International tourism receipts surpass US$ 1 trillion in 2011

In 2011, international tourism receipts exceeded US$ 1 trillion for the first time, up from US$ 928 billion in 2010. In real terms, receipts grew by 3.8%, following a 4.6% increase in international tourist arrivals. An additional US$ 196 billion in receipts from international passenger transport brought total exports generated by international tourism in 2011 to US$ 1.2 trillion.

According to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, international tourism receipts continued to recover from the losses of crisis year 2009 and hit new records in most destinations, reaching an estimated US$ 1,030 billion (euro 740 billion) worldwide, up from US$ 928 billion (euro 700 billion) in 2010. In real terms (adjusted for exchange rate fluctuations and inflation), international tourism receipts grew by 3.8%, while international tourist arrivals increased by 4.6% in 2011 to 982 million. This confirms the close correlation between both indicators, with growth of receipts tending to lag slightly behind growth of arrivals in times of economic constraints.

“These are encouraging results,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. “The past two years have shown healthy demand for international tourism out of many markets, even though economic recovery has been uneven. This is particularly important news for countries facing fiscal pressure and weak domestic consumption, where international tourism, a key export and a labour intensive activity, is increasingly strategic to balancing external deficits and stimulating employment.”

“We trust that governments worldwide will progressively recognize this and engage in measures that support tourism including fairer tax policies and the facilitation of visas and travellers’ movements, as these have proven to stimulate economic growth and job creation,” he added.

By regions, the Americas (+5.7%) recorded the largest increase in receipts in 2011, followed byEurope (+5.2%), Asia and the Pacific (+4.3%) and Africa (+2.2%). The Middle East was the only region posting negative growth (-14%).

Europe holds the largest share of international tourism receipts in absolute numbers (45% share), reaching US$ 463 billion (euro 333 bn) in 2011, followed by Asia and the Pacific (28% share or US$ 289 billion/euro 208 bn), and the Americas (19% share or US$ 199 billion/euro 143 bn). The Middle East (4% share) earned US$ 46 billion (euro 33 bn) and Africa (3% share) US$ 33 billion (euro 23 bn) (see table below).

Asides from international tourism receipts (the travel item of the Balance of Payment), tourism also generates export earnings through international passenger transport. The latter amounted to an estimated US$ 196 billion in 2011, bringing total receipts generated by international tourism to US$ 1.2 trillion, or US$ 3.4 billion a day on average.

As a result, international tourism (travel and passenger transport) currently accounts for 30% of the world’s exports of services and 6% of overall exports of goods and services. As a worldwide export category, tourism ranks fourth after fuels, chemicals and food, while ranking first in many developing countries.

Strong growth in international tourism expenditure from the BRIC countries

Many source markets generated strong demand in 2011. However, it was the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China) that continued to stand out. China’s expenditure on international tourism increased by US$ 18 billion to US$ 73 billion, the Russian Federation increased by US$ 6 billion to US$ 32 billion, Brazil by US$ 5 billion to US$ 21 billion and India by US$ 3 billion to US$ 14 billion. Together, their increases accounted for an additional US$ 32 billion, a value equivalent to the eighth largest source market by expenditure. Of the advanced economy source markets, Germany, Australia, Norway, Belgium and Canada reported the biggest absolute growth (see table 1).

Increases in receipts in emerging and advanced economy destinations alike

Both advanced and emerging economy destinations benefited from the 2011 growth in arrivals and receipts. Destinations where international tourism receipts grew by US$ 5 billion or more in absolute terms include the United States (increasing by US$ 13 bn to US$ 116 bn), Spain (by US$ 7 bn to US$ 60 bn), France (by US$ 7 bn to US$ 54 bn), Thailand (by US$ 6 bn to US$ 26 bn) and Hong Kong (China) (by US$ 5 bn to US$ 27 bn). Furthermore, significant increases on lower base value destinations were reported by Singapore, the Russian Federation, Sweden, India, the Republic of Korea and Turkey (see table 2).

Relevant links:

Table 1: World’s Top Source Markets by International Tourism Expenditure

Table 2: World´s Top Destinations by International Tourism receipts

UNWTO World Tourism Barometer

Tourism Leaders of the Middle East reiterate confidence in the sector

Ministers of Tourism and leading tourism companies from the Middle East and North Africa reiterated their confidence in the growth of tourism in the region during the first UNWTO/Arabian Travel Market Industry Forum (Dubai, 30 April 2012).

Entitled The Future of Tourism in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): Ensuring sustainable growth in challenging times, the forum debated short and long term prospects for tourism in the region, stressing the encouraging signs emerging from destinations affected by the political changes of last year as well as the on-going strong expansion plans of tourism infrastructure in the countries of the Gulf.

Participants in the forum reiterated their confidence in the growth of tourism in the region, where the sector has become a key pillar of local economies and employment and a central part of national development policies.

Moderated by John Andrews, Editor for The Economist and one of its most experienced foreign correspondents, the forum counted on the participation of H.R.H. Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud, President and Chairman of the Board of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour, Minister of Tourism of Egypt, Ahmed Abdulla Al-Nuaimi, Chairman of Qatar Tourism Authority, Mohammed Rashed, Chief Executive Officer, Hotel and Tourism Sector of the Al Kharafi Group, Gerald Lawless, Executive Chairman of the Jumeirah Group  and Frederic Bardin, Senior Vice President of Emirates Holidays.

UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai said: “Despite recurrent challenges, the story of tourism in the Middle East and North Africa is one of success. The sector has become an economic powerhouse for the region, generating US$60 billion in export earnings and creating millions of jobs. This outstanding performance is the result of strong and committed public tourism policies aimed at diversifying national economies and create much needed jobs, especially for the youth, and strong private sector investment. These conditions remain unaltered”.

Reed Travel Exhibitions Managing Director, Richard Mortimore said: “The launch of this high-level forum could not come at a more opportune moment. It is a sign of the importance of tourism to the region that this high-profile group of ministers and industry leaders have come to share a platform at Arabian Travel Market, the region’s premier travel trade exhibition. It is sure to prove to be as successful and as influential as the well-established UNWTO and WTM Ministers’ Summit has been at fellow Reed Travel Exhibitions event World Travel Market over the past five years.”

The need for the region’s key players to work together in order to achieve a greater share of the global pie, was a key theme of the summit, with the Undersecretary of Oman’s Ministry of Tourism, Maitha Al Mahrouqi, saying: “I don’t see us [Oman] competing with the UAE, we are complementing the UAE.”

“We need to work with other industries to make the whole touristic experience a pleasure,” added Egypt’s Minister of Tourism, Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour.

While examples of visa facilitation exist in the region – Oman has a joint tourist visa arrangement with Qatar, the panel also flagged the need for the opening up of the visa system within the region. “A common electronic visa platform would actually enhance security – not decrease it – and facilitate smoother travel globally,” said Gerald Lawless, Executive Chairman of the Jumeirah Group.

The UNWTO/Arabian Travel Market Industry Forum brought together ministers as well as travel industry leaders from the region to discuss how to boost demand and foster employment under challenging economic and political conditions. International tourist arrivals in the MENA region rose from 34 million in 2000 to 79 million in 2010, making the region one of the fastest growing tourism destinations worldwide. In 2011, the region lost some seven million tourists, in spite of the good performance of some destinations.

In 2010, international tourist arrivals to the Middle East and North Africa were at 79 million (60 million in the Middle East and 19 million in North Africa). Receipts from international tourism reached US$ 60 billion (US$ 50 billion in the Middle East and US$ 10 billion in North Africa) in 2010. In 2011, due to recent political development, international tourist arrivals to the Middle East were down by 8% to 55 million and to North Africa by 10% to 17 million.

Tourism and the media join forces to support the sector in challenging times

Leading media representatives met with tourism players in Egypt to explore how to develop more effective relations, particularly in times of crisis (Marsa Alam, Egypt, 26-27 April 2012).

“What drives tourism is the perception the traveler has of a destination. Fair reporting of both the negative and the positive will play a vital role in the recovery of Egyptian tourism,” said Egypt’s tourism minister, Mounir Fakhry Abdel-Nour, as he opened the Conference.

The two-day meeting, Partnering with the Media in Challenging Times, is the second in UNWTO’s series of conferences on the relationship between tourism and the media. Organized in collaboration with the Egyptian Tourism Authority (ETA), and with CNN as media partner, the conferences aim to increase awareness of tourism among the mainstream media and forge closer relations between the two.

Stressing the potential role of the media in communicating tourism’s contribution to development, UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, said he was greatly encouraged that participants had come together to explore opportunities for strengthened outreach.

“A staggering one billion tourists will travel abroad in 2012. Tourism has become a truly global socio-economic phenomenon which is not yet fully reflected in the media,” said Mr. Rifai. “We believe that to maximize the potential of tourism as a true driver of development and wellbeing for all we need to bring tourism administrations, the private sector and the media closer together.”

Tony Blair, Quartet Representative to the Middle East, highlighted the role of the media in addressing misperceptions in a special message to the Conference. “Tourism is undoubtedly a bright spot and a vital contributor to the process of economic development,” he said. “But one of the misperceptions we have to deal with is that places, such as Palestine, are dangerous, when in fact the numbers simply do not bear this out.”

Sessions at the Conference provided participants with practical tools for more efficient media relations, ranging from how to plan the appropriate social media strategy to response protocol in times of crises.

Tourism is a mainstay of the Egyptian economy, representing 30% of the country’s exports and employing 16 million people. While international tourist arrivals were down in 2011, at 9.5 million compared to 14 million in 2010, Egypt remained the second most visited country in the Middle East. Results for the first few months of 2012 show encouraging results, “excellent news for both the economy and the strengthening of the political processes underway,” said Mr. Rifai.

Tourism can stimulate trade and development, agrees UN Conference

Participants at a major United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XIII) have underscored the role of tourism as a vital service sector, contributing to GDP and employment in developed and developing countries alike (Doha, Qatar, 21-26 April 2012).

The theme of UNCTAD XIII, Development-Centered Globalization: Towards Inclusive and Sustainable Growth and Development, focuses on how the global economy can spread its benefits more inclusively and sustainably, creating jobs and raising living standards for poor people and nations.

Currently ranking among the top three export sectors for nearly half of the world’s least developed countries (LDCs), tourism has emerged as one of the economic sectors best able to address these concerns. With tourism growth rates in developing countries currently outperforming those in developed countries, tourism today is one of the most promising and viable options for global development.

“It is encouraging to see that the contribution of tourism to development, poverty reduction and economic growth is increasingly recognized. This can only be achieved by better policy coherence between and among the various ministries and government departments that provide the enabling environment for tourism to flourish,” said UNCTAD Secretary-General, Supachai Panitchpakdi.

At two separate events UN officials, high-level policy-makers, representatives of the tourism private sector and other stakeholders, gathered on the sidelines of UNCTAD XIII to deliberate on the critical role of tourism in national development strategies.

The Global Services Forum – organized to discuss developments in the services sector, which currently accounts for 50% of the GDP of developing countries – pointed to the many growth and employment opportunities of tourism as a major internationally traded service.

“Tourism has its place in the green growth agenda, as an important economic sector for many developed and developing countries and an extremely promising development perspective for the coming decades, contributing to a sustainable planet, a growing economy and a better life for all,” said UNWTO Executive Director for Competitiveness, External Relations and Partnerships, Márcio Favilla.

