PR No.: 14090

As part of the UNWTO Cities Project, and in the framework of the Istanbul Declaration (2012) on City Tourism, UNWTO, ECM and MODUL University join forces to promote the sustainable development of city tourism as a driver of economic growth.

The three partners will each provide specific expertise to this common goal, which is key to improve planning and decision making by private and public tourism stakeholders in cities worldwide. The project will count on essential research, insights and tools to benchmark city performance developed by European Cities Marketing’s  as well as on TourMIS, a platform for tourism associations to exchange data on overnight stays, hotel capacities and occupancy rate hosted by the MODUL University Vienna.

UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, welcomed this new partnership. “City tourism has become a strategic element in urban planning and management; thanks to this agreement with ECM and MODUL University Vienna, we will be able to work on systematic data collection on city tourism all over the world”, he said

Commenting on the partnership agreement, ECM President Ignasi de Delàs added: "We are thrilled to partner with UNWTO and MODUL University Vienna, and extend our expertise in benchmarking and measuring city tourism on the global level. This is a milestone in the history of the expertise developed within European Cities Marketing.”

Karl Wöber, President of MODUL University Vienna concluded: “At present, 115 cities enter their information in TourMIS on a monthly or annual basis and I am really honoured to extend the TourMIS database. We will certainly provide guidance to cities willing to participate in the Global City Tourism Benchmarking report so that they can meet the required standards.”

ECM, MODUL University Vienna and UNWTO aim to regularly publish a Global City Tourism Benchmarking Report. The partners will furthermore form a group of international experts to observe and comment on the progress of the project and provide guidelines on how to further integrate indicators on the economic, environmental and social impact of tourism into the current system of city tourism measurement.

 

European Cities Marketing is a non-profit organisation improving the competitiveness and performance of leading cities of Europe by providing a platform for convention, leisure and city marketing professionals to exchange knowledge, best practice and widen their network to build new business. European Cities Marketing is promoting and linking the interests of 110 members from more than 100 major cities in 36 countries.

Contact information

Flavie Baudot
Tel: +33 380 56 02 00

 

MODUL Research is a subdivision of MODUL University Vienna that aims to bridge the two domains of basic and applied research. MODUL Research engages in research projects that provide workable solutions to problems that private firms, industry associations, groups in civil society, and governmental organisations have identified as important.

Contact information

MODUL Research

TourMIS 

Prof. Karl Wöber, President

 

UNWTO

Contact information:

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

PR No.: 14088

According to the UNWTO Global Report on Shopping Tourism, shopping tourism is gaining in importance within a sector of tourism that is seeking to diversify in both mature and emerging markets. According to the report, “shopping tourism is one of the drivers that will contribute to economic development and job creation worldwide.”

The 1^st International Conference on Shopping Tourism will have the support of FITUR and its dedicated space FITUR SHOPPING, created in order to reinvigorate shopping tourism and to respond to this emerging sector.

“Shopping is becoming an important part of the tourism value chain, it has become a decisive factor at the time of choosing a destination and, in some cases, the primary reason for travel”, said the Secretary-General of UNWTO, Taleb Rifai. “Hosting this first international meeting on shopping tourism will be a unique opportunity to promote analysis and debate on shopping tourism and allow the main players to begin a fruitful and successful conversation” he added.

The International Conference on Shopping Tourism will showcase the different regional perspectives in this sector. Likewise, key representatives from the private sector will share success stories. The conference will conclude with a panel of experts from NYC & Company (New York, USA); Sinclair Global (London, United Kingdom); Turisme de Barcelona (the Barcelona tourist office, Spain); Innova TaxFree (Madrid, Spain); and Desigual (Barcelona, Spain).
 

Useful links:

1^st International Conference on Shopping Tourism

UNWTO Global Report on Shopping Tourism

UNWTO activities at FITUR 2015

 

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.: PR 14087

The UNWTO/WTTC Open Letter on Travel and Tourism calls upon heads of State and Government worldwide to acknowledge tourism's key role in delivering a more sustainable and balanced growth and to prioritize the sector in national policies in order to maximize its potential for development.

UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, met with Mr. Rama on the sidelines of the International Conference on Managing Seasonality in Tourism, jointly organized by UNWTO and the Ministry of Urban Development and Tourism of Albania. During the meeting, Mr. Rama received the UNWTO/WTTC Open Letter on Travel and Tourism, expressing the willingness of the Albanian government to place the global initiative of Travel and Tourism as part of the national agenda.

