Madrid, Spain, October 2015.- Under the theme “Better Data. Better Lives,” the UN World Statistics Day is celebrated to raise awareness of how official statistics help decision makers develop informed policies that impact millions of people. Improved data sources, sound statistical methods, new technologies and strengthened statistical systems enable better decisions and better lives for all.
“Robust tourism statistics are vital to guide sustainable development, monitor progress, evaluate impact, promote results-focused management, and highlight strategic issues for policy objectives. UNWTO calls upon national governments to work towards building internationally comparable and reliable tourism statistics, including Tourism Satellite Accounts (TSA), in line with the UN approved guiding namely the International Recommendations, the International Recommendations for Tourism Statistics 2008 and the Tourism Satellite Account: Recommended Methodological Framework 2008” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai
In a constant endeavor to provide guidance on the development of tourism statistics, UNWTO recently launched the following tools:
- International Recommendations for Tourism Statistics 2008 Compilation Guide, in cooperation with United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)
- Measuring Employment in the Tourism Industries – Guide with Best Practices, in cooperation with the International Labour Organization (ILO)
- The Use of Statistics to Evaluate Tourism Policy
World Statistics Day is celebrated every five years in the United Nations calendar to mark the many achievements of official statistics.