While the decision of the Spanish Government to implement a series of austerity measures to address the public deficit is fully understandable, UNWTO expressed great concern that such measures have translated into the end of a separate Secretariat for Tourism. This decision sends out the wrong message to the market and comes at a critical moment, at the beginning of the tourism high season and as the sector still struggles to recover from the loses of 2009.

UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, met with the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Haris Silajdzic, to discuss tourism development in the country during an official visit (12-14 July, 2010) described as the start of a new phase of cooperation between UNWTO and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mr Rifai encouraged the country to make the utmost use of the Organization in the development of its tourism industry.

Statement of Intent to outline the future direction of the travel and tourism industry.

The combination of a dynamic private sector and strong political support of tourism has been instrumental in the way Australia has driven tourism as a motor of socio-economic development. This was the message taken by Taleb Rifai on his first visit as UNWTO Secretary-General to Australia.