Morocco will host the upcoming 24th General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in 2021. The decision was taken on Thursday, September 12, during the 23rd General Assembly of the UNWTO, in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
The selection of Morocco as a host came after the 107 delegations participating in the assembly took a vote. Morocco won 76 votes, against 15 for the Philippines, and 13 for Kenya. There were 4 abstentions.
Morocco’s successful bid comes as a result of its status as a world leader in the tourism sector.
The UNWTO is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. It promotes tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development, and environmental sustainability.
A 2019 report about Travel & Tourism Competitiveness, published by the World Economic Forum, ranked Morocco as first in the Maghreb region, and second in North Africa.
In the worldwide index, Morocco came 66th with a score of 3,9 exceeding the average in the MENA region, and surpassing the global average