An event organized by the Steering Committee on Tourism for Development (SCTD), Towards Inclusive and Sustainable Growth and Development: What Can the Tourism Sector Contribute, convened countries at different stages of tourism development – including the Secretary of State of the Ministry of Commerce of Cambodia and the Ministers of Tourism of Lesotho and Paraguay – to present the policies and measures needed by developing countries to spur internationally competitive tourism strategies in the framework of the promotion of service exports.

“The implementation of support measures in sustainable tourism at the level of policy makers, institutions and enterprises, particularly in the services sector, will be crucial for the beneficial integration of developing countries and LDCs in the world economy,” said Mr. Favilla.

The event was also an opportunity to draw attention to what UNWTO and other member organizations of the SCTD are doing to assist developing countries in maximizing tourism’s development impact.

Towards Inclusive & Sustainable Growth & Development: How can the tourism sector contribute?

At United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XIII) – Doha, Qatar, 20 April 2012

For many decades, international tourism has experienced dynamic growth and continued expansion. Cross-border travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes has become one of the fastest growing economic activities worldwide. The number of international tourist arrivals rose by almost forty times from 25 million in 1950 to 980 million in 2011. Even between 2000 and 2010, which was a decade of boom but also grave economic and financial crises, severe pandemics and large-scale natural disasters; international tourist arrivals continued to grow at an average annual rate of 3.4 per cent. As growth has been particularly dynamic in developing and emerging regions, their share in international tourist arrivals rose from 31 per cent in 1990 to 47 per cent in 2010.[1]

International tourism can be, and in fact it has been, an important source of economic growth in developing countries. This holds particularly true for least developed and other small, structurally weak and vulnerable countries which otherwise face tremendous challenges in a rapidly changing and highly competitive global trading system. Tourism “is like an iceberg; the visible tip is travel, accommodation, and tourist service; below the surface, there are multiple opportunities for households, micro, and small enterprises.”2 Since many countries are endowed with often unique historic, natural and cultural assets, which could be transformed into travel destinations, tourism is a universal activity with a significant local impact.

Tourism stimulates the local economy in destination countries through supply-chain linkages with other economic sectors, particularly in agriculture and manufacturing. It promotes entrepreneurship and the growth of SMEs. Tourism bolsters the diversification of the local economy and it generates export income. Tourism-related demand for goods and services creates new jobs, in particular for youth and women, thus contributing to poverty reduction. Tourism could help generate income for populations in remote and rural areas, thereby reducing incentives for urban migration. In some countries, tourism has created funds for the conservation of biodiversity and the protection of the very assets on which it is based. Last but not least, tourism could contribute to the image building of a country.

Tourism is primarily a private sector-driven activity. However, without effective, coherent and coordinated government policies and actions, also in other sectors on which tourism activities depend, tourism would fail to exploit fully its potential for inclusive and sustainable growth and development. Worse, financial leakages, i.e. the loss in tourism revenue due to the need to procure tourism-related goods and services from abroad, can significantly erode the positive economic benefits of tourism and make a country vulnerable to adverse environmental, social, cultural, and economic impacts.

[1] UNWTO Tourism Highlights. 2011 Edition. UNWTO, Madrid.; [2] Wong, M., Christie, I. and Al Rowais, S. Tourism in South Asia, “Benefits and Opportunities,”, The World Bank, Washington, D.C., 2009.

Purpose

This event, which is organised in cooperation with the Steering Committee on Tourism for Development (SCTD), will provide an opportunity for senior officials from member countries to deliberate on the critical role that tourism can play in national development strategies.  Panellists from countries at different levels of tourism development will discuss how tourism, especially sustainable tourism, could contribute to growth and inclusive development and induce the promotion and modernization of productive capacities needed for structural change. Given the transversal nature of tourism, the debate will address a wide range of topics, including strengthening cross-sectoral linkages, enterprise development, investment attraction, environmental concerns, human resources policies, infrastructure constraints and other issues of critical importance for the tourism sector.

Outcome

The discussion is expected to shed new light on policies and measures that developing countries need to pursue to develop an internationally competitive tourism sector as part of national strategies towards inclusive and sustainable growth and development. It will also highlight what UNCTAD and other member organisations of the Steering Committee on Tourism for Development (SCTD) could do to assist developing countries in these efforts.

Organization

Introductory presentations by UNCTAD, UNWTO and the host country, followed by an interactive, moderated discussion among the panellists held in a Davos-style etting. The audience will have the opportunity to participate in the Q&A part of the event.

Agenda

Friday, 20 April 2012

12.00 – 12.30        High-level interventions by UNCTAD, UNWTO & the host country

12.30 – 13.30        Interactive moderated panel discussion

13.30 – 14.00        Interactive Q&A part with the audience

Top media representatives to join the debate at the UNWTO Conference on Tourism and the Media

Time Magazine and The Huffington Post are among the top media outlets scheduled to take part in the 2nd UNWTO International Conference on Tourism and the Media. The event, which also counts on the presence of The Independent, Deutsche Welle TV and Ogilvy Mather PR will focus on how tourism and the media can work together in challenging times (26-27 April, Marsa Alam, Egypt).

Time’s Egypt correspondent Abigail Hauslohner and the Associate Travel Editor of the Huffington Post, Andrew Burmon, will join a long list of confirmed speakers including the Associate Business Editor of The Independent, Mark Leftly; Senior International Correspondent for Deutsche Welle TV, Michael Altenhenne; and the Director of Sales of FvW-Mediengruppe, Matthias Schulz.Representatives from the tourism sector include the Minister of Tourism of Egypt, Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour, and Amr Badr, Regional Managing Director of luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent.

Organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism of Egypt, and featuring CNN as global media partner, ‘Partnering with the Media in Challenging Times’ is the second in UNWTO’s series of conferences on the relationship between tourism and the media. Following the 2011 edition which focused on how to improve the extent and accuracy of tourism coverage, the 2012 conference will bring together members of the global media and communications officials from tourism administrations to debate where tourism fits in a news agenda dominated by economic and social upheavals.

Practical workshops, including a session on social media with the Vice-President for Digital Strategy of public relations firm Ogilvy & Mather, Layla Revis, will offer an opportunity for tourism professionals to hone their communications skills. Further workshops will provide insights into the running of a newsroom and how tourism officials can position their stories within the news agenda, while a workshop on risk and crisis management will provide participants with practical tools to communicate effectively in times of crisis.

Flemish Community among the first regions to measure tourism’s economic impact using the Tourism Satellite Account

The Flemish Community of Belgium has become one of the first regions worldwide to determine the contribution of tourism to its economy using the United Nations approved Tourism Satellite Account (TSA). Results were announced during the official visit of the UNWTO Secretary-General (12-13 March 2012).

By implementing the TSA, the Flemish Community was able to measure exactly how much of the region’s economy is based on tourism. Results show tourism in the Flemish Community and Brussels-Capital contributed 12.6 billion euros, or 5.3% of total gross value added to the economy.

“The results of the TSA have confirmed tourism as one of the region’s most vibrant sectors and a vital contributor to economic growth,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, commending the initiative.

“Over the past few years, UNWTO has been working to address the specific challenges facing regional tourism, including how to analyze tourism flows and measure their economic impact at this level. Adapting the TSA at the regional level is a major step forward in this regard and I congratulate the Flemish Community on becoming one of the first regions in the world to do so,” he added.

“Flanders is the first region from the European Union with TSA-figures. To determine the value of these figures and percentages it is important to compare them with similar figures from other countries. For the gross added value of tourism, Flanders is above average. Countries with a higher proportion of added value are typical tourist countries such as Spain and Portugal,” said the Flemish Minister of Tourism, Geert Bourgeois.

On the occasion of his visit, Mr. Rifai addressed the Flemish Parliament and gave a guest lecture at the University of KU Leuven. Meeting with Minister Bourgeois, Mr. Rifai praised the Flemish initiative ‘Tourism for All’ which aims to make tourism more accessible, especially for vulnerable groups including persons with disabilities or people living on or below the poverty line.

“Making tourism more accessible for all is at the heart of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and the mandate of UNWTO,” said Mr. Rifai. “The Code calls on public authorities worldwide to support the development of social tourism so that all can enjoy traveling. In this respect, the Flemish Community has proved a shining example.”

Congress on Snow and Mountain Tourism to advance the use of new technologies in mountain tourism

The role of new technologies in snow and mountain tourism will be the focus of the 7th World Congress on Snow and Mountain Tourism, held by UNWTO in collaboration with the Principality of Andorra (La Massana, Andorra, 11-12 April 2012).

Leading experts will discuss the new technologies that have emerged over the past years and their role in revolutionizing tourism marketing, as well as consumer behavior before, during and after a trip. Under the title, Mountain Tourism 2.0: New Strategies for Success, the Congress will outline the strategies needed to attract new visitors and open up mountain destinations to the world market.

“Snow and mountain tourism is an extremely popular market, but one that faces a number of challenges,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. “Innovation and new technologies can play an exciting role in helping these destinations to remain competitive and diversify their tourism product, ensuring year-round tourism, and should be put to greater use.”

Mountain resort professionals from 10 countries will share their experiences on integrating new technologies in their marketing strategies to attract and maintain visitors. Key speakers include the Director of Yongpyong Resort, Republic of Korea, Mr. In Jun Park, and the Managing Director of France Montagnes, Mr. Jean-Marc Silva. Technology experts, including the Managing Director of Google Travel Spain, Mr. Javier González-Soria, will present the latest technologies in areas such as web positioning and satellite communications.

Held since 1998, the World Congress on Snow and Mountain Tourism has emerged as the principal forum for addressing the major issues and challenges for mountain tourism in all its forms and seasons. In 2012, for the first time, the Congress will launch the International Mountain Report, compiling the latest figures and trends in snow and mountain tourism.

SPAIN TO HOST WORLD TOURISM DAY 2012 UNDER THE THEME TOURISM AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY

The 2012 official World Tourism Day (WTD) celebrations will be held in Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, Spain (27 September 2012). Under the theme “Tourism and Sustainable Energy: Powering Sustainable Development”, WTD 2012 highlights the need to bring the tourism sector and energy stakeholders closer together to spur tourism’s contribution to sustainability.

“Tourism is at the forefront of many of the latest and most innovative sustainable energy initiatives,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. “One only has to think of the investments being poured into renewable energy sources for aviation,
or the energy technology solutions implemented in hotels around the world, to know that sustainable energy is a major priority for the sector.”

“The message at the heart of World Tourism Day 2012 is that these initiatives and commitments are not only helping to protect the environment, they are also creating economic opportunities and jobs for millions, whether in tourism, energy or other sectors,” he said.

Official celebrations will take place in the town of Maspalomas in the Canary Islands, Spain, as was announced during the UNWTO Press Conference at the ITB Travel Trade Show with the presence of the Spanish Secretary of State for Tourism, Isabel Borrego.

“Spain is among the top five countries investing in renewable energies worldwide and 20% of the energy consumed in Spain comes from renewable sources,” said Ms. Borrego. “We are convinced that the celebrations of World Tourism Day 2012 will be of great interest given the high caliber of participants, as well as the other events being organized to raise awareness of World Tourism Day among the general public.”

