Dominican Republic the Focus of First UNWTO Tourism Investment Guide

• All Regions, Americas
• 20 Jan 2022

UNWTO has launched the first in a series of tourism investment guidelines focused on a specific country. Developed alongside the Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic and the national Export and Investment Center (PRODOMINICANA), the new guide provides key insights for investors, with the aim of boosting foreign direct investment in the Caribbean destination.

Launched against the backdrop of the FITUR tourism trade fair in Madrid, the Investment Guidelines represent a comprehensive tool for parties interested in FDI opportunities. In particular, it aims to attract and promote and retain investment in sustainable tourism initiatives in the Dominican Republic, including those that provide local jobs and build greater resilience across the sector. The guide showcases the potential of closer public-private collaboration and makes clear the importance of directing investments towards building new tourism business models centres on innovation and sustainability.

As the UNWTO guide notes, the Dominican Republic represents one of the most competitive opportunities for investors for a number of reasons, excellent geographic location, solid legal framework, economic stability, and modern infrastructure.

Leading investment destination

According to data compiled by UNWTO and fDi Markets of the Financial Times, some 26 tourism projects in the Dominican Republic received about US$5.7 billion in tourism greenfield investments between 2016 and 2020. At the same time, the country has experienced an annual rate of growth in GDP of around 5% for the past 25 years, double the regional average. Over recent years, the Government of the Dominican Republic has worked to further attract FDI, including through the restructuring of free trade zones, incentives for investment in tourism and the signing of DR-CAFTA. (Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement).

In 2021, the economy of the Dominican Republic recovered and reached pre-pandemic levels of growth. Notably, around 38% of this recovery was the product of the tourism sector. According to figures from the Ministry of Tourism (MITUR), as of December 2021, around 300,000 jobs were secured by the recovery of tourism, the result of the Responsible Tourism Recovery Plan led by the President of the Republic, Luis Rodolfo Abinader Corona. The Plan, which saw tourism workers vaccinated as early as possible, allowed the country to be among the first of all global destinations to reopen its borders.

Related links

• Download the news release in PDF
• Guías de Inversión Turística República Dominicana
• Dominican President Joins UNWTO and IE University to Announce 300 Tourism Education Scholarships
• Declaration of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
• Investments Strategy
• UNWTO Joins Investors with Tourism Leaders at Cabo Verde Forum

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UNWTO gives voice to the initiatives of the private sector at FITUR 2021

• All Regions
• 21 May 2021

UNWTO Affiliate Members from the tourism sector, including private entities, associations and tourism boards across the world, have presented their initiatives and projects on tourism recovery at the ‘’UNWTO Affiliate Members Corner’’, held on 21 May at FITUR 2021, the International Tourism Fair Trade in Madrid (Spain). The forum, organized by the UNWTO Affiliate Members Department, provided a professional space for the UNWTO Affiliate Membership to showcase their projects at this important international tourism fair, one of first international mobility events in Europe.

The event saw initiatives covering topics such as the digitalisation and innovation in tourism, marketing strategies for the recovery of tourism, and reactivation strategies to achieve a safer, more inclusive and more sustainable tourism sector when travel resumes.

Among the participating companies were top private entities, tourism boards, tourism organizations and associations such as Expedia Group, Allianz Partners, the Moscow City Tourism Committee (Russia), the Catalan Tourism Board (Spain), the Turkey Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (Turkey), Quintana Roo Tourism Promotion Council (CPTQ) (Mexico), Turisme de Barcelona (Spain), NECStouR (Belgium), the Tourism Observatory (Eurecat), FENALCO (Colombia), Fundación Mallorca Turismo (Spain), the Starlight Foundation (Spain), Turisme de Barcelona (Spain), Expedia Group (USA), Turismo de Santiago de Compostela (Spain), World Leisure Organization (USA) and the Guanajuato Tourism Observatory & Secretary of Tourism of Guanajuato (Mexico).

Ion Vilcu, Director of the UNWTO Affiliate Members Department, said: "I am very pleased with the level of participation in the UNWTO Affiliate Members Corner at FITUR 2021, and the very interesting projects shared. The event offered the perfect opportunity to learn from each other, exchange ideas and expertise and cooperate more closely to restart the tourism sector. From the Affiliate Members Department, we are committed to continue supporting the activities of our members through initiatives such as this one, in the common effort to advance the resumption of a better, more inclusive and sustainable tourism sector''.

Related Links

• Download the news release in PDF
• UNWTO Affiliate Members Corner 2021
• Working With the Private Sector
• Guiding tourism's recovery

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Power of Investments for African Tourism Highlighted as INVESTOUR Returns

• Africa
• 20 May 2021

The importance of unlocking the potential of investments for growing African tourism was highlighted as leaders from across the sector met virtually for the 2021 edition of INVESTOUR.

Held during the FITUR International Tourism Trade Fair, the 12th edition of the Forum for Tourism Investment and Business (INVESTOUR) united government representatives alongside experts from international organizations and from the private sector. Once again, the event was co-organized by Casa Africa, FITUR and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), building on the latter’s 2030 Agenda for Africa.

