Captains Regent of San Marino receive UNWTO/WTTC Open Letter on Travel and Tourism
PR No.: PR12057
The Captains Regent (heads of state) of the Republic of San Marino, Mr. Teodoro Lonfernini and Ms. Denise Bronzetti, have received the UNWTO / World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Open Letter on Travel and Tourism which aims to rally support for tourism among world leaders (City of San Marino, Republic of San Marino, 1 October 2012).
Congratulating UNWTO and WTTC on the initiative, which to date counts of the participation of 38 heads of state and government, the Captains Regent applauded both organizations for “bringing tourism back to the centre of attention on account of its economic, cultural and social values.”
“We assure you that we and the San Marino Government will pay the utmost attention to this campaign given the great importance we attach to tourism in our economy. Indeed, every year we host two million visitors in our small country,” said the Captains Regent.
On an official visit to San Marino, UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, presented the UNWTO/WTTC Open Letter on the importance of Travel & Tourism in facing current economic and social challenges to the Captains Regent, on what was their first audience following their swearing-in the previous day. Addressing the Captains Regent, Mr. Rifai spoke of the importance of garnering support for tourism at the highest levels of government.
“By presenting the Open Letter on Travel & Tourism to heads of state and government, UNWTO and WTTC are encouraging world leaders to back tourism as a sector that can deliver on some of the major challenges of our time, including economic growth, employment and inclusive development. Given that over 10% of its population is employed in tourism, San Marino is well aware of tourism’s huge potential,” said Mr. Rifai.
WTTC President & CEO, David Scowsill, said “San Marino has been welcoming tourists for centuries to experience a history that goes back over two thousand years. Today, its attractions such as Borgo Maggiore and the world-famous Moto GP Grand Prix, bring some two million tourists every year to the Republic. With a total population of about 33,000, the value of Travel & Tourism is absolutely understood by the Government.”
Contacts:
UNWTO Principal Media Officer: Marcelo Risi
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60
UNWTO.org
WTTC Communications Director: Toby Nicol
Tel: (+44 ) 207481 6483
toby.nicol @ wttc.org
