PR No.: PR 17074
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), together with the Ministry of Tourism of El Salvador and the Honduran Institute of Tourism, jointly held the 61st Meeting of the UNWTO Regional Commission for the Americas. The meeting, which took place in San Salvador and Roatán on 30 and 31 May 2017, respectively, culminated in an international seminar on new technologies applied to tourism on 1 June 2017.
The meeting of UNWTO Regional Commission for the Americas (CAM) was held for the first time in two locations—in the Salvadoran capital and in Roatán, Honduras—and was attended by 20 delegations from Member States, 13 Affiliate Members and regional bodies.
In a region clearly differentiated by its natural heritage, the observance of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017 was present in the debates. The majority of the Member States noted the importance of including sustainability in sectoral policies as a key area, going beyond the global campaign of the International Year.
Countries such as Colombia and Nicaragua expressed their interest in expanding the social dimension entailed by the concept of sustainability, as well as its application to identity and culture, to convert sustainability into added value for its tourism sector. For its part, Costa Rica, a pioneering Member State in its commitment to sustainable tourism, pointed out the importance of working on sustainability from within the educational system and in the family milieu, emphasizing the need to involve the media.
The relationship between sustainability and new technologies was the main theme of the International Seminar held after the Regional Commission. Around 120 participants, both international and local, addressed the current trends in this discipline, especially with regard to Big Data and new platforms of tourism services.
The value of the International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories, one of the main initiatives of the UNWTO in assessing the impact of the sector, was one of the points that generated the most agreement at the Regional Meeting.
“We are in a region that presents a multitude of good practices related to sustainable tourism that can be beneficial in other areas of the world,” commented UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai. The Secretary-General of the Organization, who met with the President of El Salvador, Salvador Sánchez Cerén, received during his visit the Great Gold Plate Cross of the Order of José Simeón Cañas, Liberator of Slaves. The Government of Honduras also decorated UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai with as Grand Officer of the Order of Francisco Morazán.
The 62nd meeting of the CAM will be held in Chengdu, China, on 12 September 2017 in the framework of the 22nd UNWTO General Assembly.
Additional information:
Contacts:
UNWTO Media Officer Rut Gomez Sobrino
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60 / rgomez@unwto.org
UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme
Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218 / comm@UNWTO.org
PR No.: PR 17073
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and CENFOTUR, the official training center of the Ministry of Tourism in Peru have signed a cooperation agreement to develop a report ‘Talent Development – Key for Destination Competitiveness.” The report will offer an extensive analysis of the importance of capacity building as a determining factor in the success of tourism destinations, with a special focus on Latin America and Peru.
Created in 1978, CENFOTUR is a UNWTO Affiliate Member. The extensive research conducted by CENFOTUR will include an assessment of the diverse educational models, the challenges faced in the labor market as well as the needs expressed by the private sector.
The publication will also incorporate a number of best practices in talent development in tourism, providing a useful set of guidelines for tourism leaders interested in implementing policies to foster talent development and, accordingly, increase the competiveness of their destinations.
The joint initiative is part of the UNWTO Knowledge Network that aims at advancing knowledge in talent development in the tourism sector.
Additional information:
About CENFOTUR
As part of the Ministry of Tourism, CENFOTUR is the official training center of the tourism and hospitality sector in Peru. Created in 1978, it counts with national and international recognition in the education, training and continuing education through effective programs and short and medium term demand-driven training courses. CENFOTUR offers four Educational Programs, which are: Hospitality Management, Tourism Management, Official Tourism Guides and Peruvian Cuisine. In addition to these educational programs, CENFOTUR works very closely with all public organizations and Ministries in Peru, designing and executing training and counseling on labor certification (In collaboration with the Ministry of Labour) and quality programs in tourism in the frame of the National Strategic Tourism Plan. CENFOTUR also takes part in projects sponsored by the European Union and the Inter-American Development Bank.
Useful links:
Knowledge Network, Issue Paper Series, Volume I, Issue 1: “Growth of Chinese Tourists to Hong Kong, China, 2002 to 2014 - Implications and Way Forward”. Download for free
More information on the Knowledge Network Review Series
More information on the Affiliate Members Publications
Contacts:
UNWTO Media Officer Rut Gomez Sobrino
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60 / rgomez@unwto.org
UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme
Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218 / comm@UNWTO.org
With twenty-six participants from Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Jamaica, St.Kitts, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Turks and Caicos and Saint Lucia, the UNWTO/CTO Workshop in Saint Lucia on “Sustainable Tourism Destination Management & Marketing” , organized by the World Tourism Organization, its UNWTO.Themis Foundation and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) in collaboration with Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), was closed on 31 March by Sharon Banfield-Bovell, Regional Human Resource Development Consultant, Caribbean Tourism Organization, Alba Fernández Alonso, Course Coordinator, UNWTO.Themis Foundation and Samantha Charles, Tourism Officer, Ministry of Tourism, Information and Broadcasting of St.Lucia with presence of participants and the facilitators.
The UNWTO/CTO Workshop in Saint Lucia on Sustainable Tourism Destination Management & Marketing, organized by the World Tourism Organization, its UNWTO.Themis Foundation and the Caribbean Tourism Ogranization (CTO) in collaboration with Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), was inaugurated on 27th March by Mr. Hugh Riley, Secretary General & Chief Executive Officer, Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Ms. Alba Fernandez Alonso, UNWTO.Themis Foundation Course Coordinator, Hon. Dominic Fedee, Minister of Tourism, Information & Broadcasting, Ministry of Tourism, Information & Broadcasting and the facilitators of the workshop, Ms. Kathleen Pessolano and Mr. Jonathon Day.
This Capacity building workshop is designed for representatives of Destination Management Organisations involved in destination planning; product development; marketing and branding; research and information management; resource stewardship; visitor experience management; human resource development; destination & site operations; and policy-making. It is also aimed at tourism decision-makers and practitioners as well as owners and operators of tourism businesses.
The training initiative has a theoretical-practical workshop, adopting a fact-driven approach, by presenting state-of-the-art theory through the analysis of real-life case examples and in-class activities, tailored on participants’ knowledge and objectives. The modular structure adopted is conducive of a highly interactive learning experience that blends presentations, case studies, discussions, debates and practical activities.
