PR No.: PR 14066

The number of international tourists visiting Greece in the first half of 2014 grew by 17%, driven by the strong demand from key European outbound markets such as Germany and the United Kingdom.

Such results, which are well above the growth registered in Southern European destinations (+7%), consolidate the very positive performance of 2013 and confirm the importance of the tourism sector as a stronghold of Greece´s economy. In 2013, international tourists in Greece reached 18 million (+16%) generating US$ 16 billion (+13%).

According to UNWTO the strength of the tourism sector in Greece is the result of a robust tourism policy, of the implementation of fundamental competitiveness measures and of the immense capacity of the private sector to adjust to a fast changing market.

Prime Minister Samaras has expressed solid support to tourism recalling that Greece´s tourism sector is “the first locomotive that started and began to pull our economy out of a painful six-year recession.”

During the meeting, also attended by the Minister of Tourism Olga Kefalogianni, Mr. Rifai commended Prime Minister Samaras on taking key steps to support the tourism sector, including simplifying visa procedures to encourage travel to Greece, reducing the Value Added Tax (VAT) on hotels and tourism services, and supporting the cruise industry. “These measures enhance the competitiveness of Greece’s tourism while sending a very strong political message of support to the sector” said Mr. Rifai.

On behalf of UNWTO, Mr Rifai underscored the importance of giving continuity to the current tourism policy as a means to ensure the sector continues to play a key role in the country’s economic growth and stability and committed to continue supporting Greece in advancing its tourism sector. 

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.: 14065

In his official message on the occasion of UN Day, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon underlined: “The United Nations is needed more than ever at this time of multiple crises. (…) At this critical moment, let us reaffirm our commitment to empowering the marginalized and vulnerable. On United Nations Day, I call on Governments and individuals to work in common cause for the common good.”

During the celebration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Spain, Minister José Manuel García-Margallo said: “Spain will continue to be committed to multilateralism, which means being committed to the UN.”

On behalf of the UN in Spain, the Secretary-General of UNWTO, Taleb Rifai, congratulated Spain for having been elected for a fifth time to serve as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and recalled that UN Day, aside from being a celebration, is “also a solemn reminder of the many challenges our world continues to face”. He added: “In today’s interconnected world, every local or regional conflict or crisis is a global concern, a global responsibility and people around the world are increasingly looking up to the UN for leadership, for answers, and for solutions.”

24 October marks the anniversary of the entry into force of the Charter of the United Nations in 1945.

Spain committed to the UN

As one of the major donors of the Organization, Spain's commitment is also embodied in the more than 130,000 Spanish troops who have participated in peacekeeping operations or the recent opening of the United Nations World Food Programme humanitarian depot in the Canary Islands.

Moreover, the Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund was created in 2007 thanks to a substantial contribution by Spain, supporting the fight against extreme poverty and promoting sustainable development worldwide. 

In hosting the headquarters of UNWTO, the UN Specialized Agency for tourism, in Madrid, Spain reinforces its leadership in the fields of tourism and highlights the value of the sector as a major contributor to economic and social development and the aims of the UN.

UN entities represented in Spain:

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), United Nations Support Base in Valencia (UNSB-V); United Nations Millennium Campaign in Spain; United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); United Nations University Institute; United Nations Support Office for the International Decade for Action “Water for Life” 2005-2015; United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA); United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); International Labour Organization (ILO); World Health Organization (WHO) - WHO Office for Health Systems Strengthening;  World Tourism Organization (UNWTO); The United Nations Global Compact (UNGC, LN Spain), United Nations World Food Programme  (WFP).

Useful links:

UN Day

Full speech by UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai (as prepared for delivery) 

Contacts:

UNWTO Senior Media Officer: Marcelo Risi

Tel.: (+34) 91 567 81 60

UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme

Tel.: (+34) 91 567 8100 +34 91 567 8218

PR No.: PR 14062

The report, jointly prepared by UNWTO and Norwegian Accreditation, an agency of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries of Norway, through its QualityMark Norway programme, looks into how hotel classifications and online guest reviews can be incorporated to reduce the gap between guests' expectations and experiences.

The report shows that a refined and integrated model, whether through full integration or in parallel, is expected to have positive financial impacts as consumer confidence in hotel classificationincreases purchase intention.