Holding this year’s celebrations in Spain is particularly fitting given its reputation as “one of the world’s top tourism
destinations and a global leader in renewable energies,” said the Secretary-General. As well as being a major tourism destination, one
third of the island of Gran Canaria, including the town of Maspalomas, where the celebrations will take place, is a Biosphere Reserve of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Official WTD celebrations will include a High-Level Think Tank on the 2012 theme, at which public and private tourism stakeholders will join leaders from the energy sector to further the use of sustainable energy in the tourism sector. Confirmed participants include the Spanish Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism, José Manuel Soria, and the President of Acciona Energy, Carmen Becerril, of Spanish multinational Acciona.

WTD 2012 coincides with the UN International Year of Sustainable Energy for All, offering the opportunity to further highlight the shared responsibility of the tourism and energy sectors to the wider sustainability objectives of the UN.

Microsoft and World Tourism Organization to drive innovation in the tourism sector

·Microsoft becomes a strategic partner of UNWTO in terms of technological innovation initiatives in the tourism sector.

·Microsoft will participate in joint efforts to develop emblematic technological projects led by UNWTO.

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Microsoft signed today an agreement aimed at bringing the benefits of the most advanced technologies to the tourism sector and driving the industry’s evolution towards the computing paradigm of the future. Jean-Philippe Courtois, President of Microsoft International, and Márcio Favilla, Executive Director of UNWTO, have forged this alliance that, in an increasingly demanding and competitive economic context, will promote technological innovation in world tourism and help the Spanish market strengthen the country’s brand as a world leader in the application of innovation to the tourism sector.

With this agreement, Microsoft becomes a strategic partner of UNWTO that will propose, coordinate and spearhead technological innovation initiatives within the community of the Organization’s Member States and Affiliate Members. It will also make new technologies available to the international tourism sector in order to enhance its competitiveness.

Jean-Philippe Courtois, President of Microsoft International, pointed out that “the tourism sector has undergone a drastic transformation over the past years and has been evolving towards Tourism 3.0, where users connect to travel websites and interact by sharing their experiences, thus directly influencing the perceptions and decisions of other users and potential travellers. Because of this, it is more and more important for tourism sector enterprises to develop their online businesses by looking to the most advanced technology. In this regard, the adoption of cloud computing is key, as it provides access to a solid web platform that will make it possible to offer more productive, efficient and competitive services.”

According to Márcio Favilla, Executive Director of the World Tourism Organization, “cooperation with Microsoft is both timely, in light of the current economic context, and necessary in view of the technological demands we are subject to. Tourism has a proven track record when it comes to being at the leading edge of innovation and the dissemination of best practices, and our sector closely reflects the positive potential of globalization. Thanks to cooperation with Microsoft we will be able to more rapidly implement training tools and disseminate their content, stimulate the adoption of practical and advanced technological solutions in our sector and continue to promote tourism as a vehicle of sustainable development, in line with the position held by the UN.”

The transformation of the tourism sector: the Tourist 3.

Today’s tourists are geared towards the 3.0 environment; they are connected to the Net and are highly present in social networks. Consequently, it is more important than ever for destinations and tourism enterprises to not only have an Internet presence but also to offer their users a good experience and the necessary tools to interact with the supply side and with other users.

The Microsoft Innovation Center in Tourism Technologies (MICTT) will take part in joint efforts to develop technological projects led by UNWTO. UNWTO members will have preferential access to the services offered by the MICTT, including the development of proofs of concept and pilot projects applying technological innovation to the tourism industry.

By virtue of this agreement, Microsoft will also collaborate with the UNWTO Themis Foundation, which is responsible for implementing the World Tourism Organization’s programme of work in the field of Education and Training, in a training programme on technological innovation and the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of the tourism sector. These two entities will work together in actions for the dissemination of the use of information technologies, aimed especially at small and medium-sized tourism enterprises. They will also collaborate in the development of volunteer projects related to tourism innovation in emerging countries.

UNWTO activities at ITB 2012

UNWTO events at this year’s ITB Travel Trade Show include a high-level session on tourism trends in the Mediterranean, the Silk Road Ministers’ meeting, a session on consumer protection and a meeting of the World Tourism Network on Child Protection, among others (Berlin, Germany, 7-11 March, 2012).   

Silk Road Ministers’ Meeting (7 March, 11.00 – 12.30, Hall 7.3, Berlin Room)

Ministers of the Silk Road will meet to discuss how they can work together to capitalize on the revival of the Silk Road. This year’s meeting will include a special session on the importance of route development in strengthening the Silk Road product offer and attracting investment. The Ministers’ Meeting will be followed by the VIP Walk ‘Flavours of the Silk Road’ where UNWTO Secretary-General and ITB management will visit 10 countries showcasing the Silk Road’s most celebrated cuisine.

Tour Operators will convene at the Tour Operators’ Forum on the Silk Road – Creating a stronger business environment for growth (8 March, 11.00 – 13.00, Palais West), to discuss how to overcome the challenges and create opportunities for doing business on the Silk Road.

For more information, please click here or contact silkroad@UNWTO.org 

High-Level Session on Tourism Trends and Outlook in the Mediterranean (7 March, 14.00 – 15.00, Hall 7.1b, Auditorium London)

Destinations around the Mediterranean, the world’s most visited region, face a number of challenges; economic, political and environmental. This session, moderated by UNWTO media partner CNN, with Ministers of Tourism from the region and private sector representatives, will address questions such as: What trends are affecting the region? What challenges and opportunities face these destinations in the long-term and how can they adapt to changing market conditions? In view of the UNWTO forecast Tourism Towards 2030, what is the outlook for the region over the next two decades?

For more information, please click here or contact comm@unwto.org   

First Meeting of the Global National Tourism Organizations (NTO) Think Tank – Creating value through collaboration (7 March, 16.00 – 18.00, Hall 7.3, Berlin Room) 

A joint initiative of UNWTO and the European Travel Commission (ETC), the Global NTO Think Tank will provide an opportunity for NTOs from around the world to collaborate on common issues and strategic priorities. 

By invitation only. For more information, please contact eterzibasoglu@unwto.org 

UNWTO Press Conference – International tourism results and World Tourism Day 2012 (8 March, 12.00 – 14.00, ICC, Hall 4/5)

The UNWTO Secretary-General will present the tourism trends and figures for 2011 and outlook for 2012.

UNWTO will also launch the World Tourism Day 2012 official celebrations with the presence of the Secretary of State for Tourism, Isabel Borrego Cortés, under the theme: Tourism and Sustainable Energy: Powering Sustainable Development. World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) President & CEO, David Scowsill, will also be present to highlight the joint efforts of WTTC and UNWTO in advancing a common agenda on visa facilitation as a driver of economic growth and job creation.

For more information, please contact comm@UNWTO.org 

Meeting on Crisis Management – Information needs in times of crises for the travel and tourism sector (9 March, 09.30 – 11.00, ICC, Salon 21)

UNWTO and members of the Tourism Emergency Response Network (TERN) will meet to discuss their information needs in times of crises to help minimize the negative perception on consumer’s behaviour, while at the same time ensuring safety and well-being and allowing for a fast recovery.

For more information, please click here or contact rcm@UNWTO.org   

UNWTO Session on Consumer Protection – Accommodation related issues (9 March, 11.00 – 13.00, ICC, Hall 7) 

In the absence of international regulations governing the rights and responsibilities of tourists/consumers and tour operators, UNWTO set up a working group to draft a legal instrument for their protection. At ITB 2012, UNWTO will host a special session on accommodation related issues, the conclusions of which will feed into the next meeting of the working group.

For more information, please click here or contact cpt@UNWTO.org 

27th Meeting of the World Tourism Network on Child Protection (9 March, 14.30 – 17.30, ICC, Hall 7) 

The 2012 meeting of the World Tourism Network on Child Protection will focus on “Young Workers in the Tourism Sector: Risks and Opportunities”. The event is jointly organized by UNWTO and the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (ILO–IPEC) of the International Labour Organization (ILO). The meeting will also feature a reporting session, affording representatives of national tourism administrations, the tourism sector, NGOs and specialized media outlets an opportunity to report on new projects concerning child protection in tourism.

For more information, please click here or contact ethics@UNWTO.org

UNWTO activities at ITB 2012

UNWTO events at this year’s ITB Travel Trade Show include a high-level session on tourism trends in the Mediterranean, the Silk Road Ministers’ meeting, a session on consumer protection and a meeting of the World Tourism Network on Child Protection, among others (Berlin, Germany, 7-11 March, 2012).  

Silk Road Ministers’ Meeting (7 March, 11.00 – 12.30, Hall 7.3, Berlin Room)

Ministers of the Silk Road will meet to discuss how they can work together to capitalize on the revival of the Silk Road. This year’s meeting will include a special session on the importance of route development in strengthening the Silk Road product offer and attracting investment. The Ministers’ Meeting will be followed by the VIP Walk ‘Flavours of the Silk Road’ where UNWTO Secretary-General and ITB management will visit 10 countries showcasing the Silk Road’s most celebrated cuisine.

Tour Operators will convene at the Tour Operators’ Forum on the Silk Road – Creating a stronger business environment for growth (8 March, 11.00 – 13.00, Palais West), to discuss how to overcome the challenges and create opportunities for doing business on the Silk Road.

For more information, please click here or contact silkroad@UNWTO.org

High-Level Session on Tourism Trends and Outlook in the Mediterranean (7 March, 14.00 – 15.00, Hall 7.1b, Auditorium London)

Destinations around the Mediterranean, the world’s most visited region, face a number of challenges; economic, political and environmental. This session, moderated by UNWTO media partner CNN, with Ministers of Tourism from the region and private sector representatives, will address questions such as: What trends are affecting the region? What challenges and opportunities face these destinations in the long-term and how can they adapt to changing market conditions? In view of the UNWTO forecast Tourism Towards 2030, what is the outlook for the region over the next two decades?

For more information, please click here or contact comm@unwto.org

First Meeting of the Global National Tourism Organizations (NTO) Think Tank – Creating value through collaboration (7 March, 16.00 – 18.00, Hall 7.3, Berlin Room)

A joint initiative of UNWTO and the European Travel Commission (ETC), the Global NTO Think Tank will provide an opportunity for NTOs from around the world to collaborate on common issues and strategic priorities.

By invitation only. For more information, please contact eterzibasoglu@unwto.org

UNWTO Press Conference – International tourism results and World Tourism Day 2012 (8 March, 12.00 – 14.00, ICC, Hall 4/5)

The UNWTO Secretary-General will present the tourism trends and figures for 2011 and outlook for 2012.

UNWTO will also launch the World Tourism Day 2012 official celebrations with the presence of the Secretary of State for Tourism, Isabel Borego Cortés, under the theme: Tourism and Sustainable Energy: Powering Sustainable Development. World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) President & CEO, David Scowsill, will also be present to highlight the joint efforts of WTTC and UNWTO in advancing a common agenda on visa facilitation as a driver of economic growth and job creation.

For more information, please contact comm@UNWTO.org

Meeting on Crisis Management – Information needs in times of crises for the travel and tourism sector (9 March, 09.30 – 11.00, ICC, Salon 21)

UNWTO and members of the Tourism Emergency Response Network (TERN) will meet to discuss their information needs in times of crises to help minimize the negative perception on consumer’s behaviour, while at the same time ensuring safety and well-being and allowing for a fast recovery.

For more information, please click here or contact rcm@UNWTO.org

UNWTO Session on Consumer Protection – Accommodation related issues (9 March, 11.00 – 13.00, ICC, Hall 7)

In the absence of international regulations governing the rights and responsibilities of tourists/consumers and tour operators, UNWTO set up a working group to draft a legal instrument for their protection. At ITB 2012, UNWTO will host a special session on accommodation related issues, the conclusions of which will feed into the next meeting of the working group.

