The
68th Meeting of the World Tourism Organisation's Commission for Europe was held in Sofia, Bulgaria, from 31 May to 2 June 2023. Among the main topics were the elections for the
Executive Board (2023-2025) and subsidiary bodies for the 2023-2027 period.
In 2023, four of the European countries that are members of the Executive Board completed their mandate: France, Italy, Portugal and Turkey. Czechia, Italy, Lithuania, Bulgaria and Azerbaijan (elected to replace Russia) were elected for the 2023-2025 period. In this mandate, Portugal did not run for the Executive Board.
Portugal applied for the Statistics Committee (2023-2027) having been elected jointly with Austria and for the Sustainability Committee (2023-2027) having been elected jointly with Croatia.
The UNWTO has six regional commissions (Africa, the Americas, East Asia and the Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and South Asia). The Commissions meet at least once a year and are composed of all the Members (Portugal integrates the Commission for Europe) and Associates of that region. Affiliate Members from the region participate as observers.
Portugal joined the UNWTO in 1976 and is represented by Turismo de Portugal.