This year, the focus was on the importance of promoting sustainable investments to help the sector recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. On the agenda were the role of public-private partnerships, building resilience, and promoting innovation at every step of the broad tourism value chain.

A roundtable discussion on “Revitalizing Tourism Post-COVID-19”, explored ways to identify and reach new markets and develop new tourism products. Contributing were Mouhamed Faouzou, Technical Advisor to the Minister of Tourism and Air Transport of Senegal, Dr. Alfonso Vegara, Founder and President of Fundación Metrópoli, and Alberto Virella Gomes, Ambassador-at-Large for the Africa Plan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Senegal. This was followed by a series of investment webinars led by UNWTO experts, with a special focus on sustainability and capacity development.

In a message to the INVESTOR delegates, Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili stressed the importance of government-initiated Ease of Doing Business reforms and invited delegates to join UNWTO for its 64th Commission for Africa and the 2nd UNWTO Global Tourism Investment Forum in Africa, both to be held in Cabo Verde this September.

Related Links

• Download the news release in PDF
• INVESTOUR 2021: XII Tourism Investment and Business Forum for Africa
• Regional Department for Africa
• Investments Strategy
• FITUR 2021: UNWTO Activities

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UNWTO Hosts Tourism Leaders in Madrid

• All Regions
• 19 May 2021

The global tourism sector has come together to show its unity and readiness to restart as soon as conditions allow.

To celebrate the return of the FITUR International Tourism Fair, UNWTO united leaders from the public and private sectors to send out a strong message that tourism is ready to return. Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili welcomed distinguished guests to the Royal Theatre in Madrid, among them the newest UNWTO Ambassadors, including the manager of Atlético de Madrid football club Diego Simeone and model and entrepreneur, Valeria Mazza.

The decision to host FITUR is the kind of boldness we need if we are to restart tourism and so kickstart wider recovery

Reflecting unprecedented levels of political support for tourism, joining UNWTO at the evening event were Reyes Maroto, Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism of Spain and the Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida. Furthermore, the sector’s ability to touch on almost every part of society was further reflected in the naming of UNWTO’s latest Ambassadors. Joining Mr Simeone and Ms Mazza in accepting the honor in Madrid were the latest UNWTO Special Ambassador for Gastronomy Tourism, chef Ramón Freixa Riera and business leaders Alejandro Bulgheroni and Frank Ranieri.

Secretary-General Pololikashvili said: “Now is the time for ambition and bold steps. The decision to host FITUR is the kind of boldness we need if we are to restart tourism and so kickstart wider recovery. And this show of unity is the kind of cooperation we need to restart tourism in a coordinated and responsible manner, for the benefit of many millions of people worldwide.”

At FITUR 2021, UNWTO has addressed some of the key challenges facing tourism while also advancing solutions for its safe, responsible and sustainable recovery. Following on from the final of the UNWTO SDGs Global Startup Competition, UNWTO is also advancing another of its priorities, the promotion of investments in African tourism, as well as strengthening partnerships with private sector actors.

Related links

• Download the news release in PDF
• Ideas to Build Back Better: SDGs Start-up Competition Final Held in Madrid
• Promoting Innovation and Sustainability as FITUR Returns
• Guiding tourism's recovery
• Working With the Private Sector

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Tourism for all – UNWTO presents “Accessibility and Inclusive Tourism Development” - Compendium of Best Practices

• All Regions
• 19 May 2021

The UNWTO Affiliate Members Department, within the framework of the activities of the Working Group on Accessible Tourism, organized the Expert Meeting on Accessible Tourism – Good Practices on Accessible Tourism in Nature Areas at FITUR Next.

This event provided a space to recognize the importance of incorporating accessibility into the tourism practices in nature environments, share knowledge and experiences by UNWTO Affiliate Members and other tourism stakeholders, and provide recommendation on how to strengthen accessibility and create an accessible tourism for all.

At the event, the publication Accessibility and Inclusive Tourism Development – Compendium of Best Practices, available in the UNWTO E-Library, was launched and presented to the audience. This publication is the result of the work carried out in the last months by the Working Group on Accessible Tourism, coordinated by the Affiliate Members Department and chaired by the Spanish Network for Accessible Tourism (Red Estable).

We trust this publication will provide all relevant stakeholders with tools and resources to make their tourism destinations, facilities and services accessible for all

Its aim is to create an accessible pathway in nature, from which to descry a new approach for inclusive tourism development in natural areas, which is very much in line with the UNWTO priority to foster an Accessible Tourism for All and so contributing to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The compilation of best practices included in the publication and the final recommendations provides innovative, inclusive, and sustainable solutions that enable access to nature for all the people.

In the words of UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili: There is still a lot of work to be done, as we are still far from guaranteeing a universally accessible tourism sector. However, we trust this publication will provide all relevant stakeholders with tools and resources to make their tourism destinations, facilities and services accessible for all. We also hope it will serve as a source of inspiration for them to continue working, so that tourism becomes truly accessible.

Within the framework of the event, representatives of the entities which contributed to the publication shared with the audience their projects, all very different in terms of contents but sharing the common goal of promoting an Accessible Tourism for All and supporting the right of people with disabilities to travel. Accessible accommodations in nature, accessibility to natural parks and beaches, and the use of plastic to manufacture accessible products were only some of the topics that were presented.

