
• Economic Sustainability
• Social Sustainability
• Environmental Sustainability
• Tourism Development and Value Chain Integration
• Governance and Prioritization of Tourism
• Infrastructure and Connectivity
• Health, Safety, and Security

The initiative comprises three pillars:

Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO: Recognizes outstanding rural tourism destinations with accredited cultural and natural assets, a commitment to preserving community-based values, and a clear commitment to innovation and sustainability across economic, social, and environmental dimensions.

Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO Upgrade Programme: Supports villages on their journey to meet recognition criteria, helping in areas identified as gaps during evaluation.

The Best Tourism Villages Network: a space for exchanging experiences and good practices, learning, and opportunities among its members, and it is open to contributions of experts and public and private sector partners engaged in the promotion of tourism as a driver for rural development.

The Network enlarges every year and aims at becoming the largest global rural network: with the announcement today of these 74 new members, 190 villages are now part of this unique Network.

Best Tourism Villages 2023

List of Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO 2023 is as follows (by alphabetic order):

• Al Sela, Jordan
• Barrancas, Chile
• Biei, Japan
• Caleta Tortel, Chile
• Cantavieja, Spain
• Chacas, Peru
• Chavín de Huantar, Peru
• Dahshour, Egypt
• Dhordo, India
• Dongbaek, Republic of Korea
• Douma, Lebanon
• Ericeira, Portugal
• Filandia, Colombia
• Hakuba, Japan
• Higueras, Mexico
• Huangling, China
• Jalpa de Cánovas, Mexico
• Kandovan, Iran
• La Carolina, Argentina
• Lephis Village, Ethiopia
• Lerici, Italy
• Manteigas, Portugal
• Morcote, Switzerland
• Mosan, Republic of Korea
• Oku-Matsushima, Japan
• Omitlán de Juárez, Mexico
• Oñati, Spain
• Ordino, Andorra
• Oyacachi, Ecuador
• Paucartambo, Peru
• Penglipuran, Indonesia
• Pisco Elqui, Chile
• Pozuzo, Peru
• Saint-Ursanne, Switzerland
• Saty, Kazakhstan
• Schladming, Austria
• Sehwa, Republic of Korea
• Sentob, Uzbekistan
• Shirakawa, Japan
• Sigüenza, Spain
• Şirince, Türkiye
• Siwa, Egypt
• Slunj, Croatia
• Sortelha, Portugal
• St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria
• Tân Hoá, Viet Nam
• Taquile, Peru
• Tokaj, Hungary
• Văleni, Moldova
• Vila da Madalena, Portugal
• Xiajiang, China
• Zapatoca, Colombia
• Zhagana, China
• Zhujiawan, China

The villages selected to participate in the Upgrade Programme this year are:

• Asuka, Japan
• Baños de Montemayor, Spain
• Bilebante, Indonesia
• Ciocănești, Romania
• Civita di Bagnoregio, Italy
• El Cisne, Ecuador
• Iza, Colombia
• Kale Üçağız, Türkiye
• Kemaliye, Türkiye
• Kfar Masaryk, Israel
• Madla, India
• Ounagha, Morocco
• Pela, Indonesia
• Puerto Octay, Chile
• Sabbioneta, Italy
• Saint Catherine, Egypt
• Sarhua, Peru
• Taro, Indonesia
• Vila de Frades, Portugal
• Yanque, Peru

The call for submissions for the fourth edition will take place in the first months of 2024, opening a new opportunity to rural destinations to shine on the global stage.

Samarkand, Uzbekistan, October 19, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / The Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization has analysed and approved its vision to transform the sector. Meeting for its 119th session, Members were also presented with the Organization’s Programme of Work for the past months, with a focus on core priorities as well as a longer-term leadership vision for transforming the sector.

Key Council Meeting

The Council met on the eve of the 25th UNWTO General Assembly, held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. In line with his obligations, Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili presented his report to Members, outlining the progress made since the Executive Council met in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, five months previously. This included an overview of the latest round of Regional Commission meetings, their key outputs and achievements and associated thematic sessions, including work to rethink tourism communications, grow new pillars like wellbeing tourism and support investments into the sector.

Programme of Work Endorsed

As well as assessing progress to date, the meeting also gave Members a chance to learn more about the UNWTO Programme of Work for 2024 and 2025. This is based on a 2022 consultation with all Members on their needs and is distilled into clear strategic objectives and programmatic priorities. Members endorsed the Programme of Work and other key activities put before them. These included plans for directing funding towards flagship programmes and for establishing new Regional and Thematic offices for UNWTO. In this regard, Members were updated on progress to establish a new Regional Office in Marrakesh, the Kingdom of Morocco, endorsed the plans presented by Uzbekistan to establish a Thematic Office for Tourism on the Silk Road in the country, and advanced plans for a further Regional Office in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Members of the Executive Council also decided to recommend to the General Assembly that the mandate of the Task Force on Redesigning Tourism for the Future, with new members joining from every global region.

Vision for Leadership

In Samarkand, the host of the Executive Council as well as the subsequent General Assembly, proposed that Secretary-General Pololikashvili be permitted to stand for a third term in office in light of both his accomplishments so far and his longer-term vision for both tourism and for UNWTO. Following the established protocol, the Executive Council agreed that the matter be placed on the agenda for the General Assembly, to be voted on by all Member States.

Members thanked Secretary-General for the publication of his landmark vision for the sector, published to coincide with the General Assembly. “The Journey to 2030: A Vision for a Sector Transformed” sets out clear priorities for the sector in the year ahead and action plans for achieving them.

Statutory Obligations Fulfilled

The Executive Council fulfilled its statutory obligations, including by electing Egypt to serve as the Organization’s External Auditor for 2024 and 2025. Members also endorsed the recommendations of Members for the hosts of World Tourism Day for the same years. In 2024, World Tourism Day will be held around the theme of “Tourism and Peace”, with Georgia to be put forward as host. Then in 2025, Malaysia will be considered as host for that year’s celebrations, to be held around the theme of Tourism and Sustainable Development.