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| National Tourism Council | |
|---|---|
| Name | National Tourism Council |
| Type | Advisory and promotional body |
| Founded | 20th century |
| Headquarters | Capital city |
| Jurisdiction | National |
| Leader title | Chairperson |
National Tourism Council is a national-level advisory and promotional body charged with coordinating tourism policy, marketing, and development across public and private sectors. It serves as a nexus between ministries, state agencies, industry associations and multinational organizations to promote inbound and domestic travel flows, investment in hospitality infrastructure and heritage conservation. The council frequently liaises with ministries such as Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Transport, and agencies like national statistical institute to align tourism strategies with national plans and international commitments.
The council typically convenes stakeholders including representatives from World Tourism Organization, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, European Commission, European Travel Commission, African Union, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Inter-American Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, Caribbean Tourism Organization, Pacific Islands Forum, Commonwealth of Nations, G20, G7, Economic Community of West African States, Arab League, Eurasian Economic Union, BRICS partners and regional tourism boards such as VisitBritain, Tourism Australia, Japan National Tourism Organization, Canada Tourism Commission, South African Tourism, Singapore Tourism Board, Tourism New Zealand, Thailand Tourism Authority, Mexican Tourism Board and local chambers like Confederation of British Industry, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The council's remit intersects with heritage bodies like ICOMOS, National Trust (United Kingdom), Smithsonian Institution, British Museum, Louvre, Vatican Museums and conservation NGOs such as World Wide Fund for Nature, Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy.
Precursors to the council emerged after major international gatherings such as the Bretton Woods Conference and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, when tourism was recognized in economic planning alongside initiatives like the Marshall Plan. Early models drew on institutions established by countries in the Interwar period and post-World War II reconstruction, inspired by agencies like French Ministry of Tourism and promotional boards such as VisitEngland. Subsequent development followed global trends set by the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment and policy frameworks associated with Sustainable Development Goals negotiations at the United Nations General Assembly. High-profile national commissions and advisory bodies—mirroring elements from the Tourism Strategy 2020 exercises and the policy reforms of the Washington Consensus era—shaped modern council mandates.
Governance arrangements typically include an appointed Chairperson and an executive director who coordinate through committees modeled on best practices from institutions like International Organization for Standardization, World Travel & Tourism Council, OECD Tourism Committee, European Commission Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs and national audit offices akin to Comptroller and Auditor General (United Kingdom). The council often incorporates advisory panels with experts from United Nations Conference on Trade and Development programs, International Civil Aviation Organization, International Maritime Organization, International Labour Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, and civil society groups including Greenpeace, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Internal units mirror models used by Ministry of Finance departments, planning commission structures and national enterprise agencies.
Key responsibilities include destination marketing modeled after campaigns like Incredible India, Brand USA, Dubai Tourism strategy, I Amsterdam, Tourism 2020; regulatory advice similar to frameworks developed by European Commission directives; skills development in partnership with institutions like World Bank Group and UNICEF training initiatives; and infrastructure coordination aligned with projects financed by Asian Development Bank and Inter-American Development Bank. The council administers quality assurance schemes akin to ISO 9001 certification processes, supports events comparable to World Travel Market, ITB Berlin, WTTC Global Summit, Olympic Games, Expo 2020 Dubai, and advises on visa facilitation policies comparable to Schengen Agreement negotiations and bilateral air service agreements like those brokered at International Air Transport Association forums.
Programs often include destination branding campaigns, public–private partnership pilots inspired by PPP models used in European Investment Bank projects, community tourism schemes reflecting practices promoted by UNESCO World Heritage site management, and sustainable tourism initiatives echoing Paris Agreement climate commitments. Initiatives may also target niche sectors such as medical tourism seen in Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea; cultural circuits linked to institutions like Metropolitan Museum of Art, National Gallery (London), State Hermitage Museum; adventure tourism promoted through partnerships with organizations like Adventure Travel Trade Association; and creative economy linkages exemplified by collaborations with UNESCO Creative Cities Network and festivals such as Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Cannes Film Festival, Venice Biennale.
Funding sources typically combine appropriations from ministries comparable to Ministry of Finance, revenue-generating marketing levies modeled on tools like bed tax and departure tax regimes, grants from multilateral lenders such as World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, private sector contributions from hotel groups like Marriott International, Accor, Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Airbnb, Inc., Booking Holdings, Expedia Group, airline partnerships with British Airways, Emirates, Delta Air Lines, Qatar Airways and sponsorships from corporations such as Coca-Cola Company and Visa Inc..
The council participates in bilateral and multilateral cooperation with entities including UN-WTO, UNESCO, World Bank Group, OECD, European Union External Action Service, G20 Tourism Working Group, regional organizations like ASEAN Tourism Forum, African Union Commission, Mercosur, CARICOM, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and development partners such as DFID, USAID, JICA, KfW Entwicklungsbank, Agence Française de Développement, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit and philanthropic foundations like Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation and Ford Foundation. Partnerships support cross-border initiatives on safety standards, crisis management modeled after responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, climate resilience inspired by Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and skills exchange programs aligned with institutions like European Institute of Innovation and Technology and Asian Development Bank Institute.
Category:Tourism organizations