Phnom Penh Declaration onthe UNWTO International Code for the Protection of Tourists

The Ministers of Tourism and Delegations of the Member States of Asia and the Pacificof the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), meeting on the occasion of UNWTO
Conference on the International Code for the Protection of Tourists, held in Phnom Penh,Cambodia, on 15th June 2023, under the high patronage of H.E. Dr. Thong Khon, Ministerof Tourism of the Kingdom of Cambodia and of Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili, SecretaryGeneral of the UNWTO hereby:
REASSERT the aims set out in Article 3 of the Statutes of the World TourismOrganization, aware of the “decisive and central” role of this Organization, as recognizedby the General Assembly of the United Nations, in promoting and developing tourism
with a view to contributing to economic development, international understanding, peace,solidarity, prosperity and universal respect for, and observance of, human rights andfundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion;
MAKE REFERENCE to the Global Code on Ethics for Tourism, adopted by Resolution
406 (XIII) of the General Assembly of UNWTO, as well as to the Framework Convention
on Tourism Ethics, adopted by the Resolution 722 (XXIII) of the General Assembly ofUNWTO, which underline the role of this activity as a factor of economic and socialdevelopment, but also as a vehicle for peace, solidarity, understanding, culturalenrichment, environmental preservation and dialogue among peoples;
RECOGNIZE that the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the insufficiency of aninternational legal framework to assist tourists in emergency situations, as well as thefragmentation of consumer protection standards at the international level and the existing
disparities regarding the consumer rights of tourists from country to country;

World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) - A Specialized Agency of the United Nations
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ALSO RECOGNIZE that the pandemic has made clear the importance of trust for tourism
and that uncertainty and lack of confidence in international travel are among the biggest
challenges that the tourism sector is facing in the post COVID-19 world;
UNDERSCORE the necessity to “rethink tourism” and explore challenges andopportunities to accelerate tourism recovery and restore trust and confidence in travel
after the crisis;
RECALL that, at its twenty- fourth session held on 29 November to 3 December 2021 inMadrid (Spain), the General Assembly of UNWTO adopted by consensus theInternational Code for the Protection of Tourists through resolution 732 (XXIV) and called
upon the Member States of both the UNWTO and the United Nations to adhere to theCode through a written notification to the Secretary General of UNWTO;
RECALL the remarkable response of the Kingdom of Cambodia, to the plight of theHolland America’s MS Westerdam cruise ship welcomed with open arms by H.E. Dr.
Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom ofCambodia, and allowed to dock at the port of Sihanoukville after being stranded at sea
during the COVID-19 outbreak;
EMPHASIZE the importance of harmonization of minimum international standards forthe protection of tourists at the international level, the above parties:

1.

REAFFIRM their commitment to strengthen cooperation and partnerships toimprove the assistance available to international tourists in emergency
situations, including but not limited to pandemics, in order to help people, feelsafer and more confident in international travel and to provide sufficientguarantees to tourists in the post COVID-19 era;

2.

UNDERLINE the need to strengthen and promote closer linkages between
governments, tourism service providers and other tourism stakeholders tobetter clarify rights and obligations of all actors involved, including tourists
themselves, in order to improve the contractual relationship between
providers and recipients of the various tourism services;

World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) - A Specialized Agency of the United Nations
Poeta Joan Maragall 42, 28020 Madrid, Spain. Tel: (34) 91 567 81 00 – info@unwto.org / unwto.org

3.

RECOGNIZE the importance of establishing clearer, more transparent andefficient frameworks for the greater protection of tourists as consumers and abetter and more balanced allocation of responsibility among all actors
involved in order to harmonize minimum consumer protection standards fortourists at the national, regional and international levels;

4.

RECOMMEND that full support be given to the dissemination andimplementation of the UNWTO International Code for the Protection ofTourists as a fundamental frame of reference for the development andharmonization of minimum international standards the protection of tourists inemergency situations and consumer rights of tourists in the post COVID-19era;

5.

ENCOURAGE all Member States of both UNWTO and the United Nations toadhere to the International Code for the Protection of Tourists, uphold its
principles and apply its non- binding recommendations within their country,
as deemed appropriate and in accordance with each country’s institutionalframework;

And EXPRESS their sincere appreciation and gratitude to H.E. Dr. Thong Khon, Ministerof Tourism of the Kingdom of Cambodia, who kindly provided an unforgettable
opportunity to experience the rich cultural heritage of the country, as well as the Royal
Government of Cambodia for their warm hospitality, the excellent arrangements for the35th Joint Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and theUNWTO Commission for South Asia, the 59th Meeting of the UNWTO Commission forSouth Asia (CSA) and the 55th Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for East Asia andthe Pacific (CAP) and their fundamental contribution to restoring trust and confidence ininternational travel, placing the wellbeing and protection of the tourists at its core.

World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) - A Specialized Agency of the United Nations
Poeta Joan Maragall 42, 28020 Madrid, Spain. Tel: (34) 91 567 81 00 – info@unwto.org / unwto.org