PR No.: 13011
The “Monitoring Centre for Sustainable Tourism Observatories” was inaugurated on the Aegean Islands, the main archipelago of Greece. This first Sustainable Tourism Observatory in Europe under the auspices of UNWTO will monitor the environmental, social and economic impacts of tourism in the archipelago and serve as a model to expand the concept to a national level. (5 February 2013)
Established by the University of the Aegean in collaboration with UNWTO and with the support of the Ministry of Tourism of Greece, the Centre will monitor and implement sustainable tourism practices in close cooperation with the tourism public and private sector in the area of the Aegean.
“Greece is endowed with a rich cultural and natural heritage; it is evident that the relationship between tourism and the environment is a central concern for our national strategy”, said the Minister of Tourism of Greece, Olga Kefalogianni. Set in the framework of Greece’s special action programme in collaboration with key environmental partners, such as the Academy of Athens, “any initiative contributing to this purpose finds the active support of the Ministry of Tourism”, she added.
UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai stressed that “the establishment of the Aegean Observatory will provide critical information to better manage the advancement of sustainability in one of the prime destinations of the Mediterranean”; adding that “only by better understanding the interaction between tourism and its surrounding, can we improve existing sustainable tourism initiatives and ensure that tourism continues to work for the local population and the destination as a whole”.
The Observatory of the Aegean Islands joins the five existing sustainable tourism observatories established in China under the auspices of UNWTO.
About the Global Tourism Observatories:
In order to strengthen institutional capacities for information management and monitoring in support of decision and policy making, UNWTO launched the concept of the Global Observatory of Sustainable Tourism (GOST) based on the UNWTO methodology for sustainable tourism indicators. GOST intends to facilitate the establishment of a network of observatories at all levels, through the use of a systematic application of monitoring, evaluation (sustainable tourism indicators) and information management techniques, as key tools for the formulation and implementation of sustainable tourism policies, strategies, plans and management processes.
Relevant links:
UNWTO Sustainable Tourism Indicators: /en/content/indicators-sustainability-tourism-destinations
UNWTO Global Tourism Observatories: /en/content/global-observatory-sustainable-tourism-gost
Contacts:
UNWTO Principal Media Officer: Marcelo Risi
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60
UNWTO Communications Programme
Tel: +34 91-567-8100
Fax: +34 91-567-8218
PR No.: 13010
Ensuring that tourism facilities and sites meet the needs of persons with disabilities, both as a key means of promoting tourism for all and as an engine for market growth, were the main focus of the International Conference on "Accessibility in tourism: an ethical value, a business opportunity" (14 February 2013, BIT Milan, Italy).
The event, organized by the Permanent Secretariat of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics hosted by the Italian Presidency of the Council of Ministers at the Office for Tourism Policies of the Department of Regional Affairs, Tourism and Sport in Rome, was held with the support of UNWTO and constitutes another significant step in the Organization’s endeavours in the area of accessibility. Participants included representatives from hotels, tourism companies, disabled persons organizations and students from three higher tourism education centres in Italy.
“Accessibility in tourism is a right and an ethical obligation, but it is also an important business opportunity,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, opening the event. “Accessibility should be an integral part of all tourism facilities, products and services, ideally from their very inception, or through the adaptation of existing tourism supply,” he added.
“As underlined by Secretary-General Rifai, the element which we intend to highlight today is that full accessibility in tourism, besides being an ethical responsibility, is also a development opportunity for the whole sector. For this reason, the Italian government, and I as Minister, have advanced numerous actions that have given a strong impulse to accessibility, with the involvement of all stakeholders. Today’s initiative is part of these efforts”, said the Minister for Regional Affairs, Tourism and Sport of Italy, Piero Gnudi.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one billion people worldwide – 15% of the global population – suffer from some form of disability. This number is expected to continue rising as a result of demographic changes, particularly the rapid ageing of the global population.
Accessibility is one of the key areas of UNWTO’s work in sustainable tourism development. Article 7 of the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism – a guide for the promotion of sustainable, responsible and accessible tourism endorsed by the United Nations in 2001 - calls for the facilitation of tourism by all persons.
