UNWTO to back Kazakhstan's EXPO 2017 in Astana

In a meeting Igaliyev briefed on the current state of the country's tourism sector, priorities of its development, long- and medium-term goals of the committee. In his turn, Taleb Rifai assured that the UNWTO will support Kazakhstan in hosting the EXPO 2017 and expressed the organization's readiness to sign the corresponding memo with the Kazakh Government. He also spoke for further realization of the Silk Road Tourism Development Road Map elaborated by the UNWTO, UNESCO and the countries of the region at the expert meeting in Almaty last October. The parties also agreed on cooperation in the sphere of education tourism. As stated there, the UNWTO experts will hold seminars in Almaty.

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. Its membership includes 156 countries, 6 Associate Members and over 400 Affiliate Members representing the private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations and local tourism authorities.