China has received the green light to host a new UN Tourism Regional Office in Shanghai, following deliberations at the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The decision comes as part of the recommendations outlined in the working paper of the Working Group on UN Tourism Regional and Thematic Offices, which has been reviewing and improving the legal and operational framework for establishing such offices around the world.
According to the report presented during the Assembly, the Government of China’s proposal to host the Regional Office was welcomed by Member States, with the Assembly authorising UN Tourism Secretary-General to collaborate with China in preparing the necessary legal, financial, and administrative arrangements.
The new Regional Office in Shanghai will operate under the guidelines of resolution 740(XXIV), which sets the standards for creating UN Tourism’s Regional and Thematic Offices. The proposal received input from members of the Commission for East Asia and the Pacific (CAP) and the Commission for South Asia (CSA), whose comments will be incorporated into the next phase of consultations.
The Assembly invited the Secretary-General and the Government of China to hold further discussions with the CAP and CSA to finalise details before the proposal is submitted to the Executive Council for approval. Once confirmed, the Shanghai Regional Office will join the network of existing and upcoming UN Tourism offices aimed at strengthening cooperation, promoting sustainable tourism, and advancing the organisation’s global development agenda.
The move marks a significant step in UN Tourism’s strategy to deepen its presence in Asia, recognising the region’s growing role as a global tourism powerhouse.