For more information, please click here or contact cpt@UNWTO.org

27th Meeting of the World Tourism Network on Child Protection (9 March, 14.30 – 17.30, ICC, Hall 7)

The 2012 meeting of the World Tourism Network on Child Protection will focus on “Young Workers in the Tourism Sector: Risks and Opportunities”. The event is jointly organized by UNWTO and the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (ILO–IPEC) of the International Labour Organization (ILO). The meeting will also feature a reporting session, affording representatives of national tourism administrations, the tourism sector, NGOs and specialized media outlets an opportunity to report on new projects concerning child protection in tourism.

For more information, please click here or contact ethics@UNWTO.org

UNWTO SECRETARY-GENERAL MEETS SPANISH TOURISM MINISTER

UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, met with the Spanish
Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism, José Manuel Soria, to
discuss tourism’s role in meeting the challenges currently facing the
sector (Madrid, Spain, 9 February). _

Congratulating Minister Soria of his recent appointment, Mr. Rifai
spoke of the relevance of basing UNWTO, the United Nations specialized
agency for tourism, in Spain, one of the world’s leading tourism
destinations.

Discussions focused on the role of tourism in facing economic,
social and environmental challenges, as well as areas of future
cooperation between Spain and UNWTO.

Minister Soria congratulated UNWTO on the Global Leaders for
Tourism Campaign, which, since early 2011, has been gaining continued
support from heads of state and government for tourism as a key
economic sector. “I am willing to present this initiative to the Prime
Minister of the Spanish Government, Mariano Rajoy, and I am confident
that he will gladly join, given his strong interest in this strategic
sector as a motor for economic recovery,” said the Minister.

Minister Soria and Mr. Rifai also discussed Spain’s role as the
official host of the 2012 World Tourism Day celebrations, around the
theme Tourism and Sustainable Energy: Powering Sustainable
Development. Spain, and in particular the Canary Islands, is the
“ideal setting” to hold the 2012 celebrations, said Mr. Rifai, as a
country leading the way in both tourism and sustainable energy.
Minister Soria highlighted the event as the perfect opportunity to
strengthen the relationship between both parties, advance the
international tourism agenda and further the United Nations presence
in Spain.

“UNWTO headquarters have been based in Spain for nearly forty years
and the relationship between the Organization and its host country has
gone from strength to strength,” said Mr. Rifai. “Given our
discussions today, I am more than confident that they will continue to
do so under the leadership and engagement of Minister Soria.”

The Ramsar Convention and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) join forces to celebrate World Wetlands Day – Wetland Tourism: a great experience

From the Great Barrier Reef to the Okavango Delta, the Danube Delta and many other thousands of wetlands, the human love for watery places has sustained tourism and recreation in wetlands around the world for countless decades. 2 February each year is World Wetlands Day. Ramsar’s focus on wetland tourism to celebrate this year’s World Wetlands Day (WWD) has opened the way for the Convention and UNWTO to join forces in exploring common issues and concerns and collaborate in advancing sustainable tourism development in the wetlands.

As Ramsar’s Secretary General Anada Tiéga notes: “This has been an excellent opportunity for the Ramsar Convention to take advantage of UNWTO’s expertise in the sustainable management of tourism, and we appreciate the added value they have brought to our World Wetlands Day activities promoting the wise use of wetlands.”

“Every year, millions of tourists fulfil their longing to see and experience the wonders of nature in the wetlands. Celebrating World Wetlands Day under the theme of wetland tourism offers the perfect occasion to recall the relevance of this unique natural scenery as one of tourism’s greatest assets and a fundamental cornerstone to its long-term growth, while stressing how tourism, when developed and managed in a sustainable way, can be instrumental in safeguarding it,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai.

Responsible, sustainable tourism can support wetland conservation and wise use. Wetlands, their wildlife, and the human communities in and around them can benefit directly from tourism through entry fees, sale of local products, and so on. At the same time, the ‘use’ of wetlands as tourism locations comes with certain risks. The challenge is to ensure that sustainable tourism practices are being implemented and bring benefits for wetlands, their wildlife and people. As Mr. Rifai adds: “We would emphasize that tourism businesses, if well informed and prepared to adapt their operations, can certainly promote and support wetland biodiversity and the natural beauty of wetlands.”

Ramsar’s interest in tourism will not end with World Wetlands Day. The focus on wetland tourism will continue at the 11th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP11) in July 2012, in Romania, celebrated under the theme Wetlands, Tourism and Recreation.

COP 11 will debate an important Resolution on wetlands and tourism, one that will point the way forward and express the Contracting Parties’ commitment to sound tourism practices. Mr. Anada Tiéga emphasizes that “the adoption of this Resolution will provide a formal framework for governments, NGOs and civil society for achieving sustainability in wetland tourism.”

Also at COP11, the Ramsar Secretariat, in collaboration with UNWTO, will be launching a case study-based report on tourism in and around Wetlands of International Importance, looking at the direct and indirect impacts of tourism on Ramsar Sites and other wetlands while identifying both the many opportunities and the threats that wetland tourism can bring. Research will also identify key messages for main target groups – land-use as well as wetland policy-makers, local governments, tourism developers, wetland site managers, and others.

A suite of materials have been prepared to support the celebrations of WWD around the world and inspire countries to organize tourism-focused events for this annual wetland-awareness campaign day.

The WWD materials are just the first look at wetlands and tourism, and the ‘great experience’ this can be.

The Ramsar Secretariat looks forward to hearing about World Wetlands Day activities and takes this opportunity to wish you a Happy World Wetlands Day.

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), a United Nations specialized agency, is the leading international organization with the decisive and central role in promoting the development of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. It serves as a global forum for tourism policy issues and a practical source of tourism know-how. Its membership includes 155 countries, 7 territories, 2 permanent observers and over 400 Affiliate Members. Follow us on twitter, vimeo and flickr.

UNWTO and Tunisia to hold International Conference on the Future of Mediterranean Tourism

UNWTO and the Ministry of Tourism of Tunisia will organize an international conference on the future of Mediterranean tourism on the island of Djerba (16-17 April, 2012). The news was announced at the Tourism Investment Forum for Africa, INVESTOUR, held during the international travel fair, FITUR (Madrid, Spain, 19 January).

“While the Mediterranean may be the most visited region in the world, with over 200 million tourist arrivals a year, it also faces numerous challenges; political, environmental and social,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. The conference in Djerba would offer an opportunity to tack stock of tourism trends in the region, he said, and adopt a “shared vision” to adequately face these challenges.

“Tunisia is back and ready for a solid and sustained recovery; this conference could not take place in a better setting,” added Mr. Rifai meeting with the new Minister of Tourism of Tunisia, Elyes Fakhfakh.

Mr. Fakhfakh pointed to the significance of holding the conference in Tunisia, where tourism provides jobs and incomes for hundreds of thousands of people. “Tunisia has decided its leadership and, with the determination of its youth, has embarked on a new, dynamic future in which tourism is clearly a sector vital to growth,” he said.

The Minister spoke of the profound changes the country had undergone over the past year and the need for Mediterranean countries to come together in forums such as the Conference on the Future of Mediterranean Tourism to share experiences and work together to maintain competitiveness in the global tourism market. “We in Tunisia have a rich history and it is our objective to advance the promotion of our cultural assets as a means to diversify our tourism offer and bring our people closer to the sector,” he said.

The conference will convene tourism stakeholders from the Mediterranean region and beyond to address how the region can continue to attract large numbers of visitors in the face of sustainability challenges and competition from other world regions. The two-day event is the sixth in UNWTO’s series of destination management conferences.

UNWTO joins industry voices in support of Obama’s move to facilitate travel

“It is extremely encouraging to see President Obama calling for a coordinated policy to support a prosperous and secure tourism sector in the USA and, in particular, his recognition of the need to advance travel facilitation by enhancing and expediting visa procedures,” said Mr. Rifai.

“For every job created in tourism another 1.5 jobs are created in other sectors and thus this is a key moment to support the sector. Travel facilitation is closely interlinked with tourism development and can be a vital tool to grow the tourism economy and create jobs. This objective is of particular relevance at a time in which economies are looking to stimulate their exports and economic growth but have limited capacity to use fiscal policy instruments,” he added.

As destinations worldwide look to stimulate travel demand under pressing economic conditions, UNWTO has been urging governments to consider advancing travel facilitation. Despite the strides made so far there is still much room for progress in the area of travel facilitation, namely in terms of creating better access for new and growing source markets.

Travel facilitation has been identified by UNWTO, together with industry organizations such as the World Travel &Tourism Council (WTTC), as main priority in 2012. UNWTO advises countries to make the most of information and communication technologies in improving visa application and processing formalities, as well as the timings of visa issuance.

The USA ranks first in the world in terms of international tourism receipts, with foreign exchange from tourism reaching US$ 104 billion in 2010. Its share of global international tourism earnings has nonetheless declined from 17% in 2000 to 11% in 2010, with travel restrictions following September 11 often pointed to as one of the reasons for the decline.

International tourism to reach one billion in 2012

International tourist arrivals grew by over 4% in 2011 to 980 million, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. With growth expected to continue in 2012, at a somewhat slower rate, international tourist arrivals are

Ministers of Tourism of major world economies call on decision-makers to use tourism to stimulate the economy

The Ministers of Tourism of the major economies meeting in Paris for the 3^rd T20 Ministers’ Meeting have called on decision-makers to consider tourism within their strategies to foster the economy and when facing mounting challenges, namely that of job creation (Paris, France, 25 October 2011).

The meeting approved a declaration calling on members of the G20 to “register the importance and impact of tourism as a topic of discussion in the coming years’ summits” considering the “significant economic and social potential of tourism for the global economy, employment and sustainable development”.

“We need to convince our decision-makers of the importance of tourism to the economy and employment,” said Mr. Frederic Lefebvre, Minister of Tourism of France, opening the meeting. “In these challenging times, we need to maximize our strengths and tourism is one of them,” he added.

“Tourism can be part of the solution to the economic difficulties facing the world,” said Mr. Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Secretary-General. “Amid increased economic uncertainty, unacceptably high unemployment rates and the challenges of fiscal consolidation and increased taxation in many economies, it is time for us to recall the role tourism can have in increasing exports, driving economic growth and creating jobs,“ he added.

The debate highlighted the multiplier effect of tourism on other sectors of the economy in terms of output, and particularly employment, as well as the contribution of the sector to minimizing trade unbalances in many economies and promoting regional development.

With one billion tourists set to cross international borders in 2012, the meeting furthermore stressed the impact of tourism in fostering social wellbeing and understanding, and the need for it to address the challenges of sustainable development and climate change to ensure a sustained future. Ministers also stressed the need to reduce travel barriers and increase investment to move the tourism agenda forward.

“In this period of economic transition, tourism is a strong driver of development,” said Mr. Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the European Commission and responsible for Industry and Entrepreneurship. “As we face an economic and confidence crisis, all sectors should contribute to overcome difficulties and tourism can make a significant contribution to this effort,” he added.

The T20 is an initiative created to advocate the value of tourism within the strategies of economic recovery/growth; it aims to position tourism as a driver of economic, social and environmental change.

The next meeting of the T20 will be held in Mexico, in May 2012.

