1975
First WTO General Assembly meets in May in Madrid at the invitation of the Spanish Government. Robert Lonati is voted in as the first WTO Secretary-General and the Assembly decides to establish its headquarters in Madrid.
1976
The WTO General Secretariat is set up in Madrid on 1 January.
The agreement is signed for WTO to become an executing agency of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), carrying out technical co-operation with Governments.
1980
The World Tourism Conference held in Manila (Philippines) adopts the Manila Declaration on World Tourism.