UN Tourism Welcomes Vienna to the International Network for Sustainable Tourism Observatories

The Secretary-General of UN Tourism, Zurab Pololikashvili, announced that Vienna will join the International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories, known as INSTO, as part of efforts to advance sustainability in the tourism sector.

Established by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in 2004, the International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO) of UN Tourism aims to support and connect destinations committed to systematically monitoring the economic, environmental, and social impacts of tourism. Vienna joins a global alliance encompassing 46 destinations, which includes destinations such as Jeju Island in South Korea and the Canary Islands in Spain.

Vienna’s integration into INSTO means that the city will be supported, through data-driven decision-making and collaboration, to enhance tourism’s economic impact while preserving environmental and social sustainability.

This integration is part of a broader and more ambitious plan for Vienna’s tourism economy, including the “Visitor Economy Strategy”, a model focusing on integrating sustainability into long-term tourism planning; the “Smart Climate City Strategy”, aimed at positioning Vienna as a model climate city with the goal of climate neutrality by 2040; and the “Vienna 2030 - Economy and Innovation Location Strategy.”

“Through the Sustainable Tourism Observatory, Vienna fosters dialogue, innovation and collective stewardship to co-create sustainable destination development, ensuring tourism enhances the quality of life for all, while preserving Vienna’s unique cultural and natural resources” said Norbert Kettner, CEO of Vienna Tourist Board. This statement underlines Vienna’s commitment to accountability and leadership in sustainability and innovation in tourism, both locally and internationally.

• https://www.unwto.org/news/vienna-joins-un-tourism-s-international-network-for-sustainable-tourism-observatories