PR No.: PR14040

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 growth and prioritize the sector higher in national policies in order to maximize its potential.

Accepting the letter on behalf of Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski, Ms. Bobeva said “I am proud to receive UNWTO/WTTC Open Letter on Travel and Tourism and I know that it means many obligations for the Bulgarian government. We committed ourselves to encourage the development of such tourism which protects nature, which is accessible to all people, which creates jobs and presents to the world the natural sights, the rich history and the cultural heritage of Bulgaria."

Tourism is one of the main economic sectors in Bulgaria, accounting for nearly 14% of GDP. In 2013, Bulgarian tourism showed steady growth, welcoming close to 7 million international tourists, an increase of 5,5%, while international tourism receipts reached US$4,6 billion, increasing by 4,9%. The Bulgarian government is currently seeking to further expand the sector through a variety of measures, including increased air connectivity. A new Strategy for Sustainable Tourism Development until 2030, drawing special attention to cultural and historical tourism, is also under development.

“Tourism is contributing in a central manner to the Bulgarian economy, providing crucial job opportunities for the youth, more innovation, promotion and conservation of Bulgaria’s unique historical and natural heritage. It is extremely encouraging to see the support provided by the Government of Bulgaria to the tourism sector at the highest level and I am very confident that tourism in Bulgaria will continue to progress, benefitting locals and visitors alike”, said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.

The Open Letter was presented by Mr. Rifai during a four day official visit to Bulgaria, which also included the formal adherence of the National Tourism Council of Bulgaria to the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, pledging to support the public bodies of Bulgaria in the implementation of the Code and to raise awareness among relevant stakeholders.

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 62 heads of state and government.

 

Useful links:

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

The exhibition The Greek Language and its Influence on Global Thinking is currently on display at UNWTO’s Headquarters following a collaboration between the Organization and the Embassy of Greece in Spain (Madrid, Spain, 22 May 2014).

Greece is the most recent UNWTO Member State to display a cultural exhibition at the Organization’s headquarters in Madrid. The Greek Language and its Influence on Global Thinking gives insight into the contributions of the Greek language to the history of mankind - spanning over the past 3000 years.

“Tourism in Greece is showing record numbers, and the legacy of the Greek language is one of the many cornerstones of the Greek culture that inspires tourists from all over the world to visit Greece”, said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai during the opening of the exhibition.

The Ambassador of Greece to Spain, Franciscos Verros, highlighted the importance of tourism for Greece: “The development of tourism can and should lead the way out of the crisis. Tourism is one of the most important sectors of the Greek economy representing over 16% of GDP. The Greek language and the Greek culture constitute one of the main attractions for visitors, helping them to understand the contribution of Greek civilization to the Western World”.

On the occasion, Mr. Rifai welcomed the initiative of Greece´s Ministry of Culture and Tourism to boost tourism demand through a realigned national tourism strategy much in line with UNWTO´s key policies.

“I applaud Greece´s decision to reduce the VAT on hotels and tourism services, simplify visa procedures and its proactive efforts to diversify Greece´s tourism products.  These initiatives have greatly stimulated tourism demand and have fueled the optimistic prospects for Greece´s tourism in 2014 - offering a much needed boost at this critical stage of Greece´s economic revival”, said Mr. Rifai.

Note to editors:

In 2013, Greece welcomed close to 18 million tourists, a 16% growth compared to 2012, while tourism receipts reached unprecedented levels, injecting 12 billion euros to the Greek economy.  Since early 2013, Greece also hosts the first Sustainable Tourism Observatory in Europe under the auspices of UNWTO in the Aegan Islands, monitoring the environmental, social and economic impacts of tourism, while implementing sustainable tourism practices in close cooperation with the public and private 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.: PR14036

"Our thoughts at this difficult moment are with the all the people in Serbia, Bosnia and Croatia.” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. “Many livelihoods in this part of Europe depend on the tourism sector and we are calling on tourists to continue to visit the destinations and establishments still in operation as this can help to speed up rebuilding efforts," he added.

UNWTO is confident that the area will recover from this tragic occurrence and stands ready and committed to support the national authorities in any tourism-related recovery programmes for the affected areas in order to ensure that tourism continues to thrive and contribute to the region’s socio-economic development.

 

Useful links:

Statement Issued on Behalf of the National Tourism Organisation of Serbia Re Flood Crisis

 

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.: PR14028

The seasonal distribution of tourism activities is highly uneven in most mountain destinations, with the main turnover concentrated in the winter season in contrast with a clear decline of demand during the summer. Overcoming seasonality is key for both a more even spread of the economic benefits of tourism and to reduce environmental pressure on destinations.

Mountainlikers: New Trends in Mountain Tourism for the Summer Season, the theme of the 8^th World Tourism Congress on Snow and Mountain Tourism, addressed the need for mountain destinations to identify new marketing strategies and develop a more diverse tourism offer to remain competitive throughout the year.

