Highlighting the importance of tourism in today’s global and national agendas is still an ongoing challenge. UNWTO welcomes that tourism’s proven contribution to economic growth, job creation and sustainable development is gaining increasing political recognition. In this regard, recent developments in the European Union (EU) acknowledging tourism’s significance to Europe’s socio-economic growth were welcomed by UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, speaking at the European Tourism Stakeholders Conference (Madrid, Spain, 14-15 April 2010).

On March 11, 2010, the ST-EP Foundation, the Netherlands Development Organisation SNV and UNWTO jointly organized a ST-EP Forum in Berlin. The Forum took place within the framework of ITB Berlin, and was attended by professionals from National and Local Tourism Authorities, tourism enterprises, NGO’s, development organisations, and research institutions.