Montenegro on UNWTO

MONTENEGRIN DELEGATION PARTICIPATED ON THE 18TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNWTO

On the 18th session of the General Assembly of the UN Tourist Organization, which is held every two years, Montenegro participated in plenary part as full member, after it was admitted two years ago to this organization, which gathers 154 countries of the world and 370 admitted members. Current matters of global interest in tourism were discussed Astana, in Kazakhstan, during three-day work of the General Assembly. The focus this year was on the world economic crisis, and risks that global climate changes impose on this sector, which is the biggest generator of employment opportunities in the world. A separate segment is dedicated to the issue of transforming the world economy into the so-called green economy and the place of tourism in this process. Minister of tourism Predrag Nenezić addressed delegates in the first part of the plenary session. He informed the participants with strategic directions of the development of the Montenegrin tourism on sustainable basis, by successful facing the consequences of economic crisis and challenges that Montenegro is facing, primarily in quality preservation and improvement of natural resources. Pointing out the need to have clearly defined roles of the state and private sector, and the need for
their full cooperation, Nenezic stressed in the final part of his speech the need for balanced regional development, both summer and winter tourism, and the challenges that Montenegro is facing on its way of creating a recognized prestigious and sustainable destination. During the stay in Kazakhstan, Minister Nenezić held, together with the Head of the Cabinet of the Speaker of the Government, Vojin Vlahović and the Director of the National Tourist Organization, Saša Radović, a number of bilateral meetings with high representatives of the UNWTO Member States, including India, Malesia, Greece, Monaco, Slovenia, and the newly-elected General Secretary Taleb Rifai. The World Tourist Organization (UNWTO) is a specialized agency under the United Nations and a lead international organization in tourism, whose mail role is promoting development of sustainable and universal approach to tourism, especially in countries
where tourism is a strategic economic sector.

Source: Ministry of Tourism of Montenegro