(TAN): UNWTO and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will work together to promote education and professional development in tourism, the United Nations agency said in a news release.
UNWTO has identified education as one of its key priorities for the sector. While tourism is already a leading employer and a top provider of opportunity, most notably for women and youth, UNWTO is working to expand access to education, training and jobs and to support those already working in the sector to develop professionally.
UNWTO’s Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “Our vision is to provide anyone interested in the tourism sector access to the many and varied opportunities it offers, no matter where they are in the world. We are working to break down barriers between jobs, skills and training and so deliver on tourism’s massive potential as an employer.”
Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al Khateeb said, “Investing in human capital development is an investment in all our futures. This is a landmark agreement that prioritizes people with a focus on the power of e-learning. Collaborating with UNWTO, we can ensure that development opportunities are accessible worldwide, building the workforce necessary to support a thriving and sustainable future for the sector.”
The first of its kind, the agreement is focused on the creation of training and quality certification programmes in the kingdom.