“Our goal is to integrate the development of sustainable tourism in the country as the only way of empowering each and every area as well as addressing the issue of seasonality. I would like to reassure you of our endeavor to transform the tourism sector in Albania into a strong economic power that brings growth and integration to our national economy” said Prime Minister Rama accepting the Open Letter.

“Albania is truly blessed with spectacular natural and cultural heritage, the backbone of its tourism sector, a sector which has shown impressive growth over recent years,” said Mr. Rifai. “By accepting the Open Letter, the Government of Albania is further strengthening its commitment to the sector and giving important recognition to tourism’s contribution to Albania’s socio-economic development,” he added.

David Scowsill, President and CEO, WTTC, added; “Growth prospects from Travel & Tourism in Albania look very favourable. The Government’s commitment to the sector will bring rewards to the country in terms of increased visitors, spend and employment opportunities”.

In less than a decade, the number of international tourists to Albania more than quadrupled, from 628,000 in 2005 to 2.9 million in 2013, contributing 1.5 billion euros to the Albanian economy. As of the end of June 2014, Albania has already recorded an impressive growth of 26% in the number of international tourist arrivals.

WTTC’s economic data shows that the total GDP contribution of Travel & Tourism to Albania’s economy was ALL239.8bn (16.7% of GDP) in 2013 and is forecast to rise by 5.4% every year to ALL424.0bn (20.9% of GDP) by 2024.

Governments key in managing seasonality

The International Conference on Managing Seasonality in Tourism focused on successful strategies for overcoming seasonality.

In a Ministerial Roundtable, the Ministers of Tourism of Albania and Montenegro, the Vice-minister of Economy of Lithuania, and several other high-level officials from UNWTO Member States highlighted the key role of Governments in managing tourism seasonality, and the importance of targeted policies such as tax incentives aimed at the private sector to curb the effects of seasonality.

Conference participants further highlighted the necessity of well-coordinated public-private partnerships to effectively adapt to and mitigate seasonality, and the need for any measures to take into account the brand and the tourism supply of the destination in order to build on existing strengths and ensure compatibility between current and future developments.

On the occasion, the Albanian Tourism Association (ATA) and the Albanian Travel Operators Union (ATOU) signed the Private Sector Commitment to the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, pledging to maximise tourism’s benefits while minimising its potentially negative impact on the environment, cultural heritage and societies.

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 70 Heads of State and Government.

In signing the Private Sector Commitment to the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, companies pledge to uphold, promote and implement the values of responsible and sustainable tourism development championed by the Code. They further undertake to report on their implementation of the Code's principles in their corporate governance to the World Committee on Tourism Ethics. 

Useful links:

UNWTO/WTTC Open Letter on Travel and Tourism

International Conference on Managing Seasonality in Tourism

UNWTO Prototype on overcoming seasonality: Punta del Este 365 

UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism 

Private Sector Commitment to the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism

World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)

 

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.: PR 14084

Tourism has become a central component of the economy, social life and the geography of many cities in the world and is ideally positioned to contribute to seize the opportunities stemming from urbanization. The 3^rd Global Summit on City Tourism: New Paradigms in City Tourism Development debated what takes to build new paradigms in city tourism. The Summit focused on four keys areas: the changing environment, knowledge and technology, measurement and how to make city tourism benefit the city and its surroundings.

Participants stressed the need to develop products which are market driven and research based, alerting to the lack of research to properly measure city tourism, its impact and trends. Furthermore, participants highlighted the need to make a city enjoyable to all: citizens, tourists and investors and spread the benefits of city tourism to its surrounding thus multiplying its impact and managing congestion.

The development of clusters that engage public and private players from all sectors was pointed out as central to the new paradigm for city tourism development; a development that needs to be mindful of the fact that tourism is a policy instrument for social cohesion and cultural preservation, beyond its fundamental contribution as an economic activity. Participants also alerted to the need of discussing the new business models emerging within the so-called sharing economy and assess its integration into the planning and development of tourism.

Opening the event, UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, stressed the importance of engaging local populations in the whole process of city tourism development “We should always keep in mind that tourism happens in a community and that a city that is not good for its citizens will never be a good tourism destination. A city that is good for its citizens is good for tourists; a city that is loved by its citizens will be loved by its visitors”.

