Travel Registry, WTO Agree on Priority Right to States to Ensure Each Country´s Place Name Rights are Preserved

The Travel Registry, in cooperation with the World Tourism Organization, has affirmed a priority right to the nations of the world to register their respective country, cities, and place names in the Travel Registry.

Each country and city destination, as well as UNESCO Word Heritage Sites, will now be able to register their valuable place names in the Travel Registry, which will commence registrations in the fall of 2005.

The World Tourism Organization (WTO) will communicate this information to its Member States and Organizations within the UN System, such as UNESCO.

"Travel and tourism, while a major player on the Internet, has been operating without a clear identity. .travel domain names will bring enormous visibility to our Member States and clarity to all that their destinations have to offer," stated WTO Deputy Secretary-General Dr. Dawid de Villiers.