The emergence of user-generated content reviews has revolutionized the travel decision-making process as travellers are increasingly dependent on online guest reviews to make their purchase decisions. As online travel-related searches are on the rise, hotel classifications and guest reviews have complementary roles in the search process.

Data shows that before making an online hotel reservation, consumers visit on average14 different travel-related sites with about three visits per site, and carry out nine travel-related searches on search engines. Official hotel classifications are often used by consumers as a filter while guest reviews are key in taking a final decision.

In view of these trends, there is increasing interest in taking the classification process to the digital/social sphere, with regions and associations like Abu Dhabi, the German Hotel and Restaurant Association and Hotelleriesuisse exploring the integration of online guest reviews into traditional methods for hotel classification.

The report presents an integrated approach whereby guest reviews add a subjective dimension to the objective elements of hotel classifications, thereby refining the classification method.

The report counted on interviews conducted by QualityMark Norway, Cornell University’s Center for Hospitality Research, Tourism Ireland and AA Ireland as well as with the views of executives, managers and general managers of hotels, guest review providers and online travel agents.

Useful links:
Full 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.: PR 14059

With this backdrop, the First International Congress on Tourism and Pilgrimages to take place in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, on 17-20 September 2014, aims to highlight the positive contributions of pilgrimages and spiritual routes to sustainable and responsible tourism, as well as the contribution of tourism to cultural understanding and the preservation of natural and cultural heritage related to ancient trails and sacred places.

”With their unique historical, cultural and natural features, pilgrimages represent vital opportunities to further strengthen tourism’s ability to foster intercultural dialogue and contribute to the protection of religious and spiritual sites,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.  

The Secretary of State for Tourism of Spain, Isabel Borrego, recalled that “the city of Santiago de Compostela is a reference for religious tourism in Spain. To visit its historic centre, a UNESCO Heritage Site, and walk the Santiago path are unique experiences. Spain has much to offer in terms of religious tourism”: Santiago, intense pilgrimages and religious celebrations, important monasteries and cathedrals and many religious festivities of great interest.”

According to UNWTO estimates, 300 to 330 million tourists visit the world´s key religious sites every year, making spiritual tourism a significant part of both domestic and international tourism.

Bringing together experts from a diverse range of countries including Argentina, Australia, India, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Paraguay, The Republic of Korea, Spain and Thailand, among others, the Congress will address issues such as the role of pilgrimages as drivers of local development, identify the motivational factors behind the demand for spiritual tourism, and analyze strategies in developing and marketing sustainable pilgrimage tourism products.

Useful links:

1^st UNWTO International Congress on Tourism and Pilgrimages

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 14047

Mr. Rifai commended the decision of France to place tourism as a national ‘cause’ and welcomed the 30 measures recently announced by the Government to promote the competitiveness of the sector, in particular the visa facilitation measures. These include, among other, the extension of the ‘visas in 48 hours’ initiative, launched in China in early 2014, to several Gulf countries, South Africa and India. Ms. Pellerin explained that the measure had translated into an exponential growth in the number of visas issued in the Chinese market from 30 to 250%.

“The call by President Hollande to place tourism as a national cause clearly shows the value that is awarded to the sector in France as a means to create jobs and improve the balance of payments”, said Mr Rifai. “France is a tourism leader, the most visited destination in the world, and is aware that keeping such position in today’s competitive market requires strong cross-cutting policies that support the sector. At UNWTO we particularly welcome the measures adopted by France to promote visa facilitation, one of our priorities, as we trust that, as our research shows, these measures yield significant return in terms of economic growth and job creation”, he added.

Further issues on the agenda included tourism taxation and the integration of tourism under the portfolio of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development, a decision welcomed by UNWTO as it provides an opportunity to advance key issues such as travel facilitation and the inclusion of tourism in the international trade agenda. On the issue of taxation, Mr Rifai recalled UNWTO position on the importance of evaluating the global impact on the economy of any changes in tourism taxation and welcomed the fact that a possible raise of tourism taxes in France currently under discussion is being seriously debated considering such impact.

On the occasion of his visit to France, Mr Rifai addressed the 3^rd Parliamentarian Meeting on Tourism (3e Rencontres Parlementaires sur le Tourisme: Et si le redressement passait par le tourisme?) highlighting the role of the sector in accelerating the economic recovery in Europe.

Useful links:

Full speech by UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai (in English)

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