The Republic of Moldova represented itself today, November 7, at the annual meeting of the Committee on Tourism and Competitiveness of the United Nations Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), held in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on the sidelines of the organization’s General Assembly. The event brought together government delegations and international experts who discussed strategic directions for global tourism development.
Moldova’s participation as a member of the Committee demonstrates the country’s commitment to integrating tourism into a model of cultural, sustainable, and competitive development, in line with UN Tourism priorities.
According to Andrei Chistol, State Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, the future of the tourism sector depends on how states anticipate change and strengthen resilience in the face of current challenges. He emphasized that Moldova’s model — based on authenticity, local community involvement, and the valorization of cultural heritage — proves that small destinations can become competitive and innovative.
Moldova’s priorities included in the UN Tourism Strategic Foresight 2025 report:
- Involve local communities in managing tourism resources and promote participatory governance models.
- Develop and promote cultural heritage, crafts, gastronomy, and festivals as drivers of regional growth.
- Create synergies between creative industries and tourism to diversify the national offer.
- Develop green and climate-resilient destinations and design safe, climate-adapted tourist spaces.
- Accelerate digital transformation and promote smart tourism, including support for SMEs in digitalization and the use of artificial intelligence tools.
- Implement data analysis systems to manage visitor flows and increase the competitiveness of tourist destinations.
The UN Tourism General Assembly in Riyadh gathers over 150 official delegations to address key topics such as sector competitiveness, digital transformation, and the transition toward sustainable tourism. Within the same framework, the 124th and 125th sessions of the Executive Council also take place, focusing on strengthening governance and implementing policies based on strategic foresight.