The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey organize the 8th UNWTO Silk Road Task Force Meeting, which will be held in Kayseri, Turkey on 26-27 April 2018.
To be attended by the Task Force representatives of the Silk Road Member States, partner organizations and UNWTO Affiliate Members ascribed to the Silk Road Programme, the meeting will build on and further specify the results obtained during the Silk Road Ministers Meeting at ITB Berlin 2018.
More information on the 8th UNWTO Silk Road Task Force Meeting here
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili met with Germany’s Parliamentary State Secretary Mrs. Iris Gleicke to discuss collaboration between Germany and UNWTO.
Discussions focused on sustainability, seasonality, rural development and climate change.
The Secretary-General stressed the importance of using Germany’s expertise and experience in sustainable development. He added that although Germany is known due to its automotive industry tourism is as important to the country’s GDP as the automotive sector.
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PR No.: PR 18020
Berlin, Germany, 6 March 2018 – The tourism sector’s role and responsibility in contributing to sustainable development on a global scale was the central message delivered at the opening of the 2018 edition of the ITB Berlin travel trade show by Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Speaking in the presence of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, tourism ministers from around the world and the leaders of the tourism sector, Mr. Pololikashvili stressed how tourism not only needs to consolidate current growth rates, but “to grow better”.
In 2017, international tourist numbers grew a record 7% to reach 1.3 billion. UNWTO’s message underlines the need to turn these figures into benefits for all people and all communities. “Leaving no one behind” is the benchmark for true sustainability, which must also decouple growth from resource use and place climate change response at the heart of the tourism sector’s agenda.
“Tourism’s sustained growth brings immense opportunities for economic welfare and development”, said the UNWTO Secretary-General, while warning at the same time that it also brings in many challenges. “Adapting to the challenges of safety and security, constant market changes, digitalization and the limits of our natural resources should be priorities in our common action”, he added.
Speaking at the opening were the Federal Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel, the Governing Mayor of Berlin Michael Müller, the President of the Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry (BTW) Dr. Michael Frenzel, the Minister-President of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Manuela Schwesig and Dr. Christian Göke, CEO of Messe Berlin.
“Tourism is an example of the opportunities of globalisation. Tourism brings people closer together and creates the foundation for growth” said Chancellor Angela Merkel. “We are committed to the Agenda 2030. We are committed to sustainable tourism.” she added stressing the role of tourism in the sustainability agenda
The UNWTO Secretary-General stressed education and job creation, innovation and technology, safety and security; and sustainability and climate change as the priorities for the sector to consolidate its contribution to sustainable development and the 2030 Agenda, against the backdrop of its expansion in all world regions and the socio-economic impact this entails.
To address these issues, Mr. Pololikashvili concluded that “public/private cooperation as well as public/public coordination must be strengthened, in order to translate tourism growth into more investment, more jobs and better livelihoods”.
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Speech by UNWTO Secretary General delivered during opening ceremony
Contacts:
UNWTO Senior Media Officer Marcelo Risi
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60 / mrisi@unwto.org
UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme
Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218 / comm@UNWTO.org
PR No.: PR 18018
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is spearheading the progress towards a consistent and coherent statistical approach to measuring sustainable tourism. The increasing relevance for expanding tourism statistics beyond the current economic focus to includesocial and environmental aspects was at the centre of the 18th Committee on Statistics and the Tourism Satellite Account meeting at UNWTO (27-28 February).
Making tourism statistics a strategic value proposition for Member states is a priority for UNWTO. The Measuring Sustainable Tourism initiative is a response to persistent requests from member states and other tourism stakeholders to understand and monitor sustainable tourism. UNWTO, as the responsible Agency for the tourism relevant SDG-indicators, has a critical role to play in the road to the UN 2030 Development Agenda and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
“Measuring sustainable tourism is fundamental to improve policy action for sustainable development, and will promote one common statistical language which can be compared across countries and different economic sectors, and make tourism’s voice heard when addressing key decisions”, said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili opening the event.
UNWTO’s Measuring Sustainable Tourism initiative will advance a common understanding on tourism in relation to other key policy areas, ranging from infrastructure to the environment, social affairs, finance or central banking. It will also allow for producing data which is comparable across destinations and with other sectors.
