Strategic Objective C2 – Sustainable Development of Air Transport – Cooperation with other United Nations Bodies

During ATConf/6, on 18 March 2013, ICAO signed a Joint Statement on Aviation and Tourism with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). This Statement aims at strengthening cooperation and further optimizing synergies between aviation and tourism, in particular through (i) the modernization of the air transport regulatory framework; (ii) the simplification of visa processing and the development of multi-State regional visas and e-visas; (iii) the improvement of air passenger flow management at airports; and (iv) the emergence of globally convergent rules on the protection of passengers and tourists. In addition, the ICAO Secretariat participated in the work of the UNWTO for the development of an international convention on the protection of tourists and tourism service providers, to ensure coordination between the two organizations and avoid duplication of work.

Representatives of ICAO and UNWTO met in UNWTO’s Headquarters in Madrid in July 2013 and initiated a process of data exchange between the two organizations. The aim of this initiative is to enhance synergies through strengthened dialogue and cooperation in order to produce enriched and robust common knowledge tools, which will allow better understanding of tourist and passenger traffic flows.

Based on a Memorandum of Understanding between ICAO and the Universal Postal Union (UPU), an analysis of airline traffic and financial data was carried out and delivered to the UPU in order to calculate the basic rate applicable to the settlement of accounts between designated operators of UPU member countries, with respect to air mail conveyance. The deliverable generates revenues for ICAO.