RELATED LINKS

• Download the news release in PDF
• Expert Meeting on Accessible Tourism: Good Practices on Accessible Tourism in Nature Areas
• Accessibility and Inclusive Tourism Development in Nature Areas – Compendium of Best Practices

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UNWTO Supports Special Edition of the CaixaBank Hotels & Tourism Awards at FITUR

• All Regions
• 19 May 2021

The third edition of the CaixaBank Hotels & Tourism Awards was held today at the CaixaBank stand at Fitur, the first major international mobility experience in Europe this year, with the presence of Ion Vilcu, Director of the Affiliate Members Department of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), and representatives of CaixaBank Hotels & Tourism.

These awards are yet another example of the commitment of CaixaBank—a UNWTO Affiliate Member—to the tourism market and, specifically, to social and innovative projects in the tourism sector in Spain.

In this special edition, the best social and innovative initiatives launched by the sector in 2020 to adapt to the COVID-19 crisis were recognized. Three private Spanish entities in the hotel sector, Artiem Hotels, Apartmentos Vistasol and HOSBEC, were announced as the winners in the national phase of this third edition for their respective initiatives in the “Social”, “Innovation” and “Institutional” categories of the awards.

The jury for the awards was composed of CaixaBank specialists in the tourism sector and Corporate Responsibility, professionals from leading institutions in the sector, such as the UNWTO and the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodations (CEHAT), as well as representatives of chambers of commerce.

The UNWTO welcomes with great enthusiasm the initiatives of CaixaBank Hotels & Tourism aimed at implementing more sustainable practices, which ultimately make tourism companies more competitive, with the goal of promoting the development of the sector in line with the values and priorities of the 2030 Agenda.

RELATED LINKS

• Download the news release in PDF
• FITUR 2021 | UNWTO Activities

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Ideas to Build Back Better: SDGs Start-up Competition Final Held in Madrid

• All Regions
• 18 May 2021

Innovators with ideas to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals have been celebrated in Madrid. The final of the UNWTO SDGs Global Startup Competition saw 25 entrepreneurs and enterprises recognized for their creativity and commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 ambitious goals.

Organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), with the support of over 25 partners from across the global innovation ecosystem, this competition is the biggest innovation initiative ever launched by any part of the wider United Nations system. In all, more than 10,000 applications from 138 different countries were received, each of them promising to advance one or more of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Today’s winners can inspire new ways to accelerate progress towards sustainability, equality and inclusivity

Winners with common goal

“Today’s winners can inspire new ways to accelerate progress towards sustainability, equality and inclusivity,” said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in a message congratulating the finalists. Every global region was represented among the 25 winners at the final event in Madrid, held on the eve of the FITUR International Tourism Trade Fair.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili added that “the winners of the UNWTO SDGs Global Startup Competition can get us back on track to building a better, more sustainable future for both people and planet”.

The competition final highlighted the power of tourism to help reach the 2030 Agenda through driving progress in waste and resource management, green energy production, destination experiences and decarbonization, as well as through creating decent jobs for all, promoting inclusivity and gender equality and protecting ecosystems.

The winners of the UNWTO SDGs Global Startup Competition can get us back on track to building a better, more sustainable future for both people and planet

Political and corporate support

The event also highlighted the strong level of political support for UNWTO’s mission to promote innovation and entrepreneurship. Joining Secretary-General Pololikashvili at Madrid’s Royal Theatre were the Ministers of Tourism of Sri Lanka and Panama, the Ambassador of Qatar to Spain, the Mayor of Madrid José Luis Martínez-Almeida and Spain’s Secretary of State for Tourism, Fernando Valdés.

Against the backdrop of the final, UNWTO also supported Apolitical and Mastercard during a special panel event on Digital Country Partnerships, highlighting key actors rebuilding tourism through innovation. Special thanks were also given to sponsors and collaborators of the SDGs Global Startup Competition, including the main partner, Wakalua (the innovation hub of Globalia), partner airline Qatar Airways, and collaborators such as Telefonica, Amazon Web Services, Amadeus, amongst others – see the full list here.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres
MESSAGE TO WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION SDG GLOBAL STARTUP COMPETITION

18 May 2021

We have less than 10 years to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
And we are in the midst of a global pandemic that is setting back progress.
To get back on track, we need to unleash the power of new ideas and embrace a sustainable transformation.
Tourism has a critical role to play, and I commend the United Nations World Tourism Organization for its leadership.
Its SDGs Global Startup Competition is promoting innovation and a better recovery.
The competition attracted more than 10,000 applicants from 138 countries, and the ideas are as diverse as the innovators themselves.
All these startups have the potential to be scaled up and drive a positive transformation in our societies.
They can inspire new ways to accelerate progress towards sustainability, equality and inclusivity.
I thank everyone who has taken part in the UNWTO SDGs Global Startup Competition, and I look forward to seeing these bright ideas being put into action.

Related links

• Download the news release in PDF
• A full list of the 25 winners

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