Brazil to Chair UNWTO Executive Council from 2020

Brazil has been elected a member of the Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and vice-president of the UNWTO Regional Commission for the Americas, the latter alongside Haiti. The elections were held this Tuesday (12) in Chengdu (China) during the 62nd Meeting of the WTO Commission for the Americas.

Brazil’s mandate on the UNWTO Executive Council, which is responsible for implementing the resolutions of the General Assembly and reporting on the entity's work programme, will be shared with Uruguay and last for two years. The neighbouring country will lead the Council in the 2018/2019 biennium, and Brazil will assume the position from 2020 to 2021.

"Brazil's performance at the forefront of the world’s main tourism entity is very important for us to discuss issues of interest to our country and other developing countries that see tourism as a lever for their economies," said Minister of Tourism Marx Beltrão.

The Brazilian government defined three priority themes, as member of the Executive Board, that it considers fundamental for the consolidation of tourism policies: the development of collaborative economy and digital media; enhancing Lusophone representation within the UNWTO and expanding discussions on the regulation of Tourist Consumer Protections.

Brazil at the UNWTO

Brazil has been a member of the World Tourism Organization since 1975, and a member of the Executive Council for five terms. In 2015, it completed 18 years of active work at the specialised agency of the United Nations and the main international organisation for matters related to tourism.