INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The 68th edition of the Regional Commission of the Americas of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) was inaugurated yesterday in Quito,
recognition as the host country for its favorable tourism policies.The two-day event, jointly organized by the UNWTO and the Ministry of
Tourism of Ecuador, aims to foster dialogue and knowledge exchange on innovative tourism products and destinations.It also seeks to position
Ecuador as a sustainable and responsible tourism management champion.Ecuador hosts the regional meeting of the World Tourism Organization
Galapagos Islands and the Pacific coast to the Andes Mountains and the Amazon.Hosting the regional event is seen as a significant
non-mining non-oil revenue and generates 600,000 jobs.The government has implemented measures to promote tourism, including reducing Value
Added Tax (VAT) during holidays to encourage spending by local and international tourists
VAT on hotel accommodations for foreigners has also been eliminated.Other initiatives include the elimination of the Tax on the Exit of
Foreign Currency for airlines and the reduction of certain taxes to lower air ticket costs and enhance connectivity.The government has
invested $47 million in tourism promotion and provided financial relief to businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.President Lasso
the first country to approve the International Code of the Law for the Protection of Tourists.
