With only five years left until the target date for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the United Nations has launched the MDG Report 2010 calling for accelerated progress to reach the 2015 deadline.

UNWTO welcomes that several countries have recently placed tourism higher on their national political and economic agendas. Argentina is the most recent example with the establishment of the first Argentinean Ministry of Tourism. The move represents a further step towards mainstreaming tourism as an industry that delivers on economic growth, job creation and sustainable development.

HONG Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), in conjunction with Kanoo Travel & Holidays, has launched a GCC-wide seasonal promotion ‘Hong Kong Summer Spectacular’.

Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) recently hosted a Korea Medical Tourism Evening in Dubai, UAE, in cooperation with ALTA Travel Agency.

Leading Holland tours provider Amsterdam City Tours saw a dramatic increase in last minute bookings for Amsterdam tours and website views by mobile devices, indicating travelers are increasingly booking tours at the last minute.

On behalf of President Barack Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the Egyptian people as you mark your National Day on July 23.

According to a study by QNB Capital, wholly-owned by Qatar National Bank, the scheduled openings of new hotels by 2012 will considerably ease the shortage of luxury hotel rooms in Qatar