Traveloka, the leading online travel platform, has officially joined the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) as an affiliate member, making it the only Southeast Asian travel platform to be affiliated with UNWTO. The announcement was made during the UNWTO Conference in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that serves as the leading international organization for the promotion of responsible, sustainable, and accessible tourism. It works to facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing among member countries, industry stakeholders, and the global tourism community to support the development and growth of the tourism sector worldwide.
Ensuring sustainable tourism industry with UNWTO
Operating in six countries across Southeast Asia, Traveloka utilized the opportunity of its UNWTO membership to ensure the sustainable recovery of the tourism industry in the region. Albert, one of the founders of Traveloka, emphasized the company’s commitment to innovation and advocacy for responsible and sustainable tourism.
“One of our initiatives is to become an affiliate member of UNWTO and actively participate in various high-level international discussions, such as the UNWTO Conference,” said Albert, on June 16, 2023.
As an affiliate member, Traveloka gains direct interaction with other affiliate members and the opportunity to engage in discussions with tourism leaders.
It also enables the company to participate in high-level dialogues, both regionally and globally, and access global tourism trends provided by UNWTO. UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Polokashvili highlighted the importance of private sector involvement in promoting sustainable tourism.
The global tourism industry has shown signs of recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the UNWTO Tourism Barometer, 235 million people travelled internationally worldwide in the first quarter of 2023.
This represents a doubling in travel volume compared to the same period last year and accounts for around 80% of the pre-pandemic tourist numbers.
In the first quarter of 2023, foreign tourist arrivals in Indonesia reached 2.25 million, nearly six times higher than the first quarter of 2022, as reported by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy.
This year, the Indonesian government has set a target of 1.4 billion domestic tourist movements and 8.5 million international tourist arrivals.
Benefits of joining the UNWTO
Becoming an affiliate member of UNWTO provides the organization with the opportunity to enhance its visibility at the local, regional, national, and global levels through the extensive network and channels of UNWTO. The Affiliate Members program is an essential resource for boosting the competitiveness of private sector entities operating in the tourism industry.Â
Benefits:
- Interactive Platform: The Affiliate Members program provides an interactive platform exclusively for its members, facilitating communication, collaboration, and knowledge sharing among Affiliate Members.
- Networks: UNWTO Networks serve as a collaborative space for UNWTO Member States and Affiliate Members to interact, exchange information, and address pressing tourism-related issues across various sectors. Additionally, UNWTO Working Groups enable members to exchange expertise on specific tourism segments.
- AM Newsletter: The AM Newsletter allows members to share their initiatives and projects with the entire Affiliate Members community, establish connections with potential business partners, and promote their services to fellow members.
- Use of UNWTO Affiliate Members Logo: Once formally approved, Affiliate Members are encouraged to display the UNWTO Affiliate Members logo on their website and stationary, showcasing their membership and increasing visibility.
- Publications and Reports: Jointly produced with interested Affiliate Members, the publications of the Affiliate Members program delve into topics related to public-private partnerships, offering valuable insights and case studies that can serve as models for destinations and companies.
- Access to E-Library, UNWTO Barometer, and UNWTO Statistical Data: Affiliate Members gain access to the extensive UNWTO E-Library, which provides a comprehensive collection of research, publications, books, journals, as well as access to the UNWTO Barometer and Statistical data, enriching their knowledge and understanding of the tourism industry.
