World committee on tourism ethics issues statement on war in Ukraine

The World Committee on Tourism Ethics (WCTE), an impartial body that reports directly to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly has urged the Russian Federation to end its invasion against Ukraine which is putting millions of lives at risk, threatening their peace and security.

The WCTE committee said this in a statement after a meeting and deliberation on the ongoing war in Ukraine this week. They agreed to issue the following statement: “Continuing the war in Ukraine is morally unacceptable, politically indefensible and militarily nonsensical”, in the firm belief that tourism is a vital force for peace and a factor for friendship and mutual understanding among the people of the world, urges the Russian Federation to end its invasion against Ukraine which is putting millions of lives at risk, threatening their peace and security.

Guided by Article 1 of the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, the Committee calls on all efforts to be extended towards peace negotiations in accordance with the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter. WCTE said: “While the right to tourism is forcibly taken away during conflicts, tourism is always a reminder of the importance of dialogue, peace, tolerance, and sustainable development among countries.”