UN partners help least developed countries take steps towards more effective tourism development

Eight of the world’s Least Developed Countries (LDCs) have begun to assess their tourism development needs and pinpoint relevant funding sources at a workshop held by the United Nations Steering Committee on Tourism for Development (SCTD) (Geneva, Switzerland, 18-20 October).

Representatives from the Tourism, Finance and Trade Ministries of Benin, Burundi, Cambodia, Comoros, Lesotho, Maldives, Sao Tome and Principe and Uganda came together with the nine UN Agencies that make up the SCTD at International Trade Centre (ITC) Headquarters in Geneva, to learn how to better work together to maximize tourism’s development potential.

“Tourism is one of the few economic sectors through which LDCs have managed to increase their participation in the global economy,” said UNWTO Executive Director, Márcio Favilla, opening the workshop. “The multiplier effect of tourism is also particularly effective in the LDCs, where tourism expenditure generates additional flows of revenue and consumption for other branches of the economy such as agriculture, local fisheries, handicrafts and the furniture and construction industries”.

International tourist arrivals in the 48 LDCs grew from 6 million in 2000 to over 17 million in2010. Inthe same period, international tourism receipts climbed from US$ 3 billion to over US$ 10 billion.

The workshop, organized with the support of the Secretariat of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), a multi-donor programme specifically for LDCs, allowed the countries to learn more about the EIF and how to best access the mechanism to develop their tourism strategies and action plans, as well as leveraging human and financial resources.

A break-out session of bi-lateral meetings between countries and UN agencies during the workshop helped to identify a number of specific tourism-related needs of the LDCs and match them with SCTD Agency capabilities.

The workshop builds on the momentum generated at the Fourth UN Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC-IV), at which tourism was included as a poverty reduction tool for the first time. It is now expected that the LDCs, with the support of SCTD Agencies as well as the EIF Secretariat, will be able to prepare project proposals by the end of 2011, for local approval and subsequent submission to the EIF Board for endorsement by mid-2012.

19th General Assembly closes with pledge to strengthen UNWTO

 “Over the last two years UNWTO has embarked on a gradual but determined reform process” said Mr. Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Secretary-General, presenting the White Paper to the Assembly.

The General Assembly also welcomed Liberia as a new Full Member and 69 public and private sector representatives as new Affiliate Members, bringing UNWTO membership to 155 Members States and over 400 Affiliate Members.

The Executive Council elected Kenya as its new Chairman. “I am committed to work with all member countries to push forth the tourism agenda globally” said Mr. Najib Balala, Minister of Tourism of Kenya.

Spain was elected to host World Tourism Day 2012 under the theme Tourism and Sustainable Energy – Powering Sustainable Development and the Maldives to host World Tourism Day 2013 to be celebrated under the topic Tourism and Water – Protecting our Common Future.

Zambia and Zimbabwe won the bid to jointly host the 20^th session of the UNWTO General Assembly in 2013. 

Tourism vital for achieving global development objectives – tourism ministers and UN

Tourism ministers and top United Nations officials have stressed the importance of tourism in reaching the social and economic development targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and contributing to a more sustainable future (10 October, Gyeongju, Republic of Korea).

“How can the phenomenal growth of tourism be harnessed in support of the MDGs?”, asked UN Deputy Secretary-General, Asha-Rose Migiro at the opening of the Ministerial Roundtable on Fostering Growth and the Achievement of the MDGs through Tourism, Culture and Sport, held ahead of the UNWTO General Assembly.

Through improving basic infrastructure and services, tourism can contribute to eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, the first of the eight MDGs, she continued. Ms. Migiro also talked of how “community-oriented tourism can promote women’s social and economic mobility”, reflected in MDG-3.

The Roundtable was moderated by Professor Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia University, special advisor to the UN Secretary-General and one of the architects of the MDGs. Convening around 70 Ministers from all regions of the world, the gathering was held to define the role and contribution of tourism in addressing global development challenges, particularly poverty alleviation and economic, social and environmental sustainability.

Tourism is “an industry that can power economic development in a sustainable manner,” said Mr. Sachs, as Ministers discussed their experiences in fostering pro-MDG tourism policies in their own countries and how they were using tourism to meet the 2015 deadline for the internationally agreed goals. The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea, Mr Choe Kwang-shik, spoke of how fresh thinking and new partnerships between all were needed to reach the MDGs and affirmed Korea’s commitment to the process.

In parallel to the MDGs, the Roundtable was also an opportunity to assess tourism’s sustainability credentials ahead of the June 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20). “Tourism needs to be on the table of the ‘two twenties’: the G20 and Rio+20,” said Mr. Sachs. Ministers agreed to work closely together to advance this objective and take tourism to Rio+20, establishing the sector firmly within the development agenda.

“As the international community prepares to meet in Rio in June 2012 we have a unique opportunity to place tourism as part of the debate,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. He highlighted how tourism, identified by the UN as one of ten key sectors for a green economy, could deliver on the summit objective of building a safer, more equitable, greener and more prosperous world for all.

International tourists to hit 1.8 billion by 2030

International tourist arrivals are forecast to reach 1.8 billion by 2030 according to the newly released UNWTO long-term forecast, Tourism Towards 2030. The report, presented on the occasion of the 19^th session of the UNWTO General Assembly, confirms that international tourism will continue to grow in a sustained manner in the next two decades (8-14 October 2011, Gyeongju, Republic of Korea). 

“The next 20 years will be of continued growth for the sector – a more moderate, responsible and inclusive growth,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. ”This growth offers immense possibilities as these can also be years of leadership, with tourism leading economic growth, social progress and environmental sustainability, “ he said.

Emerging economies to continue gaining market share

International arrivals in emerging economy destinations are expected to continue growing at double the pace (+4.4% year) of advanced ones (+2.2% a year). In absolute terms, the emerging economies of Asia, Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, Eastern Mediterranean Europe, the Middle East and Africa will gain an average 30 million arrivals a year, compared to 14 million in the traditional destinations of the advanced economies of North America, Europe and Asia and the Pacific.

By 2015, emerging economies will receive more international tourist arrivals than advanced economies, and by 2030 their share is expected to reach 58%.

There will be increases in the global market shares of Asia and the Pacific (to 30% in 2030, up from 22% in 2010), the Middle East (to 8% from 6%) and Africa (to 7% from 5%), and further declines in the shares of Europe (to 41% from 51%) and the Americas (to 14% from 16%), mostly due to the slower growth of North America.

By 2030, North East Asia will be the most visited subregion in the world, representing 16% of total arrivals and taking over from Southern and Mediterranean Europe, with a 15% share in 2030.

Outbound tourism to grow most in Asia and the Pacific

A large proportion of the arrivals of the next two decades will originate from the countries of Asia and the Pacific, growing at a rate of 5.0% a year and generating an average 17 million additional international arrivals every year. Europe follows with an average 16 million extra arrivals a year, resulting from a much more moderate growth rate (+2.5% a year), but on top of a much larger base. The remaining 10 million additional yearly arrivals are generated by the Americas (5 million), Africa (3 million) and the Middle East (2 million).

“Tourism Towards 2030 shows that there is still significant potential for further expansion in the coming decades. Established, as well as new destinations, can benefit from this trend and opportunity, provided they shape the appropriate conditions and policies with regard to business environment, infrastructure, facilitation, marketing and human resources,” said Mr. Rifai. “Nevertheless, alongside this opportunity, challenges will also arise in terms of maximizing tourism’s social and economic benefits while minimizing negative impacts. As such, it is more important than ever that all tourism development be guided by the principles of sustainable development”.

Revitalizing Japan’s tourism sector – UNWTO Secretary-General and WTTC President meet Japanese Prime Minister

Meeting with Japan´s Prime Minister, Yoshihiko Noda, UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, has called for the continued international support of the country’s tourism sector (4-6 October 2011, Japan).

“In the process of revitalizing Japan, tourism plays an important and indispensible role,” said the Japanese Prime Minister during his meeting with Mr Rifai.

Joined by David Scowsill, President and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), Mr. Rifai assured the Prime Minister that the two organizations would continue to transmit the message that Japan is back and stands ready to receive visitors. “Tourists face no difficulties in accommodation, transportation or any other part of their travel,” said Mr Rifai. He further stressed that this message would be conveyed at the forthcoming UNWTO General Assembly (8-14 October, Gyeongju, Korea).

“It is vital that we continue to work together to share accurate information on Japan’s recovery, provide support to those areas most affected and pass on the message that the situation has returned to normalcy in most of the areas which suffered the impact of the March earthquake,” he added.

Emphasising the importance of the sector to the Prime Minister, Mr Scowsill said, “Travel and Tourism accounts for 9 per cent of GDP globally and 7 per cent of GDP in Japan. The industry is working hard to drive the recovery process and we anticipate that business will return to normal levels in 2012”.

Following the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in March 2011, both inbound and outbound travel suffered significantly. Nevertheless, the decline in international tourism to Japan has been clearly reversing in recent months, while outbound travel returned to growth in July (departures from Japan registered a 5% increase in July and 9% growth in August compared to the same months in 2010).

During his visit, Mr. Rifai visited tsunami affected areas to observe the current state of recovery, including Sendai, the nearest major city to the earthquake, where he met with government officials, to share information and exchange views on revitalizing tourism in the Tohoku region.

In Sendai, Mr. Rifai attended the Special International Symposium on the Revitalization of Japan´s Tourism Sector and Quake Affected Regions. The Symposium, jointly organized by UNWTO, Japan Tourism Agency (JTA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, was held to aid the recovery and revitalization of tourism in the country, with debates on best practices from other earthquake affected regions, the state of tourism recovery, and lessons learned from the earthquake and tsunami. Participants recognized that the lessons learned from the Japan earthquake provide extremely valuable knowledge for other countries.

Participants, including UNWTO officials, Japanese Government representatives and the President and CEO of WTTC, issued a special message concluding that, “it is crucial to restore and increase the number of visitors to Japan, and to work toward further growth of international tourism in the Asia-Pacific region”.

During their stay in Tokyo, the two heads of the world´s leading tourism organizations also met with the Minister of Infrastructure, Land and Tourism (MILT) and other senior government officials who expressed Japan´s gratitude to UNWTO and WTTC for the great support extended to Japan following the 11 March 2011 disaster.

Countdown to World Tourism Day

With just a few days to go until World Tourism Day (27 September), UNWTO has announced the five photos and five ‘tweets’ from among the hundreds of entries submitted to the 2011 World Tourism Day (WTD) competitions that best reflect the 2011 theme, Tourism – Linking Cultures.

The winning photos, featuring Korean women celebrating India’s Holi festival and a young tourist backstage at the Chinese Opera Theater, alongside a selection of finalists, will be displayed as part of a photo exhibition in Aswan, Egypt, the host of the official WTD celebrations, while the tweets will appear on all WTD promotional materials.

“It is extraordinary how a simple photo, or just 140 characters, can highlight what makes our sector so special: its ability to link the cultures of the world,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. “We are very encouraged to see the level of participation from all around the world in these competitions. The winning entries clearly show how the millions of people travelling each day are coming into contact in ways previously unimagined”.

The winners were announced ahead of the official celebrations on 27 September, at which tourism thinkers and sector leaders will meet in Aswan, Egypt to debate tourism’s role in linking cultures and fostering dialogue, mutual understanding, respect and peace.

