World Tourism Organization to Consider Suspending Russia’s UNWTO Membership

Following the request of Guatemala, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia and Ukraine for the suspension of the Russian Federation from membership of UNWTO, the organization’s Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili has called for an emergency session of the Executive Council to address the matter.

The session will be held in Madrid on March 8.

The request follows the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation. The decision for the emergency session was made following consultations between the Secretary-General and the Chair of the executive council (Côte d´Ivoire).

“It is the first time in the organization’s history that the executive council will address a request of this type,” the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) said in an announcement.

Article 3 of the UNWTO Statutes states that the fundamental principles of the organization are the “promotion and development of tourism with a view to contributing to economic development, international understanding, peace, prosperity and universal respect for, and observance of, human rights”.

UNWTO has unequivocally condemned the actions of the Russian Federation, noting that they are a clear breach of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity and contrary to the principles enshrined in the UN Charter and UNWTO Statutes.