UNWTO treaty will raise tourist confidence

MADRID UNWTO says it is looking out for tourists by drafting an international convention to protect travellers and build consumer confidence in the tourism service suppliers.

The convention will identify the responsibilities of signatory states to facilitate visitors during a national emergency.

The process has taken more than six years, so far, following a decision in 2011 to create a global legal framework, but UNWTO now says the project is entering its final phase.

It involved nine working group meetings to hammer out details of the treaty, officially tagged ‘Convention on the Protection of Tourists’.

Issues such as how to protect tourists and the obligations of tourism service providers’ were discussed in detail at the 9th working group meeting late last month.

A draft convention had already incorporated the comments of UNWTO member states and members of the Working Group last November.

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