Opening the Congress, the Prime Minister of Andorra, Mr. Antoni Martí, stressed the direct link between innovative tourism products and economic diversification: “The tourism strategy driven by the Government of Andorra is perfectly in line with the theme of this Congress. Andorra is currently aiming to further diversify our snow and mountain tourism offer with other compatible activities in the areas of wellness and conference tourism, among others."

Developing new approaches to mountain tourism is of strategic importance, said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. “Visitors are increasingly interested in mountains in search of new experiences linked to nature and sports. Combined with the need for mountain destinations to adapt their tourism offer to the impacts of climate change and expand the tourism season, now is the perfect time for destinations and operators to look into new products that will expand and adapt the tourism season while creating sustainable tourism experiences”.

Environmental sustainability, the active engagement of local communities, creating new experiences for visitors to enhance destination competitiveness, and state-of-the-art facilities for increased accessibility, were underscored as critical to diversify tourism products, which should also incorporate innovations ranging from the latest developments in outdoor sports and activities to mobile applications.

The Congress was organized by UNWTO and the Government of Andorra, in collaboration with the parish of Andorra la Vella. Gathering more than 450 participants from 31 countries, the Congress was the biggest event of its kind so far, a clear sign of the growing importance of mountain tourism.

The next edition of the World Congress on Snow and Mountain Tourism will be held in Sant Julià de Lòria, Andorra, in 2016.

 

Useful links:

8^th World Tourism Congress on Snow and Mountain Tourism

Congress image gallery on Flickr

 

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.: PR14027

The project, Support for Georgia in the Field of Protected Area Development, was implemented by UNWTO aiming to support Georgia in applying strategies and regulations for protected area management and sustainable tourism development in several protected mountain and freshwater areas across the country.

In line with UNWTO recommendations, Georgia has recognized tourism as a key driver of socio-economic progress and a sector that is able to provide important resources to be invested in cultural and natural preservation. Opening the Delivery Ceremony of the project, UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, underscored the value of sustainable tourism for environmental preservation. “UNWTO is very happy to support the Georgian Government in its efforts to promote sustainable tourism development. This project is an excellent example of how tourism can be a tool for the promotion and protection of biodiversity, providing visitors the opportunity to enjoy the best of nature while increasing awareness of the need to preserve it. We can take pride in saying that together we have created innovative sustainable tourism products, adding value for destinations and visitors alike.”

The Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia, Khatuna Gogaladze, thanked UNWTO, the German Government and the implementing partners for successfully realizing the project. She also expressed a desire for a continued partnership, stressing the importance of introducing more biodiversity-based tourism products in Georgia’s protected areas.

Dimitri Kumsishvili, First Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, highlighted some of the features making the project prominent: “Firstly, it is a great example of successful cooperation, not only between countries, but also between private and public sectors in the tourism industry. Secondly, the innovative eco-tourism products developed within the framework of the project will bring additional benefits to local communities, the destinations and the country itself. Above all, the project has established several good practices for sustainable tourism development in Georgia along with nature conservation and biodiversity protection.”

One of the main project outcomes is the establishment of a network of biodiversity-based tourism products in five Georgian national parks, creating unique experiences for visitors wanting to discover the Georgian landscape while generating income to preserve it for future generations. Among the products created are a mountain biking trail in Tbilisi National Park, a zip line park and a canyoning path in Mtirala National Park and an eco-paddling tour in Kolkheti National Park. Other activities carried out within the project include various capacity building courses with local tourism stakeholders as well as the development and implementation of marketing strategies for each protected area.

With the final phase completed, Support for Georgia in the Field of Protected Area Development is to serve as a lighthouse example for similar initiatives in Georgia and in the Caucasus.

The project was carried out by UNWTO’s Consulting Unit on Tourism and Biodiversity with the financial support of the Federal German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conversation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMU), and in partnership with the Agency for Protected Areas of Georgia (APA), the Georgian National Tourism Administration (GNTA),the Centre for Biodiversity Conservation and Research (NACRES) and the Georgian Tourism Association (GTA).

 

Useful links:

Support for Georgia in the Field of Protected Area Development

UNWTO Consulting Unit on Tourism and Biodiversity

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.: PR14026

International tourism in Europe continues to grow above expectations and despite the region's on-going economic constrains. In 2013, international tourist arrivals grew by 5%, an additional 29 million as compared to 2012, raising the total to 563 million, more than half of the world's total.

"Despite a fragile global economic recovery, particularly in the Eurozone, Europe continues to excel", said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, addressing the Meeting. "Many reasons are behind such positive performance, particularly growing collaboration and innovation, issues which are fundamental for Europe to ensure tourism continues to play a central role in the region's economic growth and job creation", he added.

"The international tourism policy agenda can only be effectively developed via intensive and international cooperation among tourism stakeholders", said Abulfas Garayev, Minister of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan. "The development of international tourism products, the worldwide promotion of open skies policies, the facilitation of international investments in tourism and the harmonisation of tourism standards and legislation around the globe are just some examples of the vast tourism agenda requiring continuous support from, and interaction between, national governments."