Speakers at the WTD Think Tank include the Minister of Tourism of Egypt, Mounir Fakhry Abdel-Nour; the Minister of Tourism of Greece, Pavlos Yeroulanos; the Chief Executive of TUI, Michael Frenzel; UNESCO’s tourism expert, Peter Debrine; the head of the Center for Peace Research and Peace Education at the University of Klagenfurt, Austria, Werner Wintersteiner; the former Minister of Tourism of Indonesia, I. Gde Ardika; founder and managing director of Songa Africa, Rosette Chantal Rugamba; and UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. The Think Tank will be moderated by CNN, the official media partner of the 2011 WTD celebrations.

World Tourism Day celebrations taking place around the world can be found on the World Tourism Day website. The photos jurors were UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, the Minister of Tourism of Egypt, Mounir Fakhry Abdel-Nour, and Anita Mendiratta from CNN Tourism Advertising Solutions and Knowledge (TASK) Group.

Congress on Ethics and Tourism opens with calls to place ethics at the core of tourism development

UNWTO conference forges closer relationship between tourism and the media

Focusing on the people behind the tourism numbers and maintaining an honest and open relationship with the media: these are among the main recommendations to emerge from discussions between media representatives and tourism officials attending the first UNWTO International Conference on Tourism and the Media (12-13 September, Zagreb, Croatia).

Under the title ‘Tourism in the Headlines’ and in partnership with the Government of Croatia and the World Federation of Travel Journalists and Writers (FIJET), the conference aimed to analyze the relationship between tourism and the media and address why, despite being one of the world’s largest economic sectors, tourism is not sufficiently featured in the political, business or financial news.

Opening the conference, Croatian Prime Minister, Jadranka Kosor, stressed the relevance of tourism as “an engine of economic growth and one of the most effective creators of new jobs,” pointing to the need to reflect this message in the media. This was further echoed by the Minister of Tourism of Croatia, Mr. Damir Bajs, who underlined the main aim of the conference: “to join forces and to try and find ways to give more media importance to such a significant global sector as tourism”.

Members of the print, digital and television media, including from CNN – the media partner of the conference – Time Magazine and Newsweek International, spoke on how to make tourism newsworthy. “The economic importance of tourism is very clear,” said CNN correspondent, Frederik Pleitgen, delivering the keynote presentation. “But, in today’s 24-hour news cycle, if tourism wants to grab attention, it needs to move from the numbers to the people, as it is the people (behind the numbers) that make a story”.

“This is a two-way relationship,” said Mr. Rifai. “The media needs to acknowledge tourism, but we also need to listen to the media, speak its language, understand its needs and provide the human stories behind the facts and figures”.

The event was also an opportunity to hone the communication skills of tourism stakeholders, with presentations and debate on the communication strategies and practical tools available for getting their messages across to the media. Communications experts encouraged destinations to be open and honest with journalists in order to get their story out in an accurate and credible way.

The over 400 participants attending issued the Zagreb Declaration on Positioning Tourism in the Media, calling for a strong working partnership between tourism stakeholders and the media. Concrete recommendations include establishing an active dialogue between tourism administrations, the private sector and the media on global tourism development; improving access to quality information; and adopting the tools and technologies of the 21^st century for communication in tourism.

During the conference, Ms. Kosor became the latest head of government to join the Global Leaders for Tourism Campaign, intended to rally support for tourism among world leaders. “Recognition among world leaders of tourism’s contribution to jobs, economic development and social empowerment is growing,” said Mr. Rifai. “We believe now is the time to do the same with the media, and this conference represents an important first step”.

Healthy growth of international tourism in first half of 2011

International tourism grew by almost 5% in the first half of 2011 totalling a new record of 440 million arrivals. Results confirm that, in spite of multiple challenges, international tourism continues to consolidate the return to growth initiated in 2010.

Joining UNWTO/WTTC global campaign, China reaffirms commitment to tourism

“The Chinese Government is increasingly conscious of the role that tourism plays in socio-economic development and will double its efforts in tourism,” said Chinese Vice-Premier, Wang Qishan, on joining the UNWTO/WTTC Global Leaders for Tourism Campaign (Beijing, China, 1 September 2011).

On behalf of the Chinese Government, Mr. Wang accepted an Open Letter stressing the importance of Travel and Tourism to global growth and development presented by UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai and WTTC Vice Chairman, Jean Claude Baumgarten.

Mr. Wang highlighted the links between tourism and international and national economic development, as well as understanding and stability worldwide, and committed China to “take an active part in the UNWTO/WTTC initiative to promote tourism around the world”.

“In 2009, China declared tourism a strategic pillar of its national economy and policy,” said Mr. Rifai. “Now in 2011, the country is once again demonstrating its commitment to put tourism at the center of economic growth and development. We are delighted that China, one of the world’s fastest growing economies and a leader in the tourism sector, has joined this campaign”.

David Scowsill, President & CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) said: “China’s commitment to tourism was underlined this year with the declaration of the National Tourism Day of China. Signing the Open Letter reiterates this long term commitment, and demonstrates China’s leadership role in the Travel & Tourism industry. WTTC has long noted the significant enthusiasm and support that the Chinese authorities provide to tourism. The government truly understands the impact on job creation and the positive economic impact that Travel & Tourism brings to global GDP”.

China received 56 million international tourists in 2010 generating US$ 46 billion in international tourism receipts. China is also the world’s third biggest source markets, with Chinese outbound tourists spending around US$ 55 billion in 2010.

High-profile speakers confirmed for Congress on Ethics and Tourism

The United Nations High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, Jorge Sampaio, the Vice President of the European Commission, Antonio Tajani, and the Ministers of Tourism of Ecuador, Italy, South Africa and Tanzania are among the speakers of the First International Congress on Ethics and Tourism (Madrid, Spain, 15-16 September). The Congress will be officially closed by Their Royal Highnesses Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Asturias.

The Congress, which will address some of the most pressing ethical issues currently facing the tourism sector, aims to evaluate the way forward for a more ethical and responsible tourism sector and secure renewed commitment to the principles of the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism.

Former President of Portugal and UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, Jorge Sampaio, will deliver the keynote address at the Congress, paving the way for two days of debates on the relationship between ethics and tourism, focusing on issues such as sustainability, gender equality, tourism’s contribution to poverty alleviation and corporate social responsibility.

Confirmed participants include the Ministers of Tourism of Ecuador, Italy, South Africa and Tanzania; leading tourism companies, including the Vice President of Meliá Hotels International, Sebastián Escarrer; representatives from UN Women, the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and the UN Global Compact; and organizations at the forefront of ethical tourism, including the Executive Director of ECPAT International,a global network for the elimination of child prostitution, child pornography and the trafficking of children for sexual purposes.

Organized by UNWTO and theSpanish General Secretariat of Tourism and Domestic Trade, the Congress will count on the presence of UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Commerce of Spain, Miguel Sebastián and Secretary-General of Tourism and Domestic Trade of Spain, Joan Mesquida.

EFE news agency and BBC World News are media partners of the Congress and BBC presenter, David Eades, will host the event.

Online toolkit set to help hotels reduce energy footprint and costs

Following three years of testing and extensive research, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and its partners have launched an online tool to help hotels evaluate their energy consumption and assist in improving their energy management and cutting costs.

Tourism Ministers to discuss how to consolidate recovery at the World Travel Market

The fifth and largest UNWTO Ministers’ Summit held in cooperation with World Travel Market will look at how the travel and tourism sector can prosper following the global downturn (London, UK, 8 November 2011).

Tourism Ministers and industry leaders attending the November 8 Summit – How Tourism Can Prosper Following the Global Downturn – will discuss and agree actions and principles the sector should take moving forward to consolidate recovery.

The 2011 UNWTO Ministers’ Summit at WTM is poised to be the biggest yet with almost 200 ministers and aides expected to attend. The debate will look at how the private and public sectors can work together to tackle current industry challenges.

Ministers and business leaders will review and debate:

-          The impact of fiscal consolidation and increased taxation in Europe

-          The effects of the developments in the MENA region on tourism

-          Consumers’ greater control of the market

-          Technology and new booking patterns, and

-          The growing importance of emerging markets

Senior industry executives will again debate with ministers how the private and public sectors can work better together. Previous industry participants include TUI Chief Executive Peter Long, Thomas Cook Chief Executive Manny Fontenla-Novoa and Co-op Travel Managing Director, Mike Greenacre.

World Travel Market Chairman, Fiona Jeffery said: “I am very much looking forward to this year’s Ministers’ Summit. The summit is now in its fifth year and has been a great success with each one attracting more and more ministers. The 2011 edition is poised to be the biggest yet with almost 200 ministers and aides in attendance discussing the key issues to help the industry consolidate following the global downturn”.

“The UNWTO Ministers’ Summit at the World Travel Market is a key moment for us. It constitutes a unique platform for debate between the ministers of tourism and between the public and the private sector,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. “We are extremely pleased at our long standing relationship with the World Travel Market which has been decisive in making this event a success,” he added.

For more information on the World Travel Market’s Ministerial Programme 2011 please visit www.wtmlondon.com/ministers .

UNWTO and Spain announce major conference on ethics and tourism

UNWTO and Spain have come together to organize the First International Congress on Ethics and Tourism, to address some of the most pressing ethical issues currently facing the tourism sector (15-16 September, Madrid, Spain).

As one of the largest economic sectors in the world, tourism creates jobs and wealth for millions, but can also pose serious challenges. Against this background, the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism – a set of guidelines and principles for the international tourism sector – was designed to minimize any negative impacts of tourism activity on destinations and host communities.

The Code of Ethics will set the tone for the debates at the upcoming International Congress on Ethics and Tourism, with sessions focusing on responsible tourism, fair tourism and poverty reduction, equality and exploitation. The role of the private sector in responsible and sustainable tourism will also be addressed, with a session on corporate social responsibility featuring leading tourism companies.

“The Spanish Council of Ministers has officially accepted the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and is committed to disseminating it among the public and private tourism sectors. In order for its impact to be as wide-reaching and international as possible, we are collaborating with UNWTO to fully achieve our objectives,” said Spain’s Secretary-General of Tourism and Domestic Trade, Joan Mesquida.

“We are extremely happy to be partnering with Spain to organize this landmark event. It will open an important debate on issues which are key to achieving a more sustainable and responsible tourism sector; a sector investing in green practises, gender equality and ethical behaviour,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.

The Congress will be attended by leading figures representing the international community, ethics experts and members of the tourism public and private sectors including Michela Brambilla, the Minister of Tourism of Italy, which hosts the World Committee on Tourism Ethics. The Congress will count on the support and participation of the European Commission and will be officially closed by members of the Spanish Royal family.

Tourism in the Headlines: UNWTO conference looks to place tourism in the news

The first international conference dedicated exclusively to the relationship between tourism and the media is to be held by UNWTO and Croatia under the title Tourism in the Headlines (12-13 September, Zagreb, Croatia).

The conference will address why, despite being one of the world’s largest and fastest growing economic sectors, tourism rarely makes the headlines or the economic pages of newspapers. Globally, as an export category, tourism ranks fourth after fuels, chemicals and the automotive industry, yet its economic and development relevance is often overlooked by the media.

The conference aims to improve the extent and accuracy of tourism coverage; a highly image-sensitive sector in which negative press and sensational stories can mean the loss of livelihoods. Counting on the presence of top communications experts, it will also be an opportunity for tourism communicators to learn of the tools and strategies available for getting their story across.

Organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism of Croatia, and featuring CNN as global media partner, Tourism in the Headlines will bring together members of the global media, the specialized travel media, communication officials from tourism administrations and communications experts from around the world.

