Sports tourism can play an increasingly important role in the economic diversification, growth and sustainable development of destinations worldwide.
The 2nd edition of the World Sports Tourism Congress (WSTC), organized by UNWTO, Government of Croatia through its Ministry of Tourism and Sport, and the Affiliate Member Croatian National Tourist Board, brought together experts and leaders from across the sports and tourism sectors, alongside representatives of destinations and businesses. Held in Zadar (Croatia) under the theme “Tourism and Sports United for Sustainability” the Congress focused on key issues such as sports tourism’s economic impact and its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
- UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili says: “Sports Tourism plays a key role in enhancing economic growth and social development in many destinations. It creates jobs and supports businesses in cities and rural communities alike. In order to maximize its potential, public and private sector actors must collaborate, and that's where UNWTO steps in”.
Alongside assessing the impacts of sports tourism, the Congress also explored the potential benefits of the growing sector, including its links to health and wellbeing, and its importance for promoting destinations to bigger and more diverse audiences. In Zadar, leaders from both established and emerging sports tourism destinations shared their insights and best practices to produce recommendations for growing the sector in size and influence.
Interview with Ulla Savisalo, Managing Director of Savcor Ballet – a Finnish company specializing in the organization of ballet festivals.
On September 9-13, 2019 twenty-third session of the UNWTO General Assembly took place in Saint Petersburg. This important global meeting of senior tourism officials and high-level representatives of the year was organized for the first time in Russia. TOHOLOGY visited main events of the General Assembly and shares its photography overview.
Organized by UNWTO with the support of Google during the ITB Berlin travel trade fair, a High-Level Dialogue underscored that digital skills development remain a major priority for destinations around Europe.
The Secretary General of the UNWTO Zurab Pololikashjvili received an overwhelming endorsement by the General Assembly to lead the UN Specialized Agency for a second term for 2022-2025.