RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Paraguay and Ecuador are the first countries in the Americas to adhere to the International Code for the Protection of Tourists during the 67th meeting of the regional commission of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
Through the National Secretariat of Tourism (Senatur), Paraguay, being part of the International Code at the regional level, will seek to channel the mechanism and promote its application in other countries.
The code seeks to address cooperation in legal frameworks between countries to protect tourists in emergencies and their protection as consumers, seeking minimum international standards.
The covid-19 crisis exposed the absence of an international legal framework to assist international tourists in emergencies and the lack of uniformity at the international level regarding the rights of tourists to protection.
“The Code is designed to resolve situations of vulnerability in any exceptional situation that may occur in tourist destinations. For this reason, it is extremely relevant and urgent for all countries to adhere to it,” said Paraguay’s Minister of Tourism, Sofía Montiel.
The International Code was discussed during a seminar at the UNWTO regional meeting, a meeting led by Paraguay.
Paraguay’s adherence to the code is in accordance with Law 2.828/05 on Tourism, said the minister. Montiel called for regional cooperation and flexibility for tourism.