This year’s Committee meeting gathered over 70 participants from 26 countries, the UN and other international organizations. The members agreed to continue to support and contribute to the work ahead in the development of a statistical framework for measuring sustainable tourism which, in turn, can improve governments and tourism stakeholders in the design, and adoption of effective sustainable tourism policies and practices.
The Measuring Sustainable Tourism initiative has obtained the highest level of approval and support by the UNWTO General Assembly and the UN Statistical Commission and will move now onwards to its consolidation in the coming years.
Links:
UNWTO Media Officer Marcelo Risi
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60 / mrisi@unwto.org
UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme
Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218 / comm@UNWTO.org
PR No.: PR 18017
Brussels, Belgium, 28 February 2018 - Advancing sustainable tourism across Europe is at the centre of an agreement signed today between the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the European Parliament. During his first official visit to Brussels (27-28 February), UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili, met with the President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, the European Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, Elżbieta Bieńkowska as well as the Vice-Chair of the Committee on Transport and Tourism and Responsible for the Tourism Task Force, Istvan Ujhelyi and the representatives of the European Tourism Manifesto. Addressing the Tourism Task Force of the European Parliament Mr. Pololikashvili highlighted the need to enhance integration, connectivity and technology to maximize the role of tourism in creating jobs and stimulating growth in the European Union (EU).
Europe is the world’s leading tourism destination receiving half of the world’s 1.3 billion international arrivals. In 2017, international tourism in Europe grew 8%, one percentage point above the world average, totalling 671 million tourists.
During the signing of the agreement, Mr. Pololikashvili stressed how “the best way to ensure tourism’s positive impact for its people is by working closely with the European Parliament as the representative of the people of Europe”. “Today we are becoming stronger partners in our work to make tourism, and cultural tourism in particular, a driver of prosperity, opportunity, and better livelihoods across the EU”, he added.
UNWTO and the EU Parliament will work on promoting good practices and the sharing of knowledge and experiences on the ground. The agreement coincides with 2018 as the European Year of Cultural Heritage and is an opportunity to highlight the relevance of cultural tourism, which is an outstanding travel asset in the EU countries.
“Over the next 10 years, tourism can create more than 5 million new jobs, not least because the number of tourists is set to double to more than 2 billion. Europe must not let this opportunity pass by. Through the growth of tourism, we can offer real prospects for the new generations and boost strategic sectors of the economy, such as transport, trade, luxury goods, shipbuilding, construction, agri-foodstuffs and the cultural and creative industries” said Antonio Tajani. “We can’t just wait for this to happen by itself. We must work, including with UNWTO, to improve our competitiveness and our skills, to face the challenges of digitalisation and to promote Europe as the world’s number one tourist destination”, he added
EU tourism and the EU-China Tourism Year
The UNWTO Secretary-General met with the European Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, Elżbieta Bieńkowska and exchanged views with the members of the Tourism Task Force of the European Parliament and with the public and private stakeholders assembled around the European Tourism Manifesto.
On the occasion, UNWTO Secretary-General stressed the importance of working in collaboration with the European institutions on key priorities: sustainability; innovation and technology; safety and security; and education and job creation.
Addressing the EU–China Tourism Year Parliamentary Day, which celebrated the EU-China Tourism Year, Mr. Pololikashvili said “This year comes as an opportunity to make Europe the best global destination for Chinese tourists and to use tourism to increase understanding between Europe and China”.
According to the European Travel Commission, 12.4 million Chinese tourists visited the EU in 2017. With an average above one million per month and considering the prospects of growth, the impact of Chinese tourists on EU tourism is relevant factor for European tourism development and bilateral relations with China.
Links:
https://www.tourismmanifesto.eu
European Union Short-Term Tourism Trends, February 2018
UNWTO Regional Programme for Europe
Contacts:
UNWTO Media Officer Marcelo Risi
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60 / mrisi@unwto.org
UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme
Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218 / comm@UNWTO.org
PR No.: PR18014
The 10th edition of the World Congress on Snow and Mountain Tourism will take place from 21 to 23 March 2018 in Andorra, under the title “Shaping the Future of Hospitality in Mountain Destinations”. The Congress is organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Government of Andorra and the Commune of Escaldes-Engordany. The event, which is held every two years, is celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year.
