The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) voted to suspend Russia's membership over its military operation in Ukraine with immediate effect on Wednesday, shortly after Moscow told the agency it had decided to quit.
The UNWTO confirmed on Wednesday that Russia had announced its intention to withdraw from the organization. Meeting for an extraordinary meeting of the General Assembly of UNWTO in Madrid, the Spanish capital, members debated the suspension of Russia from the organization.
More than two-thirds of the UNWTO's member states backed the resolution suspending Russia's membership. The decision is effective immediately, while voluntary withdrawal is only effective one year after a member submits an official communication through appropriate channels.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday told reporters the decision to quit the UNWTO would not affect the sector in Russia.
