OREANDA-NEWS. President Dalia Grybauskaite met with the Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Taleb Rifai, to discuss international collaboration in the sphere of tourism and Lithuania's worldwide virtual amber road initiative.

“Tourism is not just a great opportunity to present the beauty, culture and history of Lithuania to the people of other countries. Active development of tourism can significantly contribute to solving unemployment and emigration problems as well as promoting economic growth,” the President said.

According to the President, Lithuania has achieved good results in tourism becoming one of the market leaders in the European Union. SPA and wellness tourism is rapidly developing in our health resorts. Last year, the number incoming tourists grew by more than 12 percent. Over two million foreign tourists visited Lithuania in 2012, revenues from tourism to the state budget amounting to 5.2 billion litas. 42 thousand Lithuanian residents are employed in the tourism sector.

The Ethical Traveler, one of the biggest alliances of travelers, placed Lithuania among the world's ten best ethical destinations. The development of environmental and eco-tourism in Lithuania received high evaluation.

The meeting also touched on the joint Lithuanian-UNWTO project - worldwide virtual amber road which is set to be launched on 17 December in Vilnius.

The project that also involves Latvia, Poland, Austria, Ukraine, Russia and Belarus, introduces Lithuania as a country where an amber road starts, ingeniously presenting the history of amber and providing information on amber SPA services, amber cuisine, jewelry and design.

According to the President, a virtual amber road initiative is of strategic importance which will serve to promote awareness and visibility of our country.

The President also underlined that the Internet and social networks are effective means to advertise the country. Recently launched project 'Like'able Lithuania' aims to innovatively introduce Lithuania via the five social networks - Facebook, Google+, Vkontakte, Twitter and Youtube - attracting more friends of our country.

The head of the World Tourism Organization arrived in Lithuania to attend the 85th meeting of the European Travel Commission and the 12th European Tourism Forum.