International tourism maintains momentum despite challenges

International tourist arrivals grew by 4.5% in the first four months of 2011, despite new challenges emerging since the beginning of the year. According to the latest issue of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, growth was positive in all regions with the exception of the Middle East. Some subregions achieved double-digit growth: South America (+17%), South Asia (+14%) and South-East Asia (+10%).

“Global tourism continues to consolidate the recovery of 2010 despite the impact of recent developments in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as the tragic events in Japan, which are temporarily affecting travel flows to these regions. We should nonetheless remain vigilant as we face other persisting uncertainties such as high unemployment and increased public austerity measures,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.

UNWTO expects that destinations currently facing difficulties will see demand recover towards the end of the year. “It is time to support those destinations and help their tourism sectors to rebound, contributing to overall economic and social stability and progress,” Mr. Rifai added.

Short-term prospects remain largely favorable, as reflected in the UNWTO Confidence Index based on a survey among the UNWTO Panel of Experts. In spite of the changed circumstances, the over 350 participating experts worldwide maintain a positive outlook for the period May-August.

Europe leading tourism growth

Between January and April 2011 destinations worldwide recorded 268 million international tourist arrivals, some 12 million more compared to the 256 million registered in the same period in 2010.

April was the strongest month with an estimated increase of 6%. This reflects a late Easter holiday and contrasts with the weak April of 2010 when European airspace was closed for nearly a week due to the ash cloud following the eruption of a volcano in Iceland. January (+6%) was also strong, while February and March were comparatively weaker (both at around 3%).

Europe exceeded expectations (+6%) and posted the highest growth in the first four months of 2011. Results reflect a delayed recovery in various European destinations and source markets, the late Easter holiday and the compensation for the negative month of April 2010, affected by the volcanic ash cloud. Destinations in Northern, Eastern and Southern Europe performed particularly well.

Growth in Asia and the Pacific (+5%) was in line with the world average, but slightly below previous prospects. Asia, and in particular North-East Asia, suffered the impact of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan which affected both its inbound and outbound travel as well as intra-regional travel from other markets.

In the Americas, international tourist arrivals increased by 5%, driven by the strong results of South America, which contrasted with the below average growth of North and Central American destinations.

The Middle East (-14%) and North Africa (-11%) have been considerably affected by recent developments. Nonetheless, some destinations in the Middle East have shown particularly positive results, such as Saudi Arabia and Dubai (United Arab Emirates), demonstrating the dynamism of the sector in the region. Within Africa (+2%), arrivals to Sub-Saharan Africa (+8%) stand out.

Positive outlook for the remainder of the year

As the peak tourist season gets underway in the northern hemisphere, short-term prospects remain positive. This is reflected in the UNWTO Confidence Index, a short-term outlook based on consultations with over 350 experts worldwide, which remains largely optimistic for the period May-August 2011.

There are however marked differences in the confidence levels for different world regions, with experts in the Americas and Europe anticipating the best outcomes. Confidence remains high in Africa, but lower than might have been expected in Asia and the Pacific. Experts in the Middle East are the least optimistic.

“The sustained optimism shown by the UNWTO Confidence Index is reassuring, especially as we still face many factors which could dampen growth. While global economic prospects indicate an improved second half of the year, UNWTO remains alert to social instability in certain parts of the world, volatile oil prices and concerns over fiscal stability in the USA and Europe,” said Mr. Rifai.

UNWTO maintains its forecast for international tourist arrivals in 2011 at between 4% and 5%, slightly above the long-term average and in line with previous assessments. The developments in the Middle East, North Africa and Japan are not expected to significantly alter the global forecast.

Relevant links:

UNWTO World Tourism Barometer: www.unwto.org/facts/eng/barometer.htm

UNWTO has just released its UNWTO Tourism Highlights, 2011 edition, which is available online at http://mkt.unwto.org/en/content/tourism-highlights

Joining the UNWTO/WTTC Global Leaders for Tourism Campaign, President Mwai Kibaki recognized tourism as “a great opportunity to learn from one another and share different traditions and cultures” (Nairobi, Kenya, 23 June).

“We see and value tourism as one of the greatest avenues through which the people of the world are able to sample the varied cultures and natural attributes that are to be found globally,” said President Kibaki on receiving an Open Letter from UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, and WTTC President and CEO, David Scowsill, on the importance of Travel & Tourism to sustainable and inclusive growth and development.

“Kenya will continue to be at the forefront in supporting this industry that is helping in alleviating poverty, creating employment and other opportunities for people in our country and around the world,” the President added.

The President’s message was echoed by the Minister of Tourism of Kenya, Najib Balala. “Tourism can bring tolerance and understanding among different cultures and can contribute to a better living standard,” he said.

“The 1.5 million international tourists that visited Kenya in 2010 generated US$ 700 million for the country’s economy,” said Mr. Rifai. “This revenue translates into income, jobs, roads, hospitals, schools and countless other benefits which particularly reach the poorest segments of the population”.

Mr. Scowsill said “Kenya has made huge strides in attracting tourists to the country where the sector now employs 10% of the work force. Further investment is now needed to continue advancing this critical industry in Kenya – both marketing funds from the government and hotel infrastructure investment from the private sector”.

Mr. Scowsill urged President Kibaki to take a leadership role with other East African countries to champion more open access for airlines, common visas and joint marketing. “There is going to be an increasing demand from tourists for multi-country travel in Africa, and now is the time to lay the groundwork to make this happen”.

Through the Global Leaders for Tourism Campaign, UNWTO and WTTC are jointly presenting heads of state and government around the world an Open Letter which calls on them to acknowledge tourism’s key role in delivering more sustained and balanced growth and to prioritize the sector high in national policies in order to maximize its potential. The Open Letter outlines Travel & Tourism’s value as one of the world’s largest generators of jobs, a powerful driver of socio-economic growth and development and a key player in the transformation to the Green Economy.

The Campaign has already received the support of the Presidents of Mexico, South Africa, Kazakhstan, Hungary, Burkina Faso and Indonesia.

UNWTO Executive Council endorses efforts to better position tourism in the global agenda

UNWTO Member States attending the 90^th Session of the UNWTO Executive Council have expressed their support for UNWTO’s activities aimed at positing tourism higher in the global political and economic agenda (19-21 June, Mombasa, Kenya).

Chaired by the Minister of Tourism of Italy, Michela Brambilla, the 31 council members, representing UNWTO’s full membership worldwide, welcomed the ‘Global Leaders for Tourism Campaign’ which, together with the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), is promoting the socio-economic importance of tourism to heads of states and governments around the world.

Against this background, Ms. Brambilla, stressed her support for “UNWTO’s efforts to improve tourism communications to the wider public,” and underscored “mainstreaming tourism through awareness raising” as an “ongoing challenge”.

The state of international tourism

In his report to the Executive Council, UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, confirmed that while recovery in international tourism is underway, significant challenges remain. “Vigilance is still a must in the face of persisting uncertainties, such as high unemployment and increased public austerity. Today we must add the implications of the political shifts in the Middle East and North Africa and the tragic events in Japan and their impact on tourism,” he said.

UNWTO expects international arrivals to grow by 4% in 2011, slightly above the long-term average. The situation in the Middle East and North Africa, which is temporarily affecting travel flows, as well as the events in Japan, are not expected to significantly affect the global forecast.

Future UNWTO initiatives

The Council furthermore welcomed the UNWTO study ‘Tourism Towards 2030′ which will provide forecasts for international tourism up to 2030, updating the existing long-term study ‘Tourism Vision 2020′. The main findings will be presented at the upcoming UNWTO General Assembly (8-14 October, Gyeongju, South Korea), and will constitute the main theme for the general debate at the Assembly.

The UNWTO Executive Council also endorsed the progress of the ‘UNWTO Working Group on the Protection of Tourists/Consumers’, which is focusing on the harmonization of issues directly linked with the rights and obligations of tourists and stakeholders.

President Yudhoyono of Indonesia: first Asian head of state to join UNWTO/WTTC global campaign

The President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has become the first Asian head of state to join the ongoing World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Leaders for Tourism Campaign.

“Today, tourism plays a significant role not only in the preservation of cultural values, but also in increasing people’s welfare,” said President Yudhoyono. “Tourism has provided job opportunities for millions of people across the globe; is one of leading exports of developing countries; and is a key stimulus in the transformation to a green economy”.

As part of the Global Leaders for Tourism Campaign, UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, presented the Indonesian President with an Open Letter setting out the economic, development and environmental opportunities offered by tourism.

“We are delighted that Indonesia has joined this important campaign to raise international awareness of the relevance of travel and tourism,” said Mr. Rifai. “In doing so, Indonesia is sending out a strong message that it recognizes tourism’s potential as a force for development”.

Accepting the Letter, President Yudhoyono expressed the willingness of Indonesia – with 7 million international tourists and US$7 billion in receipts in 2010 – to capitalize on the “increasingly important role of tourism”.

“The importance of Travel & Tourism as a driver of Indonesia’s economy is clear. Over the next ten years, Travel & Tourism’s contribution to the country’s GDP is expected to grow by nearly 6% per year,” said David Scowsill, President and CEO, WTTC.

“The strong message of support for the industry embodied in today’s acceptance of the Open Letter shows the government’s commitment to realizing Travel & Tourism’s potential to create jobs, generate exports and stimulate investment”.

Through the Global Leaders for Tourism Campaign, UNWTO and WTTC are jointly presenting heads of state and government around the world an Open Letter which calls on them to acknowledge tourism’s key role in delivering on sustained and balanced growth and to prioritize the sector high in national policies in order to maximize its potential. The Open Letter outlines Travel and Tourism’s value as one of the world’s largest generators of sustainable enterprises and decent jobs, a powerful driver of socio-economic growth and development and a key player in the transformation to the Green Economy.

The Campaign has already received the support of the Presidents of Mexico, South Africa, Kazakhstan, and Hungary.

Relevant links:

Open Letter to Heads of State and Government: http://leadersfortourism.unwto.org/sites/all/files/docpdf/finalgoldenbookopenlettertext.pdf

Further Information on the Joint Campaign: http://www.unwto.org/pdf/More_information_campaign.pdf

Tourism – Linking Cultures: UNWTO launches World Tourism Day 2011

Local communities to secure bigger benefits from tourism

Ensuring that the social and economic benefits of tourism reach local communities was at the heart of the first ‘UNWTO Seminar on Tourism Ethics for Asia and the Pacific: Responsible Tourism and its Socio-Economic Impact on Local Communities’. The Seminar took place in parallel with the 10th meeting of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics (12-13 June, Bali, Indonesia).

Tourism has proven one of the most effective means to drive job creation and economic development in local communities. The sector contributes to not only wealth creation, but also increases access to essential services such as water, sanitation, telecommunications and transport. When not properly managed, however, the positive benefits of tourism run the risk of bypassing local residents.

The first UNWTO Seminar on Tourism Ethics for Asia and the Pacific highlighted some of the leading regional examples of tourism development which is respectful and inclusive of local communities. Best practices from Australia to Vanuatu were presented, alongside debates on some of the most pressing issues in tourism ethics and responsible tourism. The Spirit of Bali Statement adopted by the over 150 participants summarizes the main conclusions of the debate and pledges all stakeholders to work together to achieve the proposed recommendations.

