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UN Tourism

World Tourism Organization

image by Zachary Harden, 5 July 2024

Overview
Description of the flag
Previous Flags
Variants with acronyms

See also:

Overview

Organization mondiale du tourisme (French),
Organization Mundial del turismo (Italian)

The emblem is a globe with two ribbon signs in form of a curved "Z". At the bottom are the words "OMT.WTO.BTO" [BTO is the Russian name of the organization: (Roman characters transcription) VSSEMIRNAIA TOURISTSKAIA ORGANISATSSIA]
This emblem appears in white on a blue (UNO-ONU) flag. Proportions: 4:7.
Published in Bundesblatt für die Republik Österreisch OE 16/10/81

According to its website the World Tourism Organization, based in Madrid, has introduced a new acronym: « UN Tourism » in 2023, with a new logo available in blue or white background versions, that I haven't seen on a flag. The logo exists in English, Spanish and French versions. The current flag, more recent than the ones currently in FOTW-ws, dates from 2018 and bears the UNWTO acronym, it is displayed alongside the new logo during conferences. The World Tourism Organization has existed under this English name and acronym WTO or WTOO since 1974, it became a UN agency in 2005 changing its acronym to UNWTO, WTO remaining alternately used.
Jean-Marc Merklin, 21 April 2024

I saw in their own news post that the new UNTWO abbreviation approved in Oct 2023 was formally launched on January 23, 2024.

"UNWTO Becomes “UN Tourism” to Mark A New Era for Global Sector, 23 Jan 2024 "The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) enters a new era today with a new name and brand: UN Tourism. With this new brand, the Organization reaffirms its status as the United Nations specialized agency for tourism and the global leader of tourism for development, driving social and economic change to ensure that “people and planet” are always center stage. This involved renaming the Organization, transitioning from UNWTO to UN Tourism. At the same time, a new brand narrative was meticulously crafted, one that seamlessly aligns with UN Tourism’s central mission and priorities. This narrative pivots around three main messages: the UN as a global altruistic organization, the notion of connecting humans around the world, and the concept of proactivity and movement. By moving away from acronyms, UN Tourism adopts a more approachable stance and capitalizes on its strengths: the "UN", signifying authority, and tourism, a simple and relatable concept for all. This change has been endorsed by the Organization's membership, highlighting its united support for the profound transformation and reinvention of UN Tourism in recent years, as it has become more agile, visible, and ever closer to its Member States, partners and the sector as a whole."

Ben Cahoon, 28 April 2024

Description of the flag

A flag with the new branding exists now; https://www.unwto.org/news/un-tourism-and-icca-partner-around-sustainable-development-of-meetings-industry and https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=829414119224277&set=pb.100064670892882.-2207520000&type=3 show it is a white logo on a blue background. While I do not know the shade of blue by name/code, the color is used from the media guide released by UN Tourism. To echo what Jean-Marc said in his April 21st email , the logo exists now all in all six system languages used by the UN (Arabic, Russian, English, French, Spanish and Chinese).
Zachary Harden, 5 July 2024

Previous flags

image by Jean-Marc Merklin, 21 April 2024

image by Zachary Harden, 11 March 2016

At http://www.unwto.org/aboutwto/images/comunes/bandera.jpg the flag design is confirmed (except for the lettering) by an actual flag photo. An important detail is that the scrolls extend each a tip on over the poles.
António Martins, 16 September 2007

The emblem can also be seen on the World Tourism Organization website.
Colin Dobson, 28 August 2006

The flag can be seen at http://www.unwto.org/aboutwto/index.php, without acronymns.
Jan Mertens, 24 July 2007

The logo of the World Tourism Organization was changed. According to A/19/10(h) (2011), the logo was changed in 1998. Thus, the flag was changed as well. However, according to that same document, the basic design of the flag is still the emblem on a solid field with no text. A physical copy of the flag can be seen here.
Zachary Harden, 11 March 2016

image by Zachary Harden, 11 March 2016

image by António Martins, 16 September 2007

Variants with acronyms

by António Martins, 16 September 2007

The exact design as prescribed by the Austrian 1981 law, with letters "OMT•WTO•BTO"
António Martins, 16 September 2007

by António Martins, 16 September 2007

The equivalent design using the current acronym and language order preference ("UNWTO•OMT•ЮHBTO"), an unsure design.
António Martins, 16 September 2007