8 October 2009: The 18th session of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly convened in Astana, Kazakhstan, from 5-8 October 2009.

The session concluded with the endorsement of the Roadmap for Recovery in response to the economic crisis and its effect on the travel and tourism sector, and the election of a new Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai (Jordan).
The Roadmap identifies the sector’s importance in global economic resilience, stimulus and transformation to a green economy. It calls on world leaders to place tourism and travel at the core of stimulus packages and the long-term green economy transformation, and to give special attention and support for developing states in terms of capacity building, technology transfer and financing.
The Assembly also expressed its support for a successful outcome of the Copenhagen Climate Conference and endorsed the UN-led Seal the Deal Campaign, which seeks to galvanize widespread support for a fair and balanced Copenhagen accord.
[UNWTO Press Release]