Rio de Janeiro will be home to the first regional office of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for the Americas and the Caribbean.

Here, Brazilian and international consultants will devise policies to boost tourism across the region, promoting economic and social development.

The inauguration was attended by the Minister of Tourism, Celso Sabino, the President of Embratur, and other tourism officials.

Minister Celso Sabino and the President of the Sistema Fecomércio RJ, Antonio Florencio de Queiroz Junior, signed an Intent Protocol to develop tourism in the country.

The aim of this is to strengthen the principles of UN SDGs.

This aims to position Brazil as a leader in sustainable development policies for tourism on both national and international markets.

“This is a historic day for Rio de Janeiro and for Brazil. This partnership with the WTO will be strategic for our country to be more competitive in international tourism,” Marcelo Freixo said.

The WTO headquarters will feature 24 individual workstations for a team of consultants, meeting rooms, and private offices for the director of the Brazil office and the WTO representative in the country.

The establishment of the new WTO office in Rio de Janeiro aims to continue the WTO’s regional activities; and promote the integration of tourism into the global agenda.

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