Friday, June 7, 2024 During a recent official trip to Berlin, Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary General of UN Tourism , met with Dieter Janecek, the Federal Government Coordinator for Maritime Economy and Tourism, to discuss enhancing bilateral cooperation centered on gender equality, sustainability, and the protection of tourists. The meeting took place during a session of the German Bundestag’s Committee on Tourism where several priority areas were addressed: Tourist Safety : The Secretary General and Federal Coordinator discussed the necessity of creating strong measures to protect tourists against global challenges, focusing on safety, consumer rights, and overall traveler welfare. Sustainability Commitments : Both leaders reaffirmed their dedication to sustainable tourism practices.
Pololikashvili encouraged Germany to leverage the organization’s platforms to share its substantial knowledge and lead global efforts in conserving natural and cultural resources, with a special emphasis on climate initiatives. Empowering Women : Pololikashvili reported on the success of the Centre Stage initiative, supported by German authorities and UN Women, which aims to empower women throughout the tourism industry. They agreed to expand this initiative to further promote gender equality in tourism.
Rural Tourism Development : The discussion also covered the promotion of rural destinations as key to sustainable development, with specific mention of the Best Tourism Villages initiative .