UNCTAD is seeking for partnerships able to contribute in the following main areas.

• Product improvement
• Product promotion
• Human resources
• Information technology

This is not an exhaustive list, but simply an illustration of the issues concerned and the types of skills required. 

UNCTAD is responsible for selecting relevant partners, according to the project needs, throughout implementation. Partners are responsible for providing their services within the agreed time frame.

Partners are stakeholders active in the tourism industry, for example:

• SMEs (Hotels, transport, handicrafts, etc.)
• Tourism ministries, national tourism boards and travel industry associations;
• Local hotel and resorts, convention and exhibition centres, restaurants;
• Tour operators and other tourism providers;
• Local suppliers to the tourism sector;
• International organizations (ITC, UNESCO, UNEP, World Tourism Organization);
• Other service providers (e.g. universities);
• Other relevant technical partners.

 Groups have more negotiating power; they can share costs, make joint investments (equipment, training) and negotiate better rates (reservations, payments).

Partners could:

• Obtain investments and funding;
• Optimize public investment;
• Secure start-up funding.

The different partners forge many types of links: 

• Vertical links (equipment, software, applications);
• Links within the country, strengthening the local organizational and operational network;
• Links at the regional level with the objective of increasing the size and scope of the market;
• Special-interest links for customized packages.