UNWTO Launches Global Report on Shopping Tourism

Shopping tourism has emerged as a growing component of the travel experience, either as a prime motivation or as one of the major activities undertaken by tourists at their destinations.

UNWTO’s recently released Global Report on Shopping Tourism analyzes the latest trends in shopping tourism, providing insight into key success factors for destinations aiming to develop this segment.

Presenting the report, UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai said, “Few sectors can boast of their power to inspire growth and create jobs as tourism and shopping can. Jointly harnessed, this can have an immense impact on a destination’s brand and positioning. UNWTO’s Global Report on Shopping Tourism also shows how public-private collaboration can channel the innumerable positive effects of this tourism segment.”

As part of the UNWTO Cities project, the report explores the economic impact of shopping tourism and provides an overview of strategies and priorities employed by tourism stakeholders in order to foster sustainable growth and differentiation of the tourism offer in destinations.

The report is the eighth volume of the UNWTO Affiliate Member Reports, which address critical areas for the tourism sector against the backdrop of public-private collaboration and partnerships. The report can be downloaded here.