• UNWTO Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism

    January 1, 2016
    UNWTO Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism

    Madrid : A total of 17 projects from Africa, Latin America, Asia and Europe have been selected, from a total of 109 candidacies, as finalists of the 12th UNWTO Awards on Excellence and Innovation in Tourism. The winners in the four categories – public policy and governance, research and technology, enterprises and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) – will be announced on 20 January 2016 at the UNWTO Awards Ceremony at FITUR in Madrid, Spain.

    List of finalists of the 12th UNWTO Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism: 

    Finalists of the UNWTO Award in Innovation in Public Policy and Governance

    Office of the Under Secretary of Tourism of the Mayor´s Office of Medellin – COLOMBIA

    Culture and Tourism Banyuwangi Regency Office –  INDONESIA

    East Africa Tourism Platform – KENYA

    Puerto Rico Tourism Company – PRTC – Green Certifications Program – PUERTO RICO

     

    Finalists of the UNWTO Award for Innovation in Enterprises

    Projeto Fartura – Plentifulnes Project – BRAZIL

    Garuda Indonesia – Bali Beach Clean-up – INDONESIA

    Anykščiai Regional Park Direction – Treetop Walking Path – LITHUANIA

    Meliá Hotels International, First Professional Experience Project – SPAIN

    Switzerland Explorer Tours – World’s 1st 100 % electric tourbus – SWITZERLAND

     

    Finalists of the UNWTO Award for Innovation in Non-Governmental Organizations

    Friends-International – The ChildSafe Movement – CAMBODIA

    Yayasan Karang Lestari – Coral Reef Reborn –  INDONESIA

    Samrakshak Samuha Nepal (SASANE), Sisterhood of Survivors (SOS) Program – NEPAL

    Children in the Wilderness – SOUTH AFRICA

     

    Finalists of the UNWTO Award for Innovation in Research and Technology

    Fundação Parque Tecnológico Itaipu.- BRAZIL

    Rijeka Tourist Board – Mobile Application Bike Rijeka – CROATIA

    Korea Tourism Organization – Korea Medical Tourism Online Platform – Rep. of KOREA

    Source : UNWTO Dec. 2015

    • Connecting you with the world of travel and tourism

      Theme Park Expo Vietnam 2025

      Asia Pool & Spa Expo , May 10 – 12, 2025 , Guangzhou , China

      KAZAKHSTAN International Exhibition “Tourism & Travel” Almaty, Kazakhstan

      Nihao China- Beyond your imagination

      Gulf Cooperation Council Tourism 

      Dubai – As tourism destinations in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) continue to grow, involving local communities in destination development has become increasingly vital for long-term success.

      Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Strategy 2030 aims for 39.3 million visitors per year, while Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 targets 150 million domestic and international visits, emphasising how tourism is being established as a key element of economic diversification throughout the region.

      At Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025, industry leaders emphasised that sustainable revitalisation of destinations must align tourism investments with community partnerships, cultural authenticity, and immersive guest experiences to provide lasting value for both residents and visitors.

      During the session on “Considerations and Implications of Involving Communities in Destination Revitalisation” on the ATM 2025 Global Stage, experts shared insights into building resilience, enhancing local prosperity, and ensuring tourism growth is both inclusive and enduring.

      Arabian Travel Market 2025, held under the theme “Global Travel: Developing Tomorrow’s Tourism Through Enhanced Connectivity”,  featured more than 200 speakers across three content stages and welcomes over 55,000 travel professionals from 166 countries.

      Messe Berlin India launched 

      to drive growth of ITB India 

      Messe Berlin announces the official launch of Messe Berlin India, a newly incorporated subsidiary that underscores the company’s long-term commitment to one of Asia’s fastest-growing markets. Headquartered in Delhi , the new entity will serve as a strategic base for expanding ITB India and launching future projects tailored to the Indian market. With this establishment, Messe Berlin is reinforcing its vision of India as a regional hub for innovation, collaboration, and sustainable business growth within the exhibition and events industry.

      “Messe Berlin’s presence in India reflects our strategic intent to strengthen our international reach by being where the growth is. India is a key market for us — vibrant, diverse, and full of opportunities. With Messe Berlin India, we are laying down long-term foundations to build strong partnerships, support local industries, and elevate our global platforms,” said Dr. Mario Tobias, CEO, Messe Berlin.

      ITB India, inaugurated in 2023, continues as the flagship event under the new subsidiary. Held annually, ITB India is a three-day B2B travel trade show and convention that connects the global travel and tourism industry with the Indian market. Alongside MICE Show India, Travel Tech India, and the ITB India Conference, ITB India serves as a unique platform to forge new partnerships, strengthen existing ties, and capitalize on the fast-growing potential of the Indian and South Asian travel economies. The show hosts key players from the MICE, Leisure, Corporate Travel, and Travel Technology sectors. The upcoming edition, ITB India 2025, will take place from 2 – 4 September 2025  in Mumbai.

      FACTS —

      Tourism helps in:

      👉Reducing poverty

      👉Reducing Inequalities

      👉Promoting gender equality

      👉Fostering decent work and economic growth

      World Tourism Day 2021: ‘Tourism for Inclusive Growth’

      In 2019, Travel & Tourism’s direct, indirect and induced impact accounted for:
      -US$8.9 trillion contribution to the world’s GDP
      -10.3% of global GDP
      -330 million jobs, 1 in 10 jobs around the world
      -US$1.7 trillion visitor exports (6.8% of total exports,
      28.3% of global services exports)
      -US$948 billion capital investment (4.3% of total
      investment)

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