WTCF and NTO Ukraine Partner in Organizing the Year of Urban Tourism 2021

The World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) has been invited by the National Tourism Organization of Ukraine (NTOU) to partner in jointly organizing "The Year of Urban Tourism 2021". The whole year event is centered around urban tourism and will showcase all different aspects of urban tourism to the various national stakeholders of the entire tourism industry in Ukraine.

Since the UN designated 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, NTOU designates each year to a specific tourism related topic. The Year of Urban Tourism of Ukraine 2021 will be held both online and offline. Its activities and events range from urban tourism forums, the establishment of Ukraine's urban tourism network, promotional activities and seminars for travel destinations on topics such as safety, industry standards, themed promotions, to trainings as well as research reports on Ukraine's urban tourism destination. These diverse activities will be carried out in an effort to provide a platform of deeper cooperation for Ukraine's tourism sector.

Cities nowadays play a crucial role in the world economy. Also in the travel sector, urban agglomerations became key drivers of global tourism development as both source markets and travel destinations. It is believed that 80% of global tourism activities now occur in cities. This year's thematic year will put the significant role tourism in cities plays on the agenda. It will showcase the importance of cities in the process of re-establishing an all-year round tourism offer in Ukraine.

As the world's leading international organization in the field of urban tourism, WTCF is devoted to the core concept of Better City Life Through Tourism. The Federation strives to promote the sharing of experiences between tourism cities, to enhance global cooperation and the promotion of resources, and to provide for its members services covering the entire value chain of the tourism industry. Currently, WTCF has 223 members covering 75 countries and regions around the world. WTCF hosts large regional forums and international conferences such as the annual Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit as an established highlight in the calendar of the tourism sector. WTCF is content partner of WTM London. Moreover, since 2015 WTCF is exclusive co-host of the ITB Convention during ITB Berlin, the world's leading travel trade show.

WTCF is confident that 2021 marks the year of recovery with the end of the global pandemic. The re-start of the tourism industry comes with an increasing confidence in travelers due to high rate of vaccine population and innovative, state-of-the-art health and security measures. As the leading international organization in the field of urban tourism WTCF will further deepen its cooperation with urban tourism cities and international organization to promote the revival and development of international travel and tourism.