TravTalk Middle East Online Magazine
Decision was taken at UNWTO’s 24th General Assembly held last month. Announcement was made at conclusion of 114th meeting of UNWTO Executive Council held on following day. Location of office will continue to strengthen ties between UAE and Brazil and open up more opportunities for emiratis to visit Brazil.
The new office is tasked with attracting investments; carrying out commission studies on the tourism sector; developing a Tourist Support Portal; fostering start-ups operating in tourism; and supporting the activities and projects developed by the UNWTO worldwide. The office is intended to start operations this year.
Headquartering the office of the Americas in Brazil was a natural choice for the tourism organisation — owing largely to the nation’s status as an economic powerhouse in the LATAM region, and its thriving tourism sector supported by Embratur — its International Tourism Promotion Agency.
Through Embratur, Brazil continues to promote itself as a friendly destination to UAE-based travellers.
The location of the office will continue to strengthen ties between the UAE and Brazil and open up more opportunities for emiratis to visit Brazil. To attract more visitors from the Gulf, UAE, Asia and Europe, Brazil is expanding its Halal tourism to cater more to the needs of Muslim tourists. The shift to accommodate the preference will see the introduction of Halal-certified hotels. “We have approved a new UNWTO office in Brazil. I congratulate Gilson Machado Neto, Minister of Tourism and President, Embratur Deliberative Council, Carlos Brito, President, Embratur and all those who took part in this win. I want to thank President Jair Bolsonaro for his support and pursuing the idea of opening the office here,” said Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary General, UNWTO. He was re-elected Secretary General during the 24th General Assembly.
