2021 UNWTO Tourism Video Competition Focuses on Sustainable Development

The preservation efforts undertaken at the Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park at the Bahamas, the historical extravaganza of western Samegrelo region of Georgia, celebration of Sustainable Gastronomy Day in Macau (China), Agrotourism in Puerto Rico, and similar efforts showcasing how the powers of tourism may be used to drive sustainable development appeared to have most impressed the judges at the 2021 UNWTO Tourism Video Competition.

🏆📹Meet the 10 winners of UNWTO Video Competition!

Inspiring stories have proven essential as we promote the many benefits of tourism.

These videos are remarkable examples of how destinations adapted and redefined their promotion strategies.

🔗 https://t.co/20B98gPUF0 pic.twitter.com/ZR86UZyFKv

— World Tourism Organization (@UNWTO) December 10, 2021

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.

Launched ahead of the 24th UNWTO General Assembly held in Madrid (Spain), the competition was designed to recognize the best visual storytellers from every global region.

The contest was divided into two categories – ‘Tourism and the Decade of Action’ and ‘Exceptional Stories of Sustainable Tourism’.

‘Tourism and the Decade of Action’ was about how the tourism sector was advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through references to one or several of the 17 Global Goals stated by UNWTO. Winners in this category included:

Africa: Seychelles – Experience Seychelles

Americas: Bahamas – Exuma Land and Sea Park

Asia & Pacific: Macao, China – Sustainable Gastronomy Day 2021

Europe: Georgia – The Grand Tour of Samegrelo

Middle East: Experience Egypt

The ‘Exceptional Stories of Sustainable Tourism’ presented the human face of tourism and showcased the positive social impact the sector can have through generating opportunities for all. Winners in this category included:  

Africa: Seychelles – Creole Rendezvous

Americas: Puerto Rico – Agrotourism Puerto Rico

Asia & Pacific: The Philippines – Have A Safe Trip, Pinas

Europe: Slovenia – Slovenian Gastronomy. You can’t spell Slovenia without love. Your plate awaits.

Middle East: The Red Sea Company – Seeds of Hope (affiliate member)

The videos are available here.

To help the tourism industry recover from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, UNWTO has been using various formats of the visual and the digital media over the past year.  The main idea is to ensure the restart of tourism, especially local and sustainable tourism, which in turn will boost the economy.