The Seminar took place within the framework of the 10th meeting of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics – responsible for promoting and monitoring the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism. In Bali, the Committee analyzed a wide array of ethical issues, many for the first time, including the impact of recent events in the Middle East and North Africa on tourism in these countries as well as in neighbouring destinations, the relationship between human rights and tourism, the voice of civil society in tourism planning and management processes, the economic empowerment of women through tourism, and accessible tourism for all, in particular for persons with disabilities.

In light of last year’s travel disruptions caused by the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud and the recent eruption of the Chilean volcano, the Committee placed special attention on the issue of tourist/consumer protection. Given the current lack of information and assistance afforded to stranded travellers in crisis situations, the Committee decided to support and assist UNWTO in the preparation of an international legal instrument in this area.

International conference to spotlight the regional impact of tourism

Issues of special importance to regional tourism, including how to analyze tourism flows and maximize their economic impact, will be presented at the 2nd International Conference on the Measurement and Economic Analysis of Regional Tourism (27-29 October, Bilbao, Spain).

The Conference aims to promote more informed and effective policy design at the regional level, through research on economic impacts and territorial relations, as well as the application of new technologies for the measurement of tourism flows. It thus serves as an important forum for knowledge exchange among all tourism sector academics, professionals, enterprises and institutions involved with regional/local tourism destinations.

The central themes of the Conference are:

1. Policy-making for Seizing the Economic Potential of Tourism Destinations

2. New Technologies and Innovation: Empowering Regional Tourism Stakeholders

3. Linking Regional Economics, Mobility and Tourism in Applied Research

The Conference is being co-organized by UNWTO, the General Secretariat of Tourism and Domestic Trade of Spain and the Department of Industry, Innovation, Trade and Tourism of the Basque Autonomous Community through the Basque Tourism Agency (Basquetour).

Relevant links:

2nd International Conference on the Measurement and Economic Analysis of Regional Tourism: http://www.inroutenetwork.org/conference

UNWTO Statistics and Tourism Satellite Account Programme: http://statistics.unwto.org/en

UNWTO launches new energy efficiency project in Indonesia

UNWTO and the Indonesian Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MoCT) have launched a new energy efficiency project in Indonesia. The project, “Sustainable Tourism through Energy Efficiency with Adaptation and Mitigation Measures in Pangandaran” (STREAM), aims to serve as a model of innovative climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in tourism destinations in Indonesia and South-East Asia.

The project will implement climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in Pangandaran – a popular tourism destination in Java, Indonesia – adopting an energy efficiency approach, while strengthening local structures for the long-term success of the destination. Measures include seminars and workshops to increase the knowledge and capacity of local tourism stakeholders; applying energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies in hotels and public buildings; low-carbon tourism planning tools; and adaptation measures such as the rehabilitation of mangroves and coral reefs which naturally capture and store carbon emissions.

As such, the project will significantly increase the climate change resilience of Pangandaran and the competitiveness of its tourism sector, thereby serving as a model for other destinations in Indonesia and South-East Asia.

“This project is a clear example that the tourism sector is taking its responsibility to contribute to the reduction of global greenhouse gases emission and climate change adaptation seriously”, said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.

The Indonesian Minister of Culture and Tourism, Jero Wacik, stressed the importance of local initiatives as a step towards national policy on climate change mitigation, adaptation and tourism development. “We are happy to cooperate with UNWTO in this project as its activities represent strategic development steps for Indonesia and its tourism sector, in line with our four-pronged strategy – pro-growth, pro-job, pro-poor, and pro-environment”, he said.

The “Sustainable Tourism through Energy Efficiency with Adaptation and Mitigation Measures in Pangandaran” project is part of the International Climate Initiative of the German Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.

The official presentation was held in Jakarta, Indonesia, at an event attended by the UNWTO Secretary-General, the Indonesian Minister of Culture and Tourism, representatives from other Ministries, representatives from the West Java province and the Ciamis district, and tourism associations. The event coincided with the presence in Jakarta of the UNWTO Secretary-General to participate in the World Economic Forum on East Asia 2011.

UN Women’s head commends tourism as engine for gender equality

On her first visit to Spain as Executive Director of UN Women, Michelle Bachelet visited UNWTO headquarters in Madrid to strengthen collaboration between the two UN bodies in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in the tourism sector.

Meeting with UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, Ms. Bachelet underlined the value of tourism as an economic sector that provides work, prosperity and wellbeing for millions of women, particularly in developing regions. UN Women would continue to promote the importance of tourism for the third UN Millennium Development Goal, Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, she said, “focusing on rural women and the youngest generations”.

“Tourism presents immense opportunities for women’s employment and income-generation, setting the foundations for poverty reduction and local economic development,” said Mr. Rifai. “For these opportunities to be realized, tourism activities must respect the principle of gender equality, as set out in the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism”.

UN Women (formerly UNIFEM), works with public institutions and private companies around the world, including in the tourism sector, in promoting the Women Empowerment Principles, offering guidance for businesses on how to empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community.

UNWTO and UN Women, work closely to bring gender issues to the forefront of tourism and highlight the opportunities the sector offers to advance the issue of gender globally. Earlier this year, the two UN agencies released the first ‘Global Report on Women in Tourism’ in which tourism is identified as a sector providing important economic empowerment and leadership opportunities for women. It nevertheless alerts to the need to work more to attain equality, as women are often “concentrated in low-skill, low-paid and precarious jobs” and typically earn “10% to 15% less than their male counterparts”.

International community to back tourism development in West African Parks

International development banks, UN agencies and intergovernmental organizations have pledged to support the sustainable development of tourism in a network of parks spanning ten countries in West Africa. Commitments to the West Africa Parks Project came out of a UNWTO Donor’s Conference held in Dakar, Senegal (27-28 May 2011), chaired by the Prime Minister of Senegal, Souleymane Ndéné Ndiaye, and attended by Ministers of Tourism of West African countries.

“Today, major international organizations have pinpointed tourism as one of the most effective tools for Africa’s economic growth and development,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, opening the Conference. “With their support, sustainable tourism can flourish, generating jobs and income for local communities, while protecting the region’s rich biodiversity”.

The West Africa Parks Project brings together ten West African countries – Benin, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Sierra Leone – sharing a network of parks and protected areas, to ensure means for its conservation and jointly promote the region as a tourism destination.

Participants at the Donors’ Conference included the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB); both of which made concrete commitments to the project. The UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the French Cooperation Agency (Coopération française) and the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), which funded the initial feasibility study, pledged to support the project through funds and/or technical expertise.

Recommendations coming out of the Conference praised the project as a vehicle for “sub-regional economic integration” and called on the governments and managers of the parks and protected areas to involve local communities in its implementation. It was also recommended that private sector participation in developing the common area be strengthened.

Tourism key to the economic recovery of Egypt

As the leading foreign exchange earner and representing one in every seven jobs, tourism is a crucial factor in Egypt’s economic recovery, stressed the Prime Minister of Egypt, Essam Sharaf, during an official visit of UNWTO Secretary General, Taleb Rifai, and President and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council, David Scowsill, to the country (Cairo, Egypt, 29 May). Meeting with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Tourism, Mounir Fakhri Abdel-Nour, as well as other public and private tourism representatives, Mr. Rifai and Mr. Scowsill expressed the commitment of the international tourism community to support the sector as a key component of Egypt’s transition.

Prime Minister Sharaf confirmed the strategic importance of tourism for the country’s economic recovery and social stability, especially in the current transition period. “We appreciate your visit and support; tourism is a critical activity for Egypt,” he said. “This is a time for action which will help us get through the current bottleneck; the more we do together, the better,” he added.

“International tourists are slowly beginning to return to Egypt. The sector is a lifeline for our economy and in 2010 accounted for 11.5% of our GDP and US$ 13 billion in revenues. We count on UNWTO and WTTC for the right advice and support,” said the Minister of Tourism, Mounir Fakhri Abdel-Nour.

Mr. Rifai praised the high political support shown for tourism; the principal foreign exchange earner and a leading job creator in Egypt. “Tourism is clearly seen as a national priority involving all areas of public policy and thus can be a major contributor to consolidate the transition,” he said. “Moreover, throughout my visit it has been very clear that the Egyptian tourism sector is fully operational and ready to receive visitors,” he added.

Mr. Scowsill also highlighted the importance of close collaboration between global public and private tourism players, along with the need to clearly communicate the stability in the country. “Egyptian tourism has recovered quickly from setbacks in the past, and it is good to see that visitors are now coming back. Given the current difficulties in the region, it is important for the industry to get a clear message out that the new Egypt is stable and open for business,” he said.

In his meetings with tourism stakeholders, Mr. Rifai underscored the importance of the backing of the international community to Egypt, both politically and financially, as witnessed by the recent announcements of the G8 and the World Bank to commit substantial funds for the country. “Egypt is not only the leading tourism destination in the region, but also a central piece for its political and economic stability,” he said.

President Schmitt of Hungary: supporting tourism through UNWTO/WTTC campaign

UN agencies commit to make tourism work for development

Tourism is one of the top three sources of export earnings for nearly half of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and is a priority sector for their further integration in the global economy. The contribution of tourism in advancing development was addressed during a Special Event on Tourism for Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction organized by the recently created UN Steering Committee on Tourism for Development (SCTD), during a major UN conference on LDCs (Istanbul, Turkey, 10 May 2011).

The potential of tourism in contributing to lift people out of poverty is increasingly acknowledged and is supported by the growing relevance of the sector for poor countries. International tourist arrivals in the 48 LDCs grew from 6 million in 2000 to over 17 million in 2010. In the same period, international tourism receipts climbed from US$ 3 billion to over US$ 10 billion.

“Most LDCs are rich in resources. All have young and vibrant populations. These men and women need decent jobs, education, training, so they can make the most of their country’s assets – minerals and other commodities, farmland, rich stores of biodiversity and tourism potential”, said UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, opening the Fourth UN Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC-IV).

“UNWTO is extremely pleased to have tourism playing an active role for the first time in such an important event as LDC-IV”, said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. “In spite of tourism’s proven contribution to foreign exchange generation, job creation and socio-economic development, low priority has so far been assigned to the sector in the development agenda. This is particularly surprising given that tourism has been clearly identified by developing countries themselves as a priority for their economic advancement”, he added.

In his remarks, the Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Supachai Panitchpakdi, emphasized the critical importance of quality in the development of a competitive tourism sector in LDCs, including the quality of investment, infrastructure and human resources. “The LDCs should aim at the quality segment in the global value chain and, as the Maldives successfully demonstrated, focus on excellence in the tourism product”, said Mr. Panitchpakdi.

Tourism for development

The Special Event on Tourism for Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction brought together representatives from LDCs, including 15 Ministers of Tourism, various UN agencies and donor countries to debate the contribution of tourism to sustainable development. The gathering, which is the first public appearance of the UN Steering Committee on Tourism for Development, reflects the increasing relevance of tourism in the development agenda and represents a clear commitment of the UN system in making tourism work for development.

The Committee outlined the support and technical cooperation that can be provided to LDCs by the UN agencies and programmes on an individual and joint basis. The Services are built around four pillars: building good governance and sustainability in tourism development; promoting investment in the tourism economy; fostering the poverty reduction impact of tourism; and encouraging human resources development, and will contribute to the preservation and safeguarding of natural and cultural assets that form the basis of tourism in LDCs.

The event was hosted by the UNWTO Secretary-General on behalf of the Committee, together with the Minister of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Ertugrul Günay. The debate session was moderated by BBC World News anchor, David Eades.