In 2012, UNWTO initiated the Cities Project in collaboration with 21 cities worldwide.

This initiative brought together Affiliate Members and other relevant stakeholders from the private and public sectors, academia and destinations to create a platform for dialogue on the current and potential challenges and opportunities for cities. Here, an initial framework to work on common priority areas was created as a result of thorough consultation on key matters of the promotion agencies of different cities. These priorities were later agreed upon and signed in the 2012 Istanbul Declaration during the 1st UNWTO Global Conference on City Tourism.