SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Dec. 1 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has integrated Turismo de Tenerife as an affiliate member, which will allow the entity dependent on the Cabildo to join and participate in high-level working groups on sustainability or active tourism. The entry of Turismo de Tenerife took place within the framework of the XXIV meeting of the UNWTO General Assembly held in Madrid.
The president of the Cabildo, Pedro Martín, assured that the level of maturity, the capacity and the powerful development of the Tenerife Tourism strategies prove their incorporation. Martín also recalled that Tenerife was the first Spanish island to become an Intelligent Tourist Destination and that in May of this year it received the certification as a Biosphere destination, “which guarantees our environmental, social, cultural and economic commitment, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, “he added.
Pedro Martín maintains that Tenerife’s entry as an affiliate member is the result “of the effort so that we continue to be a safe, competitive and resilient destination, with work clearly aimed at sustainability and digitization”.
The island director of Tourism of the Cabildo, Laura Castro, has been present at the official entrance ceremony and has stated that Turismo de Tenerife joins the UNWTO “with a vocation for proactivity and to quickly integrate into existing working groups not only in those of sustainability or active tourism, but in those of gastronomy, heritage, accessibility, digitization or wine tourism, in which we can contribute all our experience as a leading and mature destination, with proven success stories “. Laura Castro also stressed that for Tenerife “it is important to be part of international organizations like this one because they help to position the Island on the world map.”
The XXIV Assembly of the UNWTO will focus its attention on what the pandemic has meant, the challenges of tourism, and the importance of innovation, education and rural development to rebuild the sector. The UNWTO organizes congresses and conferences in different destinations around the world with a large participation of other destinations and affiliated members.
In this sense, the Island aspires to host events that, in addition to making its organizational capacity visible and verifying, can nurture business in the MICE value chain (congresses, events, product presentations and incentive trips), which generate business and promotion. indirect value added.
ACTIVE PARTICIPANT AND REFERENCE.
This assembly was attended by several technicians, who are establishing contact with the heads of the working groups so that Turismo de Tenerife becomes an active participant and of reference from the beginning. The CEO of Tourism of Tenerife, David Pérez, pointed out that it is also intended to learn from the experience of other destinations: “It is about sharing, exchanging and interacting with the rest of the tourism value chain worldwide, with all the good that that can bring “.
David Pérez also emphasized that the new destination positioning is not only focused on commercial or marketing actions. “Opening up to the North American market and Middle Eastern countries, where we are not as well-known a destination as in Europe, requires participation and visibility in international tourism bodies and forums where decisions are debated and made. The objective, therefore , is to work on the prestige and reputation of a leading, competitive and experienced vacation destination, with a vocation to diversify and internationalize, such as Tenerife “, he explained.
The UNWTO Affiliate Members Department brings together more than 500 companies, teaching and research institutions, destinations and NGOs. Its main mission is to foster synergies between affiliate members and member states around the world, connect groups and networks with common goals, and create products.
