David Fontanella

Skål International Official

Skål International is a professional organisation of Tourism leaders around the world, promoting global tourism and friendship. It is the only international group uniting all branches of the travel and tourism industry. Its members, the industry's managers and executives, meet at local, national, regional and international levels to do business among friends. The first Club was founded in 1932 in Paris by travel managers, following an educational tour of Scandinavia. The idea of international goodwill and friendship grew and, in 1934, the "Association Internationale des Skål Clubs" was formed with Florimond Volckaert as its first President, who is considered the "Father of Skål". Skål International today has approximately 13,000 members in almost 400 clubs throughout over 101 countries. Most activities occur at local level, moving up through National Committees, under the umbrella of Skål International, headquartered at the General Secretariat in Málaga, Spain. Skål International is governed by an Executive Committee of six members, elected by delegates to an annual General Assembly, held during the World Congress, hosted by a different country each year. This allows members first-hand observation of the travel and tourism potential around the world. Skål International is an Affiliate Member of the UNWTO, Supporter of ECPAT International, Member of ICTP, Partner of IIPT, partner of WTTC and Supports the Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from exploitation in Tourism. Skål International, through its partnership with #WTTC has already obtained the Safe Travels Stamp and offers it to all its #members.