Photo credit: spbdnevnik.ru
The 23d session of the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has opened in St. Petersburg. Russia is hosting the forum that is considered the largest in the global tourism industry for the first time. The assembly brought together more than a thousand participants from 130 countries. Delegations from 32 regions of Russia will be able to present their tourism potential to representatives of the foreign tourism business, St. Petersburg Diary reports.
According to the chairman of the St. Petersburg Committee for Tourism Development Yevgeny Pankevich, the assembly in the Northern capital opens up opportunities for the city and Russia to show their capabilities to world industry leaders and to make themselves known in a global format. Representatives of 32 regions came to St. Petersburg to present their tourism development programs and proposals for attracting foreign tourists. During the session, a tourist map of Russia will be created.
Leading representatives of the global travel industry gather at the assembly once every two years. During round tables, meetings and other events, forum participants share their experiences and best practices, as well as discuss the development strategy of the tourism industry. This year’s summit will discuss tourism innovation and staffing issues. The assembly program also includes a health tourism forum.
Russkiy Mir
