MODUL University Vienna named Affiliated Member of the UNWTO

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) officially accepted MODUL University Vienna as an affiliated member, the first Austrian university to be recognized by the UNWTO during their 84th session in October of 2008.  The decision is expected to be ratified at the next UNWTO General Assembly meeting to take place in October 2009.    

MODUL University, an MBI Al Jaber Foundation partner institution, has also contributed to international conferences and events such as the International Conference on sub-national tourism activity that was held last year. Along with the UNWTO, the European Travel Commission (ETC) and European Cities Marketing (ECM), MODUL also promoted a two-day event on tourism and strategic marketing planning in September of last year.

MODUL currently benefits from all the rights and obligations of affiliate membership, including participation in the activities of the UNWTO and promotion of its activities and events in the UNWTO newsletter and the international calendar.

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO/OMT) is a specialized agency of the United ‎Nations and the leading international organization in the field of tourism. It serves as a ‎global forum for tourism policy issues and a practical source of tourism know-how.‎  UNWTO plays a central and decisive role in promoting the development of responsible, ‎sustainable and universally accessible tourism, paying particular attention to the ‎interests of developing countries.‎  The Organization encourages the implementation ‎of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, with a view to ensuring that member ‎countries, tourist destinations and businesses maximize the positive economic, ‎social and cultural effects of tourism and fully reap its benefits, while minimizing its ‎negative social and environmental impacts.‎  Its membership includes 160 countries and territories and more than 350 Affiliate ‎Members representing the private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations ‎and local tourism authorities.‎  Direct actions that strengthen and support the efforts of National Tourism ‎Administrations are carried out by UNWTO's regional representatives (Africa, the ‎Americas, East Asia and the Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and South Asia) based at ‎the Headquarters in Madrid.‎  UNWTO is committed to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, geared ‎toward reducing poverty and fostering sustainable development.‎ http://www.unwto.org/aboutwto/index.php

For further information: http://www.modul.ac.at/2008-12-modul-university-vienna-accepted-affiliated-member-unwto