Bahamas elected to UNWTO Executive Council

Wed, Jun 24th 2015, 11:54 PM

The Bahamas has been elected to the Executive Council of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for the period 2015 through 2017, and will represent member countries of the Americas region.

Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe will take the seat in the Executive Council during the upcoming General Assembly of the UNWTO in Medellin, Colombia, September 12-17, 2015.

"The election represents an honor for The Bahamas, a country that is renown for its leadership in the tourism industry. We will nurture relationships, vigorously pursue multi-destination opportunities and search out the best and most effective use of technology. We intend to be active and raise issues that can enlarge and enhance the tourism industry for The Bahamas and for the region," Wilchcombe told Guardian Business yesterday.

The UNWTO is a UN agency that promotes tourism as an engine of economic advancement, environmental sustainability and inclusive development. It is recognized for its role in advancing competitive and sustainable tourism policies and minimizing potential negative impacts. It has a membership which includes 156 countries, six territories and some 400 affiliate members representing tourism agencies in both the private and public sector.

Wilchcombe said it is an honor for a small nation like The Bahamas, among many other larger nations, to be recognized internationally for its leadership in the highly competitive tourism sector.

"As a representative of member countries in the Americas region on the executive council, not only will we represent our island nation at council meetings with distinction, but also those member countries who elected us to ensure that their interest is articulated as the executive council manages the affairs of the UNWTO," he said.

UNWTO Secretary General Dr. Taleb Rifai said the organization's leadership is "extremely pleased to see The Bahamas taking a seat as a member of the UNWTO Executive Council for the period 2015-2017.

"The Bahamas is a leading tourism destination and we trust that the country's experience and leadership will be a major contribution to the council's work in the coming two years. The Bahamas' participation in the council comes at a particularly important moment as the international community sets the post-2015 development agenda, where sustainable tourism has a crucial role to play," Rifai said.

The Bahamas rejoined the UNWTO in 2002, and since then has held a number of leadership positions within the organization, including vice president of the Commission for the Americas; member of the Sustainable Tourism Committee and presently chairman of the Committee on Tourism and Sustainability, with Israel serving as vice chair.

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