Ms. Isabel Borrego, Secretary of State for Tourism of Spain, said “City Tourism is a priority for Spain as it is capable of delivering on two of our key strategic objectives: overcoming seasonality and increase average spending”.

The 3rd Global Summit on City Tourism: New Paradigms in City Tourism Development was organized by UNWTO, the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism of Spain and Turisme Barcelona, with the collaboration of the Government of Catalonia, the Barcelona City Council and the Barcelona Provincial Council.

 

Useful links:

Presentations and keynotes from the 3^rd Global Summit on City Tourism 

Photos from the 3^rd Global Summit on City Tourism on Flickr

UNWTO Global Report on City Tourism

 

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.: PR 14083

According to UNWTO estimates, 300 to 330 million tourists visit the world´s key religious sites every year, with approximately 600 million national and international religious voyages in the world, 40% of which take place in Europe.  Being key tourism destinations, religious heritage sites not only drive international tourism and economic growth, but also provide important meeting grounds for visitors and host communities, making vital contributions to tolerance, respect and mutual understanding between different cultures.

With this backdrop, the International Conference on Religious Heritage and Tourism explored the main challenges and best practices for sustainable tourism development at religious sites in the city of Elche, Spain, home to the Mystery Play of Elx, the last living testimony of European religious theatre of the Middle Ages and declared a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

“Among the many motivations for travelling, visiting cultural or religious sites ranks high on travelers’ wish lists. Leveraging the growing interest for religious tourism worldwide is not only beneficial for the tourism sector, but crucial in building cultural dialogue and peace”, said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, opening the Conference. “Religious tourism can also be a powerful instrument for raising awareness regarding the importance of safeguarding one´s heritage and that of humanity, and help preserve these important sites for future generations”, he added. 

The Secretary of State for Tourism of Spain, Isabel Borrego, highlighted the fruitful cooperation between UNWTO and Spain in further spreading awareness of the value of historical, cultural and artistic heritage, and stressed the importance of this particular tourism segment for Spain. "There is not a single town or city in Spain where you won’t find traditions, festivals religious celebrations, pilgrimages, monasteries, cathedrals or pilgrimages. Religious tourism boosts economic activity and helps safeguard our rich historic heritage, and will play an essential role in the future of the tourism sector."

The Mayor of Elche, Mercedes Alonso García, said: “Tourists are not only seeking to experience nature but also the most deeply rooted creations of the human spirit. In this sense, and as this conference has shown, a quality tourism offer consists of tangible cultural and religious heritage, as well as the intangible realities and cultural events fostered by them."

During the Conference, participants highlighted the role of religious heritage sites and religious traditions in educating future generations and creating a sense of belonging in host communities, the need to preserve the integrity and authenticity of these sites and having local communities benefiting from tourism development.

Participants also highlighted that tourism has become one of the forces driving preservation in many religious sites due to the growing secularization of society, and that for tourists interacting with other religions is a unique experience that can only happen within the full respect for host communities. 

Useful links:

International Conference on Religious Heritage and Tourism: Types, Trends and Challenges

UNWTO Regional Programme for Europe

 

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.: PR 14081

The First UNWTO Conference on Accessible Tourism in Europe addressed how to advance quality, sustainability and competitiveness in accessible tourism with a special focus on cultural heritage and the use of smart technologies. Increased accessibility in tourism benefits people with disabilities and special needs while entailing important economic opportunities for the sector.

 “Accessible Tourism for All ranks high amongst the ethical challenges we have identified and which require our permanent attention and guidance”, said the Chairman of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics, Pascal Lamy, opening the Conference. ”Advocating for and advancing universal access in travel and tourism is both a question of rights and a question of ethics, a matter of quality and respect, of freedom and non-discrimination”, he added.

Echoing the legitimate right of access to tourism activities by people with disabilities, as established by the United Nations, the San Marino Declaration on Accessible Tourism was adopted unanimously, calling for all stakeholders to ensure universal accessibility in all the components of the tourism value chain. This includes the physical environment, the transportation system and information and communications channels, as well as to strengthen and engage public-private partnerships and other forms of cooperation among entities working in the field of universal accessibility.

UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai stressed that “People with disabilities and special needs should be able to actively take part in tourism just as any other traveller. Great strides have been made to advance universal accessibility, particularly in Europe, but there are still many opportunities to be seized. Accessibility for all depends much on the will of all players to work together, and we at UNWTO remain committed to advancing this fundamental agenda and implementing the necessary changes alongside our partners.”

While referring to the morphological features of the hilly mediaeval town of San Marino, the Minister of Tourism, H.E. Mr. Teodoro Lonfernini, pointed out that “San Marino is doing its best to make its territory accessible to as many visitors as possible, while also trying to enable an authentic travel experience to people with special needs”, adding that “if a country like the Republic of San Marino can achieve that, many other States should be able to follow the same path”.

The Conference was jointly organized by UNWTO and the Government of the Republic of San Marino in collaboration with Village for All (V4A) and the ONCE Foundation of Spain.

Useful links:

First UNWTO Conference on Accessible Tourism in Europe

San Marino Declaration

UNWTO Ethics and Tourism Programme: Accessible Tourism 

World Committee on Tourism Ethics 

 

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.: PR 14080

Besides the issue of accessibility, the Committee also debated the ethical implications of the promotion of fair models of all-inclusive holidays, the impact on tourism of unfounded ratings on travel portals and the effect of the rise of sharing economy in tourism.

“Tourism makes a great contribution to economy, although in occasions it can be damaging at a local level, our Committee pays special attention to this. The tourism sector is undergoing great changes (online booking systems, user generated ratings, the use of ICT and social networks in tourism); topics which we have to understand and reflect in our initiatives”, said Pascal Lamy, chair of the Committee.

Welcoming the Members of the Committee, the Minister for Culture and Tourism of Italy, Dario Franceschini, said “In these difficult times, characterized by economic and financial instability, natural disasters and unpredictable socio-political events, we are all aware that development can only be addressed with a shared ethical framework”.

“I would like to thank the outstanding support received from the Italian Government in advancing the important agenda of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics. It is the fourth time that the Committee meets in Rome thanks to the excellent cooperation established with Italy and to the support of the Rome Centre for the Promotion and Dissemination of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism. This collaboration shows the commitment of Italy to promote a more sustainable and responsible tourism development”, said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.

The Committee further backed the “Be a Responsible Traveler” anti-trafficking campaign by UNWTO, UNODC and UNESCO in cooperation with the private sector, to stand against human trafficking and illegal trade in wildlife, cultural artifacts and drugs. In the sphere of Child protection, the Committee acclaimed the participation of UNWTO in the forthcoming Global Study on the Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism and will follow up with attention the progress of this research.  

As the organ responsible for promoting and monitoring the implementation of the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, the Committee applauded the growing number of companies and trade associations that have adhered to the Private Sector Commitment to the Code. By November 2014, a total of 356 signatories from 51 countries had committed to promote and implement the Code in their business operations.

The World Committee on Tourism Ethics is the independent body responsible for promoting and monitoring the implementation of the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism. Its 14th Meeting was held in Rome, host city of the Centre for the Promotion of the Global Code of Ethics in Tourism, under the chairmanship of Pascal Lamy.

The next meeting of the Committee will take place in Istria, Croatia, on the occasion of the 100^th Session of the UNWTO Executive Council.

Note to editors:

The UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism (GCET) is a set of principles designed to guide the development of tourism in a way that maximizes the socio-economic benefits of the sector, while minimizing any negative impacts. It was adopted by the UNWTO General Assembly in 1999 and endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2001.

The World Committee on Tourism Ethics, a subsidiary organ of the UNWTO General Assembly, reports directly to the Assembly. Members are elected in their personal capacities and not as officials of governments or representatives of their countries.

Committee Chairman: Pascal Lamy (Former Director General of the World Trade Organization); members: Mr. I Gede Ardika (Former Minister of Tourism of Indonesia), Mr. Yoshiaki Hompo (Former Commissioner of Japan Tourism Agency), Ms. Fiona Jeffery (Former Chair of the World Travel Market), Mr. Khelil Lajmi (Former Minister of Tourism of Tunisia), Mr. Jean Marc Mignon (President, International Organisation for Social Tourism), Ms. Tanja Mihalic (Head of Institute of Tourism, University of Ljubljana), Mr. Ron Oswald (General Secretary, International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers´ Association), Mr. Eugenio Yunis (Executive Vice President, Federation of Tourism Enterprises of Chile); alternate members: Mr. Hiran Cooray (Chairman, Jetwing), Ms. Suzy Hatough (Director of Dar Al-Diafa for Tourism Human Resources Development Consultancy) and Ms. Gunnur Ozalp (Secretary-General, Association of Turkish Travel Agents).