The International Conference on Accessibility in Tourism: an Ethical Value, a Business Opportunity was held in the framework of the Italian tourism fair, BIT Milan. On this occasion, the UNWTO Secretary-General joined Minister Gnudi in the presentation of Italy’s Strategic Tourism Plan, “Italy 2020”, and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Italy regarding the Permanent Secretariat of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics, established in Rome in November 2008.
Useful links:
UNWTO Global Code of Ethics: /background-global-code-ethics-tourism
UNWTO Resolutions and Recommendations on Accessible Tourism:
/en/content/resolutions-and-recommendations-tourism-accessibility
Contacts:
Principal Media Officer: Marcelo Risi
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60
UNWTO Communications Programme
Tel: +34 91-567-8100
Fax: +34 91-567-8218
PR No.: PR13008
The French Travel Agents Association – SNAV, les Professionnels du Voyage – has signed the Private Sector Commitment to the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism. With this signing, SNAV commits to promote sustainable tourism practices, with a special focus on socio-cultural and economic issues (2 February, Tenerife, Spain).
The signing of the Code entails the commitment by SNAV to promote and implement the values of responsible and sustainable tourism development championed by the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics.
“With this adherence, SNAV pledges to observe the principles of the Code as well as to disseminate and report on its implementation in SNAV’s corporate governance”, said Fréderic Pierret, UNWTO Executive Director for Programme and Coordination, who represented UNWTO at the signing held on the occasion of the SNAV Congress in Tenerife, Spain. “We are proud to have SNAV embracing the principles of ethical, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism”, he added.
For Georges Colson, President of SNAV, “The signature of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism represents a strong and necessary commitment. We, French tourism professionals, are very pleased to join the signatories of the Code. Indeed, we must be the guardians of a new balance in the implementation of our businesses; a balance that fully respects the environment and our fellowmen”.
Together with the environmental sustainability components being increasingly incorporated into businesses operations across the globe, the Commitment seeks to draw particular attention to issues such as human rights, social inclusion, gender equality, accessibility, and the protection of vulnerable groups and host communities.
Note to editors:
SNAV – les Professionnels du Voyage (snav.amadeus.fr) represents more than 1,400 tourism enterprises, generating more than € 24 billion in annual turnover.
Adopted in 1999 by the UNWTO General Assembly and endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2001, the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism 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.
Relevant links:
The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism
Contacts:
UNWTO Principal Media Officer: Marcelo Risi
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60
UNWTO Communications Programme
Tel: +34 91-567-8100
Fax: +34 91-567-8218
PR No.: PR13003
The Dutch Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (ANVR), representing 200 tour operators and 1,400 travel agencies in the Netherlands, has pledged to observe the principles of the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism (Utrecht, the Netherlands, 9 January 2013).
The ANVR joins the growing number of tourism companies and associations to sign a Private Sector Commitment to the UNWTO Code of Ethics, pledging to promote and implement the values of responsible and sustainable tourism development as championed by the Code. The signature took place during the ANVR event “Changes in Tourism”, held at the Dutch travel fair Vakantiebeurs, with the participation of HRH Princess Laurentien van Oranje.
“We are delighted that the ANVR is adding its voice to those embracing the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, at the signing of the commitment in Utrecht. “As the only association in the world which has made it mandatory for all its members to appoint a trained sustainability coordinator, ANVR is a clear example of how the private sector can move forward in the implementation of the Code.”
“On Behalf of the Dutch tour operators and travel agents we, as the Netherlands Association, are very proud that we have signed the code. We strongly believe that the tourism sector can and must play a very important role in improving and stimulating a sustainable future for the people at the various destinations. It is our conviction that tourism in that way is part of the solution by realising a sustainable future. Signing the Code plays a very important part in that vision. I strongly encourage other travel companies and organizations to sign the Ccode and I would like to thank the UNWTO for this wonderful initiative”, said Frank Oostdam, Director of ANVR.
On his visit to the Netherlands, Mr. Rifai also handed Travelife Certified certificates to three Dutch Tour Operators – TUI Nederland, SNP Natuurreizen and Kuoni Specialists – an international certification scheme for tour operators and travel agents. Travelife for tour operators recently received, as the first certification scheme for tour operators, ‘recognized’ status from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), of which UNWTO is a founding partner and board member.
