The member organisation said the new affiliations “strengthen our global position in the tourism industry”.

WYSE Travel Confederation joins 12 other UNWTO vice presidents and 10 regional vice presidents elected in March to the 2012-2013 board in Berlin at the Extraordinary Plenary Session.

The new affiliations “strengthen our global position in the tourism industry”

“UNWTO is among the few UN agencies to include in its constituency representatives of the private sector, academia and civil society,” UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai said. “Given tourism’s multifaceted nature, their contribution in the design and implementation of our Programme of Work is critical, as it brings the different views of tourism development to the very heart of our work.”

The 400 Affiliate Members of the UNWTO are tourism industry players, educational institutions and organisations who work together to promote  responsible, sustainable and accessible tourism.

Meanwhile, WYSETC has received consultative status for UNESCO under new directives concerning the organisation’s cooperation with NGOs.

“UNESCO and WYSE Travel Confederation are committed to maintaining a dynamic partnership in order to benefit from our particular expertise and to disseminate information within the youth travel industry,” said the association.

WYSE Travel Confederation with over 550 members in 120 countries is dedicated to promoting and developing opportunities for the youth, student and education travel industry. It organises the annual networking and trade event the World Youth and Student Travel Conference (WYSTC). This year it will take place in San Diego, California, 18-21 September.