The meeting will bring together a wide variety of tourism professionals, ranging from managers of mountain tourism destinations to entrepreneurs in the accommodation sector.
This edition will feature some thirty international speakers and will be inaugurated by Antoni Martí, Head of Government of Andorra, Zurab Pololikashvili, UNWTO Secretary-General, and Trini Marín, Mayor of Escaldes-Engordany.
The new concept of ‘hospitality’
During the Congress, participants will address topics such as the repositioning of tourism accommodation, the challenges of hospitality, the impact of new platforms for tourism services or the so called sharing economy, artificial intelligence, and training as a key element for the success of a destination, among many others.
The event will be structured in six sessions, which will be held on 21 and 22 March at the Andorra la Vella Congress Centre. On Friday, 23 March, is a technical visit that will include a tour of the new facilities of ActuaTech in Caldea-Inúu, as well as various leisure activities.
The World Congress on Snow and Mountain Tourism
The World Congress on Snow and Mountain Tourism was born as an initiative of the UNWTO, the Government of Andorra and the seven Communes of Andorra, with the aim of constituting a permanent forum for the discussion of the development and sustainability of tourism in mountain areas. It is held every two years and is organized by each Commune in rotation.
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More information about Mountainlikers
Contacts:
UNWTO Media Officer Marcelo Risi
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60 / mrisi@unwto.org
UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme
Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218 / comm@UNWTO.org
PR No.: PR18009
Innovation and training were at the centre of the official visit of Zurab Pololikashvili, the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), to Portugal on 22-23 January. Following meetings with the Portuguese President, Prime Minister, Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as representatives from the private sector, a joint training and innovation action plan was agreed between UNWTO and Portugal. On the occasion, the Alentejo Sustainable Tourism Observatory joined the UNWTO International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO).
The Secretary-General praised Portugal for focusing its tourism strategy on people, and stressed that its good tourism results are a consequence of strong policies and solid public/private sector cooperation.
Mr. Pololikashvili met with the Secretary of State of Tourism, Ana Mendes Godinho, and the Minister of Economy, Caldeira Cabral, to discuss the priorities of the Portuguese Tourism Strategy 2027, particularly the programmes related to education and innovation. Mr. Pololikashvili also met with five start-ups supported by these programmes, which are innovating in the fields of energy and water efficiency, customer relations and marketing.
The Secretary-General met with Prime Minister Antonio Costa who highlighted that “tourism is a priority in Portugal for job creation and rural development” and agreed to strengthen the relationship between Portugal and the Organization.
Meeting Mr. Pololikashvili, President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa highlighted his commitment to tourism as a key economic activity for Portugal.
Discussions with the Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs, Teresa Ribeiro, focused on tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), visa facilitation and UNWTO cooperation with the Lusophone Commonwealth.
During the ceremony of acceptance of the Alentejo Sustainable Tourism Observatory into INSTO, Secretary-General Pololikashvili said: “The inclusion of Alentejo’s Observatory into the UNWTO Network shows the commitment of Portugal to sustainable tourism and its will to guide the development of the sector in the years to come by evidence-based measurement and policies”.
UNWTO has been promoting the measurement of tourism at destination level through sustainable tourism indicators since the early 1990s. In order to support destinations to advance their monitoring of tourism impacts, the UNWTO International Network of Tourism Observatories was created in 2004. With the incorporation of the Alentejo Observatory, as of January 2017, INSTO includes 22 Observatories worldwide.
During his visit the Secretary-General also met with the Mayors of Cascais, Carlos Carreiras, and of Reguengos de Monsaraz, Jose Calixto.
Additional information:
UNWTO Network of Observatories
Portuguese Start-ups:
Optishower ; Hi Jiffy ; Strayboots ; Doinn ; Storyo .
Contacts:
UNWTO Media Officer Marcelo Risi
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60 / mrisi@unwto.org
UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme
Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218 / comm@UNWTO.org