The main short-term challenges and priorities for European Tourism identified by UNWTO Member States include travel facilitation, connectivity, taxation, clustering and private-public partnerships, and the creation of favorable business environments to stimulate investment and innovation.

These policy priorities set the immediate tourism roadmap for Europe. The Commission concluded that as global tourism becomes increasingly competitive, Europe must take the lead on key issues such as innovation, accessible and inclusive tourism, and new models of cooperation that effectively bring together the diverse stakeholders involved in delivering tourism experiences.

The Seminar on Developing Effective Tourism Clusters, which preceded the Commission deliberations, underscored the need for tourism policy to contemplate the sector's fragmented nature and act to promote tourism clusters. The recently launched UNWTO project 'Madrid Precious Time' was presented as an example of innovative collaboration in stimulating new tourism products. Several examples of prominent clusters from UNWTO Member States such as Cyprus, France, Hungary, Norway and Romania were also presented.

Useful links:

Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for Europe

Madrid Precious Time

 

Contacts:

Senior Media Officer: Marcelo Risi

Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60

 

UNWTO Communications and Publications Programme

Tel: +34 91-567-8100 / Fax: +34 91-567-8218

PR No.: PR14025

UNWTO has been long advocating for the need to review the current APD scheme. The existing band scheme, according to which values to be paid by travellers are calculated according to the distance between London and the destination country’s capital city, has made long distance flying out of the UK significantly more expensive. This has created significant barriers for tourism development in long-haul destinations which depend mainly on air travel while curbing UK’s tourism competitiveness in emerging markets.

“While taxes are a fundamental fiscal tool, there is a growing concern regarding a proliferation of levies on travel and tourism which produce market distortions and act as trade barriers, hampering fair competition between destinations” said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai. “UNWTO, alongside partners such as WTTC, IATA, CTO and PATA, has been long advocating for the revision of the APD. This measure is very welcome news and we trust the UK economy as well as the economies of destinations with strong links to the UK will all benefit from this decision”, he added.

The UK’s announcement to review the APD follows similar reforms taken by countries such as the Netherlands, Ireland, Germany and Australia. Australia has recently frozen the Passenger Movement Charge (PMC).

 

Note to editors:

CTO: Caribbean Tourism Organization

IATA: International Air Transport Association

PATA: Pacific Asia Travel Association

WTTC: World Travel and Tourism Council

 

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

"The new year greeted us with very encouraging news for the tourism sector.

Despite the lingering challenges of the world economy, affecting namely Europe, despite geopolitical shifts, and even beyond UNWTO’s initial expectations, international tourism grew by a surprising 5% in 2013.

With an additional 52 million tourists travelling the world, the total number of international tourists reached in 2013 a staggering 1,087 million. Meaning, more than one billion people visited another country, either for business or leisure, in 2013.

What is more, much of tourism´s growth last year was boosted by the strong performance of Europe, where international tourist arrivals were up by a solid 5%. In Southern European countries, such as Spain, tourism has been steadily expanding over the years, in spite of the economic constraints in the Eurozone."

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PR No.: PR14023

Accessible Tourism for All defines the appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities have access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, transportation, information and communications and facilities open to the public or for public use.

In recognition of the importance of accessibility in tourism, UNWTO and the Government of the Republic of San Marino will jointly organize the 1^st UNWTO European Conference on Accessible Tourism, scheduled to be held in San Marino on 19 November 2014. The Conference will be addressing how to maintain and develop quality, sustainability and competitiveness in accessible tourism.

In signing the agreement at the side-lines of ITB Berlin with Teodoro Lonfernini, Minister of Tourism and Relations with Public Utilities State Corporation of San Marino, UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, underscored how “accessible tourism benefits everyone and advancing the rights and opportunities of people with disabilities should be seen as an opportunity as well as an obligation; UNWTO and the Republic of San Marino are both deeply committed to taking concrete action in this area”.

"Accessibility has become a fundamental issue in tourism. Many countries are devoting special attention to this topic and are adjusting their tourism systems and legislations. After being recognised as 2013 European Destination of Excellence (EDEN), San Marino is being offered by UNWTO the opportunity to focus on accessibility through the organisation of a European Conference in the Republic, which fills us with pride. This is a major challenge for the future that we all must meet", said Mr. Lonfernini.

According to the World Health Organization 15% of the world population has a physical, mental or sensory disability. In its efforts to mainstream universal accessibility within the tourism sector, UNWTO works closely with Disabled People’s Organizations (DPOs). In 2013, the General Assembly adopted the Recommendations on Accessible Tourism for All which incorporate the most relevant aspects of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities and Universal Design.

Additional highlights include the publication of Manuals on Accessible Tourism, one of which has been already released in partnership with the Spanish ACS Foundation. The manual co-produced with the ONCE Foundation is expected to be issued soon.

The 1^st UNWTO European Conference on Accessible Tourism will be held alongside the 14^th meeting of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics (WCTE), which recently declared accessible tourism for all one of its top priorities.

 

Useful links:

UNWTO Ethics and Tourism Programme: Accessible Tourism

World Committee on Tourism Ethics

UNWTO 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