UNCTAD's work in the field of tourism aims at:

• Improving local institutional and training capacities to facilitate tourism development and promote sound and sustainable tourism policies;
• Encouraging local entrepreneurial initiatives and ownership;
• Facilitating the establishment of regional and international tourism networks;
• Promoting the use of information technologies and electronic commerce in tourism development, including advertising and sales through the Internet.

This includes the following areas of work:

• Developing human resources, particularly through TrainForTrade, UNCTAD's core programme for training and capacity building;
• Strengthening developing countries' skills in trade in services, including tourism, through technical assistance programmes;
• Assisting developing countries in developing a competition law and policy, inter alia, for the tourism sector;
• Assisting developing countries in engaging in international debates and negotiations on areas related to tourism and environment;
• Advising developing countries on policies and strategies to attract investment in the tourism sector;
• Implementing information technologies for tourism development.