PR No.: 15035

The Mediterranean is one of the most visited tourism regions in the world, accounting for one in three international tourist arrivals worldwide, over a quarter of total international tourism receipts, and almost 20% of the global cruise market.

The Conference, organized jointly by UNWTO and the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism of Montenegro in the popular coastal destination of Budva, will explore how partnerships can promote quality and product diversification in the Mediterranean.

The Conference will address key issues such as: 1) the positioning of Mediterranean destinations in the global market, 2) product development, diversification and innovation as a means to improve the quality of the visitor experience, capture a wider range of market niches and minimize seasonality, 3) cruise and maritime tourism and 4) effective governance and policy instruments.

Speakers include representatives from the public and private sector from Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Jordan, Spain, Portugal and Turkey.

In 2014, 343 million international tourists visited a Mediterranean destination. According to UNWTO’s long-term forecast, this number will reach over 500 million in 2030.

To register, please click here

Useful links:

2nd UNWTO Conference on Destination Management in the Mediterranean 
UNWTO Destination Management and Quality Programme

Contact:

UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme
Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218 

PR No.: 15034

Europe is the world’s most visited region, accounting for more than half of the world’s international tourist arrivals. In 2014, international tourism in Europe continued to deliver positive results making a fundamental contribution to the economic recovery in the region: international tourist arrivals grew by 3% to reach a record 584 million, while international tourism receipts increased by 4% contributing US$ 509 billion (383 billion euros) to the European economies.

The 58th Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for Europe gathered representatives from 30 European countries and other tourism stakeholders in the region to discuss policy priorities and set the agenda for UNWTO’s programme of work for the region in 2016-2017.

“Tourism is a key driver of growth, exports and employment in Europe and has been critical in creating jobs in the region in recent years”, said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai opening the meeting. ”Yet, consumer behaviour and business models are in deep transformation. By working together, European destinations can aim to sustain the recent growth of the sector and improve the competitiveness of their destinations”, he added.

The main priorities for European tourism identified by the Commission include the development of cultural routes and other transnational products to enhance regional cooperation and mitigate seasonality; visa facilitation and connectivity; digitalization; and the need to adapt regulatory frameworks to facilitate entrepreneurship and emerging business models.

The Commission concluded its 58th meeting by calling on UNWTO to continue its vital work on the socio-economic impact of tourism and further raise the profile of the sector in the national and international agendas.

The UNWTO Seminar on Mobile Technologies for Improving the Tourism Experience, held on the sidelines of the Commission, highlighted the mobile revolution in tourism and how new technologies have opened up great opportunities for destinations to create unique and customized visitor experiences. By showcasing best examples of interactive applications, tourism augmented reality games, and other ways of engaging visitors, the Seminar explored how destinations can improve their competitiveness by leveraging the possibilities offered by mobile technologies.

Useful links:

UNWTO Regional Programme for Europe
58th Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for Europe

Contacts:

UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme
Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218 

PR No.: 15028

The 1st UNWTO World Forum on Food Tourism will provide a valuable platform to exchange experiences, enhancing the understanding of food tourism and how to successfully manage this growing tourism segment worldwide.

Topics such as the concept of food tourism, current trends, and the links between gastronomy and tourism branding are to be debated with international experts such as the Executive Director of the World Food Travel Association, Erik Wolf, and renowned Spanish chef Pedro Subijana.

The event will also feature several workshops where participants will have the opportunity to interact closer with food and tourism professionals from across the globe and learn more about branding, strategy and key success factors for food tourism destinations among other topics.

“Getting a taste of local cuisine has become an essential part of the travelling experience, and as such gastronomy presents a vital opportunity to enrich the tourism offer and stimulate economic development in destinations all around the world, not the least in rural communities.  I trust that this Forum will further strengthen the ability of food tourism to create local job opportunities and spur renewed interest in traditional cultural heritage”, said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.  

The Spanish Secretary of State for Tourism, Isabel Borrego, encourages participation in this important event, as Spain is a country to savour, with many exquisite and typical regional dishes. The “tapas”, the “pintxos”, some of the best wines in the world and an avant-garde cuisine have made Spain one of the most prominent destinations for Gastronomy tourism in the world.

Mrs. Borrego also reminds that the Spanish diet is synonymous with the Mediterranean diet, which has been inscribed in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2013, consisting of a combination of nutrition and other factors related to the Mediterranean culture.

The 1st World Forum on Food Tourism is jointly organized by UNWTO and its Affiliate Member the Basque Culinary Center, the first Faculty of Gastronomic Sciences in Spain that also incorporates a Food, Gastronomic Science and Entrepreneurship Research and Innovation Centre, in collaboration with Basquetour, the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa and the Donostia-San Sebastián city-council.

For more information and registration, please visit http://www.culinary-tourism.com

Useful links:

1st UNWTO World Forum on Food Tourism
UNWTO Global Report on Food Tourism
Gastronomy in Spain

Download the Conference application:

iOS
Android

Contacts:

UNWTO Senior Media Officer: Marcelo Risi
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60 

UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme
Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218 

PR No.: 15022

Rifai welcomed the priority awarded to tourism within the new government and the continuity of the tourism policy in Greece to ensure that the sector remains a fundamental contributor to the country’s economic growth and stability, and committed to continue supporting Greece in advancing its tourism sector.

