Jamaica will be the host of this year’s inaugural United Nations World tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Global Conference on Tourism Development and sustainability.

To be held at the end of November at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in in St.Bran's Burg, the event will see 157 tourism ministers gather from around the world, with more than 500 companies offering tourism services also expected to be in attendance.

2017 has been declared as the International Year for Sustainable Tourism Development, with the event focusing on tourism’s potential to advance the Universal 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through changes in policy, business practices and consumer behaviour.

“This is a unique opportunity to build a more responsible and committed tourism sector that can capitalise its immense potential in terms of economic prosperity, social inclusion, peace and understanding, cultural and environmental preservation,” said UNWTO secretary general Taleb Rifai.

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the event will be signed on 19 January during the International Tourism Fair in Spain (FITUR), taking place on 18-22 January in Madrid. During the event activities will have a special focus on sustainable tourism, including the official presentation of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017, which takes place a day prior to the MOU signing on 18 January.