The Bahamas was a former member of the WTO predecessor, the International Union of Official Travel Organization (IUOTO) which represented the interest of national tourist organizations and affiliate members.
However, a 1969 UN General Assembly resolution transformed the IUOTO into an organization that would represent the interest of world tourism and in 1975 the IUOTO officially became the WTO.
The Ministry of Tourism said that as the leading international organization and a specialized agency of the United Nations, the World Tourism Organization plays a pivotal role in promoting the development of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.
Its major focus is to assist in economic development, particularly of developing nations, by assisting them in utilizing tourism as a vehicle to eradicate poverty. Its other function is the promotion of international understanding, prosperity and universal respect for human rights and freedoms.
A delegation of Ministry of Tourism officials attended the 16th General Assembly of the WTO held in Dakar, Senegal from November 27 to December 3.
During the General Assembly the Bahamian delegation met with the secretary general of the WTO to discuss the development of The Bahamas’ Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) and collaboration between The Bahamas and the World Tourism Organization to host a regional tourism workshop in 2006.
The Ministry of Tourism said The Bahamas was selected by the Regional Commission of the Americas to represent it on the Credentials Committee.
The Committee’s premier objective was to review the credentials of all member states represented at the General Assembly to determine their validity. A report was prepared and delivered at the General Assembly.
Tourism officials reported that The Bahamas was joined by Australia, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Hungary, Lebanon, Madagascar, Maldives and Uruguay on this committee.
It was also reported that Australia and the United Kingdom also became full members of the WTO.
Source: The Bahama Journal
