UNWTO and the Inter-American Development Bank partner to strengthen tourism development in Latin America and the Caribbean

PR No.: PR11035

UNWTO and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) deepen their cooperation on tourism development in Latin America and the Caribbean. Joint activities focus on improving the measurement of tourism, strengthening governance and promoting investment in the region.

The cooperation program, which will run until the end of 2012, got underway with a Workshop on Tourism Statistics for the Southern Cone Countries held in Montevideo in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism of Uruguay (11-15 April 2011). With the participation of representatives from tourism administrations, national statistics offices and central banks, the workshop represents an important step towards increased coordination in tourism measurement.

The statistics component of the program aims to reinforce governance and tourism policy in Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Chile by providing reliable and harmonized tourism indicators and data. The project is part of both organizations’ objectives of improving national tourism statistics systems and accelerating regional integration. The statistics component further includes the development of a Regional Tourism Observatory.

In the area of tourism governance, UNWTO and the IDB will collaborate to set out a framework for tourism governance at national and regional level. Special attention will be given to tourism promotion organizations.

The third activity is focused on the promotion of direct private investment, as well as on public investment strategies. Research will be carried out on the key factors driving private investment decisions including legislation, fiscal policy, credit lines, warrants, administrative procedures and capital movement. In the area of public investment, UNWTO and the IDB will focus on the transversal character of tourism and the fact that most investment decisions which impact the sector are taken by multiple areas of government.

The cooperation program between UNWTO and the IDB aims to contribute to the process of economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean through tourism. The sector is one of the largest and fastest growing in the region, and plays a critical role in creating jobs, providing foreign currency and generating and distributing wealth.

In 2010, Latin American and Caribbean destinations received around 74 million international tourist arrivals. In 2009, tourism to the region generated just over US$ 58 billion in international tourism receipts.

Relevant links:

UNWTO

UNWTO Tourism and Economic Measurement of Tourism

UNWTO Regional Seminar on Tourism Investment in the Americas

IDB

IDB and Tourism

IDB Office of Outreach and Partnerships

For more information at IDB contact

UNWTO contacts:

Principal Media Officer: Marcelo Risi
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60
mrisi@UNWTO.org – www.UNWTO.org

IDB contacts:

Christina MacCulloch
IDB Senior Communication Specialist
christinam@iadb.org
Tel: 1 (202) 623-1718I

The Américas during FITUR's Week

Signature of the "Golden Book" of Travel and Tourism. Mexico City, Mexico. 28 February 2011

President Calderón of Mexico first to join UNWTO/WTTC global campaign on the value of travel and tourism

Mexico City, Mexico, 01 March 2011

The President of Mexico, Felipe Calderón, has become the first head of state to join the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) joint campaign highlighting the importance of travel and tourism to global growth and development.

President Calderón was presented an Open Letter by UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai and WTTC President and CEO, David Scowsill, outlining travel and tourism’s position 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.

“For Mexico, tourism is a national priority and a political priority. It is an essential activity for promoting growth and raising living standards,” said President Calderón. “The sector is also key for promoting the regional development we seek and for doing so sustainably.”

On receiving the Open Letter, President Calderón spoke of the honor of being the first head of state to join the campaign and taking the first page of the tourism “Golden Book”. He said the country would “respond to such an honor” by making Mexico “a privileged destination for international tourism”.

UNWTO and WTTC are jointly presenting the Open Letter to heads of state and government around the world, calling on political leaders to acknowledge tourism’s role in facing global challenges and prioritize the sector high in national policies in order to maximize its potential to deliver on sustained and balanced growth.

“Despite tourism’s proven capacity to advance sustainable development, the sector still lacks the recognition it deserves around decision-making tables,” said Mr. Rifai. “Meeting with President Calderón today represents an important first step in raising awareness of tourism’s role among world leaders so that they draw on the sector when addressing the multiple challenges we face”.

“President Calderón is leading the way in recognizing the enormous contribution Travel & Tourism makes to the economy and its power to boost GDP, employment and exports, and drive economic growth,” said Mr. Scowsill. “His willingness to join the industry in exploring new and smarter ways to help tourism achieve its full potential sends a clear signal to other governments around the world.”

2011 has been declared the Year of Tourism in Mexico and President Calderón has called for a united effort across all government ministries and departments to promote the sector. The Letter was presented on the occasion of the signing of the National Agenda for Tourism which, given the weight of tourism to the national economy, has the full support and commitment of the country’s authorities and private sector.