Three main considerations support the specificity of UNCTAD in the field of e-tourism. It concerns:

• A specific support to local SMEs;
• A decentralized and inclusive approach, via the participation of qualified NGOs in this field;
• An efficient advice's action, linked to specific technical assistance programs, targeted on modern tools, in order to promote and organize local tourism offer, via the use of ICT-based tools.

The implementation of the E-Tourism Initiative is part of the UNCTAD Technical Assistance activities, activities linked to specific procedures. To this end, concerning the Initiative, a multi-donors Trust Fund has been created, and is funded by Member States. This fund aims at supporting the adoption and appropriation of ICTs by the tourism industry, in order to help beneficiary countries to take charge of their own tourism offer.

The fund finances generic activities, e.g. the development of an ICT-based tool, the e-tourism platform, or its implementation in beneficiary countries (with a special focus on LDCs), activity for which additional funding is requested. Moreover, the Trust Fund supports the partnership building process, which takes place during all phases of the Initiative's implementation.  

These activities will be engaged according to received contributions.