The 71st meeting of the European Regional Commission of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) has begun in Baku, gathering over 150 delegates from nearly 40 countries to discuss sustainable tourism and climate action.
The 71st meeting of the European Regional Commission of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) has commenced in Baku, bringing together over 150 delegates from nearly 40 countries.
Addressing the event, Fuad Naghiyev, Chairman of the State Tourism Agency, said that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the cooperation with UN Tourism and values the results it has brought.
“Azerbaijan has been a member of UN Tourism since 2001 and has maintained active engagement in its work throughout these years. During our membership, Azerbaijan has been represented on the Executive Council three times and served as its Chair in 2017,” he noted.
Emphasizing that the steady development of Azerbaijan’s tourism sector is a direct result of the strong support and visionary leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Naghiyev stated that Azerbaijan has become an easily accessible hub connecting Europe to other parts of the region.
According to him, in 2024, international visitors grew by 26% compared to 2023, with tourist expenditure reaching 5.1 billion USD.
“Hosting COP29 one of 2024’s major global events, significantly increased international tourism to Azerbaijan in the previous year. For the first time, tourism was included in the COP agenda - an achievement made possible through Azerbaijan’s partnership with UN Tourism.
COP29 Presidency, the State Tourism Agency, and the UN Tourism co-organized the first-ever Tourism Ministerial Event along with two high-level roundtables.
A key outcome was the launch of the “COP29 Declaration on Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism,” now supported by over 70 signatories, including many European countries represented here today. Taking this opportunity, we invite others to join this important initiative,” Naghiyev underlined.
“This year we have presented our candidacy for one of the seats on the Executive Council for the European region for the 2025–2029 term, with the elections taking place here today, and we look forward to continued cooperation and productive joint efforts in the years ahead,” he added.
Speaking at the event, Natalia Bayona, UN Tourism Executive Director, expressed her gratitude to Azerbaijan for the excellent organization of the event, as well as for the hospitality.
Recognizing tourism as the most human-centered sector of the economy, Natalia Bayona underscored the importance of innovation, education, and investment in ensuring a sustainable future of tourism.
The event, attended by nearly 150 official representatives from 38 European member countries of the European Regional Commission, will hear reports on the organization's activities for 2024–2025, along with elections for the General Assembly, various committees and working groups, including the Executive Council.
The second day of the event will feature a thematic conference entitled “From Momentum to Milestones: Advancing Climate Action in Tourism Beyond COP29.”
World leaders have expressed condolences and solidarity after 15 people were killed in a mass shooting during Hanukkah celebrations at Sydney’s Bond...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 15th of December, covering the latest developments you need to...
Thailand has stopped fuel shipments passing through its border with Laos over fears they were being diverted to Cambodia, as fierce fighting between t...
Two people were found dead at the Los Angeles home of actor-director-producer Rob Reiner, with law enforcement treating the deaths as an apparent homi...
Hong Kong’s High Court on Monday found pro-democracy campaigner and media tycoon Jimmy Lai guilty of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and t...
Two people were found dead at the Los Angeles home of actor-director-producer Rob Reiner, with law enforcement treating the deaths as an apparent homicide, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said on Sunday (14 December).
At least 17 people, including students, were killed and 20 others injured after a school bus fell off a cliff in northern Colombia on Sunday, authorities said.
Hong Kong’s High Court on Monday found pro-democracy campaigner and media tycoon Jimmy Lai guilty of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and to publish seditious material under a China-imposed national security law, a ruling that could see the 78-year-old jailed for life.
Chileans head to the polls on Sunday for a presidential runoff that could deliver the country’s strongest move to the right since the end of military rule in 1990, as crime and security dominate voter concerns.
The Oligarch’s Design is an investigative documentary exploring how financial power, political influence and carefully constructed narratives can shape conflict and public perception.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated his offer to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Ankara, at his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The talks took place on the sidelines of the international Forum for Peace and Trust in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on Friday (12 December).
Russia’s human rights commissioner, Tatyana Moskalkova, has said that Ukraine has not provided Moscow with a list of thousands of children it alleges were taken illegally to Russia, despite the issue being discussed during talks in Istanbul.
Iranian authorities have seized a foreign tanker carrying more than 6 million litres of smuggled fuel in the Sea of Oman, detaining all 18 crew members on board.
Russian forces struck Ukraine’s southern port city of Odesa for a second consecutive day on Saturday (13 December), deploying Kinzhal hypersonic missiles for the first time in the conflict, Ukrainian authorities said.
Iranian authorities have seized a foreign tanker carrying more than 6 million litres of smuggled fuel in the Sea of Oman, detaining all 18 crew members on board.
The Israeli military said Raed Saed, described as one of the architects of the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel, was killed on Saturday when a vehicle was hit in Gaza City.
A flash of light followed by the sound of an explosion was observed over Gaza early on Saturday, according to witnesses, as severe winter storms worsened an already dire humanitarian crisis in the territory.
Hundreds of people gathered for a second consecutive week at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, on Friday (12 December), to support the family of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, the last remaining Israeli hostage whose body is believed to be held in Gaza.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin met for a closed-door discussion on the sidelines of the International Forum for Peace and Trust in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on Friday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment