3. UN names 2017 Int'l Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development

On Dec 4, the United Nations General Assembly has approved the adoption of 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai said that it is a unique opportunity to advance the contribution of the tourism sector to the three pillars of sustainability - economic, social and environmental, while raising awareness of the true dimensions of a sector which is often undervalued.