 

Useful links:

UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism

World Committee on Tourism Ethics

UNWTO Private Sector Commitment to the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism

 

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.: PR 14068

The new Youth Tourism Cluster, an initiative by the Ministry of Tourism of Romania, brings together state institutions, private companies and international organizations with the common goal of promoting youth tourism in Romania. Its aim is to position the country as a destination for young people.

Speaking at the Conference, “Youngsters meet clusters, tourism and innovation” in Bucharest, UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, highlighted the potential of young people as an emerging travel segment:

“Young people are travelling more than ever and there is great potential for governments to unlock the socio-economic possibilities emerging from youth travel. Romania is now strategically positioned to actively develop youth travel policies, products and marketing campaigns to encourage more young people to travel or to engage in tourism businesses, which is essential in order to foster youth travel as a means for development.”

“Romania is a fun and ’user friendly’ travel destination, with astonishing panoramic mountain views, parties by the seaside and cosmopolitan cities, always opened to people in search for a fun time. The aim of this cluster is to develop projects targeting young people all over the world and to grow this niche for tourism in Romania. I see in this cluster an example of partnership whose main scope would be that of attracting young travelers. I hope that our initiative will encourage the creation of similar clusters in Europe and, why not, a best practices model in the world" said Florin Nicolae Jianu, Romanian Minister for SMEs, Business Environment and Tourism.

UNWTO estimates that 20% of all international tourists are between 15 to 29 years old. By the year 2020, there will be about 300 million international youth trips every year. The UNWTO Recommendations on Youth Travel, endorsed by the Organization’s 20^th General Assembly, recognizes the positive impact young travelers have on host communities, destinations and countries. It further identifies joint initiatives and partnerships among public and private tourism stakeholders as one of the key issues in fostering knowledge development, policy measures and investments in youth travel.

In little over a decade, the number of international tourists visiting Romania nearly doubled to reach 1.7 million in 2013, while exports generated by the tourism sector grew threefold from less than 400 million euros in 2000 to 1.1 billion euros last year.

 

Useful links:

The Power of Youth Travel 

UNWTO Recommendatins on Youth Travel

UNWTO Regional Programme for Europe 

 

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.: PR 14067

Facilitating travel for persons with disabilities is a vital element of any responsible and sustainable tourism development policy. Universal accessibility in tourism is not only related to respect for human rights, but also to the considerable economic opportunities that Tourism for All entails.

With a focus on heritage cities, the First UNWTO Conference on Accessible Tourism in Europe will address how to maintain and develop quality, sustainability and competitiveness in accessible tourism.

The Conference will feature best practices for universal accessibility and design in a wide range of European destinations. It will pay special attention to destinations that have developed accessible quality services for all while boosting their competitiveness, without neglecting the challenges of heritage protection. Other topics to be discussed include the development of adequate policies and the role of smart technologies in fostering universal accessibility in tourism infrastructures, facilities and services.

The Conference will be inaugurated by San Marino’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pasquale Valentini, Minister of Tourism, Teodoro Lonfernini, and the former Capitano Reggente (Chief of State) of San Marino, Mirko Tomassoni, who will be joined by the UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai and the Chairman of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics, Pascal Lamy, as universal accessibility in tourism has been defined as one of the top priorities of the Committee.

Speakers include representatives of the DG Enterprise and Industry of the European Commission, the League of Historical and Accessible Cities (LHAC), Salzburg, winner of the European Award of Accessible City in 2012, the Spanish ACS Foundation, the Spanish Agency for International Development and Cooperation (AECID), the ONCE Foundation, the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT), the Portuguese Tourism Organization (Turismo de Portugal), the Regions of Veneto and Sicily in Italy, Village for All (V4A), Scandic Hotels from Sweden and Visit England. 

 

Useful links:

First UNWTO Conference on Accessible Tourism in Europe

UNWTO Ethics and Tourism Programme: Accessible Tourism

World Committee on Tourism Ethics 

Press release: San Marino to host 1^st UNWTO European Conference on Accessible Tourism 

Village for All (V4A)

ONCE Foundation for social inclusion of people with disabilities

 

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