The International Code for the Protection of Tourists, adopted on December 2021, at the 24^th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (“UNWTO”) by Resolution 732 (XXIV), is the first ever instrument designed to create internationally recognized standards for the protection of tourists.

On 15 June 2023, at the opening session of the UNWTO’s Conference on the International Code for the Protection of Tourists held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Maldives joined as a signatory to the International Code for the Protection of Tourists. Becoming a signatory to the International Code for the Protection of Tourists is of great importance to the Maldives, as the tourism industry is a crucial driver of its economy.

The International Code for the Protection of Tourists is a set of non-binding principles and recommendations. It provides guidance for policy, legislation, and regulatory practice at a national level for the protection of tourists as consumers. Additionally, it provides a harmonized framework to enhance legal clarity and assist tourists during emergency situations.

By facilitating the creation of safe, competitive, and sustainable destinations, the International Code for the Protection of Tourists contributes to the recovery of tourism sector in the aftermath of the Covid-19 Pandemic while establishing a clearer, more transparent, and reliable framework.