“Greece is and will continue to be a leading tourism destination. We are very pleased to see how tourism is a priority for the new government and how there is a strong commitment to pursue current tourism policies, building upon the good results achieved by the sector and taking them further” said Rifai.

Mrs. Kountoura expressed her great satisfaction over the support for the Greek Tourism by the Secretary General of UNWTO and his team and asserted her commitment to the implementation of strategies aiming to further promote Greece as a tourist destination, in cooperation with such an eminent International Body as the UNWTO.

Rifai and Minister Kountoura discussed the prospects for tourism in Greece, with the Minister echoing the positive outlook for the sector in the country and stressed intentions to increase Greece’s engagement in the international tourism community through UNWTO, namely in attracting new markets. 

In 2014, Greece was one of the fastest growing tourism destinations in Europe and the world. International tourist arrivals increased by 23% to surpass 22 million while international tourism receipts grew by 17% to US$ 13.4 billion.

Tourism accounts for 20% of Greece’s GDP and employs 750.000 people, directly and indirectly.

Contacts:

UNWTO Senior Media Officer: Marcelo Risi
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60 

UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme
Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218 

PR No.: 15016

Benchmarking international accommodation standards can help destinations establish hotel classification systems which are more relevant and useful to consumers, hotels, intermediaries and destinations alike. Against this backdrop, the new UNWTO report Hotel Classification Systems:  Recurrence of Criteria in 4 and 5 Star Hotels compares criteria recurrence in 30 European destinations and six destinations in other regions.

Prepared jointly by UNWTO and Norwegian Accreditation (NA), an agency of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries of Norway through its QualityMark Norway programme, the report reveals that despite the existence of many types of classification systems across the globe, there are more similarities than differences, both between geographic groups and between 4 and 5 star categories.

The report also provides a general overview of the existing types of hotel classifications, their benefits and challenges, and offers general guidance on areas to consider when setting up an official classification system.

Findings also suggest that more regular reviews of hotel classification systems can be useful to keep them up-to-date with rapidly evolving consumer needs, particularly with regards to technology and accessibility.

This is the second joint UNWTO/Norwegian Accreditation report on the topic of hotel classification, following Online Guest Reviews and Hotel Classification Systems: An Integrated Approach, published in 2014.
 

Useful links:

Full Report: Hotel Classification Systems: The Recurrence of Criteria in 4 and 5 Star Hotels 
Report: Online Guest Reviews and Hotel Classification Systems: An Integrated Approach 
UNWTO Regional Programme for Europe: 
Norwegian Accreditation

Contacts:

UNWTO Senior Media Officer: Marcelo Risi
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60 

UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme
Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218 

PR No.: 15007

Prime Minister Rajoy accepted the Letter from UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, and the President and CEO of WTTC, David Scowsill, on the occasion of the Spain Global Tourism Forum held in Madrid.

“Tourism is a State policy in Spain”, said Prime Minister Rajoy stressing that the sector accounts for 10.9% of Spain’s GDP and generates one in 9 jobs, and as such “is a strategic sector for both the present and the future of our economy”.

Spain is the third most visited country in the world, and the second destination in terms of foreign earnings from tourism. With tourism representing 25% of all new jobs created in Spain in 2014, the sector remains firmly positioned as one of the country’s most important economic sectors.

“Spain’s remarkable tourism success would not have been possible without support from the highest political level. By accepting the Open Letter, Mr. Rajoy re-affirms the Spanish Government’s incredible backing of the tourism sector, which I trust will continue making the sector a key driver in the country’s economic and social development”, said Mr. Rifai on the occasion.

David Scowsill said: “Spain will host WTTC´s 15th annual Global Summit on 15-16 April in Madrid, where WTTC members – the Chairmen and CEOs of the world’s leading travel and tourism companies - will convene with government ministers and other industry leaders to debate and recommend policies which drive travel and tourism growth. The hosting of this Global Summit underlines Spain’s prioritization of tourism. With the investment and enthusiasm Spain is showing the sector, it is one which will continue to underpin the country’s economy for the long term”.

The UNWTO/WTTC Open Letter calls on Heads of State and Government around the world to acknowledge tourism's key role in delivering more sustained and balanced socio-economic growth and to prioritize the sector higher in national policies in order to maximize its potential.

In 2014, Spain received 65 million international tourist arrivals – a new historic record and the highest growth (+7%) in the last 14 years.

Note to editors:

The UNWTO/WTTC Open Letter outlines Travel & Tourism’s value as one of the world’s largest generators of jobs, a powerful driver of socio-economic growth and development and a key player in the transformation to the Green Economy. To date, the Open Letter has been received by 71 Heads of State and Government.

Useful links:

UNWTO/WTTC Open Letter on Travel and Tourism
Latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer
World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)

Contacts:

UNWTO Senior Media Officer: Marcelo Risi
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60 

WTTC

Head of Communications: Emma Coulthurst
Tel: (+44 ) 207481 6483