UNWTO is geared up for its Global Youth Tourism Summit from June 27 to July 3 for young people aged between 12 and 18 to share their vision for the future of the sector.

Organised by UNWTO in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Tourism and the Italian National Tourist Board, the Summit will see 100 young delegates network with and work alongside politicians, leading figures from across the tourism sector as well as from the worlds of entertainment and sports.

Against the backdrop of the BIT travel trade show in Milan, UNWTO Director for Europe Alessandra Priante joined representatives of the project partners to share more details of the landmark Summit. The inaugural event will be held around the theme of International Sustainable Tourism. The programme will include interactive activities oriented towards the Sustainable Development Goals and how they interact with tourism, during which participants will learn how to build a sector that combines sustainability, culture, gastronomy, innovation and climate action.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “The Global Youth Tourism Summit is a unique platform to celebrate and empower the next generation of tourism leaders. It will help build a lasting legacy by providing young people with the skills and knowledge they need to transform tourism not only in their communities but everywhere.”

The Summit will bring together major international players convened by UNWTO, including the Global Tourism Economy Research Centre of Macao, the Bella Vista Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland, the Azerbaijan National Tourism Agency, Hilton International, Mastercard Europe and MSC Crociere.