UNWTO Partners with Expedia Group to Guide Tourism Recovery

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has joined forces with the Expedia Group, aiming to strengthen ties between the public and private sectors and drive tourism’s recovery from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The two parties recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Brussels that will see them collaborate on a range of topics, with the common goal of driving recovery and making the sector more resilient and sustainable.

Joint actions between the two parties will focus on market intelligence and innovation. UNWTO and Expedia will also work together to promote entrepreneurship and professional education, and in the field of consumer protection.

In an announcement, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili underlined that from the very start of the Covid-19 crisis, the UNWTO has been a strong advocate of close cooperation between the public and private sectors.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili

“This enhanced partnership will help improve our knowledge of global tourism trends, allowing us to respond to new challenges and guide tourism’s recovery. It will also help us place innovation and sustainability at the heart of this recovery, ensuring tourism emerges stronger than before,” Pololikashvili said.

The partnership between UNWTO and Expedia Group will also see both parties share data on tourism trends and developments, on a global and local scale. This will help inform decision-making, producing data-based policies aimed a tourism’s sustainable recovery and future development.

Pololikashvili met with representatives of the Expedia Group in Brussels, on the back of successful talks with leaders of the European Institutions.