Note to editors:
Adopted in 1999 by the UNWTO General Assembly and endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2001, the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism 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.
Relevant links:
The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism
Contacts:
UNWTO Principal Media Officer: Marcelo Risi
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60
UNWTO Communications Programme
Tel: +34 91-567-8100
Fax: +34 91-567-8218
Azerbaijan joins UNWTO’s One Billion Tourists: One Billion Opportunities campaign calling on tourists to make a difference when traveling abroad and recalling the positive impact that even the smallest actions can have if multiplied by one billion.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan joined this initiative by organizing an event at Heydar Aliyev International Airport (Baku) on 13 December, 2012. The passengers of Baku-London flight of Azerbaijan Airlines have been revealed as the symbolic faces of the one billion international tourists travelling in 2012. They were welcomed by the officials of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan and representatives of Azerbaijan Airlines. As it was impossible to know exactly where the one-billionth tourist arrived, all the passengers were presented the certificate of 1 billionth tourist jointly signed by Mr. Abulfas Garayev, the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Mr. Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of the UNWTO.
Furthermore, a roundtable on the theme “One Billion Tourists: One Billion Opportunities” was held in Azerbaijan Tourism Institute, UNWTO Affiliate Member, where Mr. Jafar Jafarov, Rector of Azerbaijan Tourism Institute addressed the development of tourism sector in Azerbaijan.
Read more:
One Billion Tourists: One Billion Opportunities: www.1billiontourists.unwto.org
To see where the one billion tourists come from, where they travel to, how they get there and what their trip means for development, see the One Billion Tourists infographic: /archive/global/news/2012-12-12/infographics-turning-one-billion-tourists-one-billion-opportunities
Press release: International tourism hits one billon: /archive/global/press-release/2012-12-12/international-tourism-hits-one-billion
Video: UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, on the importance of reaching one billion international tourists: /archive/global/news/2012-12-12/videos-unwto-secretary-general-taleb-rifai-importance-reaching-one-billion-internati
PR No.: PR12075
The President of Portugal, Anibal Cavaco Silva, has highlighted the importance of tourism to the country’s jobs and exports on the occasion of the presentation of the UNWTO / World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Open Letter on Travel and Tourism which aims to rally support for tourism among world leaders (Lisbon, Portugal, 6 December 2012).
Meeting UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, and WTTC President and CEO, David Scowsill, President Cavaco Silva recalled that tourism directly represents 9% of Portugal’s GDP and 8% of the workforce.
“Tourism is very important for jobs and exports in Portugal,” said President Cavaco Silva, while highlighting the capacity the sector has in reducing poverty around the world and welcoming the work of the United Nations through UNWTO in this regard. The President said it was central to “support increasing mobility around the globe as this is critical not only to the tourism sector, but also to the wellbeing of people as the tourism sector is of growing importance to many countries.”
“In these challenging times for many countries in Europe, tourism can be part of the solution not only for the jobs and the growth the sector generates directly, but also due to the immense linkages tourism has with many other sectors of the economy to which it brings extra demand,” said Mr. Rifai.
WTTC President & CEO, David Scowsill, said “Few countries have a greater dependence on Travel & Tourism than Portugal. During 2012, our industry will sustain directly and indirectly almost 18% of all jobs and contribute 15% of Portugal's GDP. There is a large private sector committed to economic growth and job creation, which is committed to work with the government to stimulate further growth in these difficult economic times. The President understands the huge economic and social contribution that the industry makes to the Portuguese economy, and reflected this in his comments in our meeting.”
Also attending the meeting were Mr. Pedro Costa Ferreira, President of the Portuguese Association of Travel Agents; Mr. André Jordan, President of the Andre Jordan Group, member of WTTC; Mr. Fernando Pinto, President of TAP Portugal, member of WTTC; Mr. Manuel Fernando Espírito Santo, President of Rioforte, member of WTTC.
Contacts:
UNWTO
Principal Media Officer: Marcelo Risi
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60
WTTC
Communications Director: Toby Nicol
Tel: (+44 ) 207481 6483
