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

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

UNWTO.org

 

WTTC

Communications Director: Toby Nicol

Tel: (+44 ) 207481 6483

www.wttc.org

PR No.: PR12073

A total of fourteen German entities signed Private Sector Commitments on the occasion of the DRV’s Annual Convention, pledging to promote and implement the values of responsible and sustainable tourism as championed by the Code.

“The German travel sector is committed to the World Tourism Organization’s Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and is confirming this with the signature of the German Travel Association (DRV - Germany’s leading tourism industry association) and the signatures of leading tourism companies,” said Ernst Burgbacher, Parliamentary State Secretary in the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, in a video address to the Convention.

“I explicitly welcome this initiative by the DRV and am delighted that the ceremony is taking place in the presence of UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai. German tourists do a great deal of travelling, and the German tourism industry operates all around the world. It is therefore important that it also accepts responsibility for socially acceptable, environmentally aware and sustainable tourism,” he added.

DRV President, Jürgen Büchy, said: “For a long time, we have felt committed to the fundamental principles of the Code of Ethics for Tourism. Therefore the signing of this Commitment by our Trade Association is a natural matter of course. With our signature we wish to contribute towards respectful and responsible conduct in tourism, with regards to all peoples, cultures and the environment. In this way, we hope to sensitize other enterprises to the Code, so that the principles stipulated therein are ever more strongly reflected in our daily behaviour.”

UNWTO, Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, spoke of the need for the private sector to embrace the principles of ethical, sustainable and universally accessible tourism in order for responsible tourism “to become a tangible reality in our world.”  

“It is hugely encouraging that tourism companies of the size and reputation as the ones present today are taking this crucial step towards a more responsible tourism sector,” he said.   

Chief executive TUI AG and Chairman of TUI Travel PLC, Michael Frenzel, said: “Tourism brings people and markets together and is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world. We have to assure that the tourism services we provide in our destinations are not detached from ecological and social conditions in the receiving country. In this respect the UNWTO Code of Ethics for Tourism plays a pivotal role in promoting a responsible tourism development.”

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.

UNWTO promotes the adherence of private tourism enterprises and associations to the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism. A special focus on social, cultural and economic issues is one of the main objectives of the Private Sector Commitment to the Code. 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:

Companies to sign the Private Sector Commitment to the UNWTO Code of Ethics for Tourism:

AIDA Cruises; Air Berlin; Deutscher ReiseVerband (DRV); FTI Group; Gebeco; Phoenix Reisen; REWE Touristik Gesellschaft; Schauinsland-Reisen; SKR Reisen; Studiosus Reisen München; Thomas Cook AG; TUI AG; TUIfly; and Windrose Finest Travel.

 

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

 

Photo credits: DRV e.V.

There is a need for increased recognition of tourism’s role in strengthening intercultural understanding and mutual respect. This is one of the conclusions and calls for action reached by tourism officials, heads of leading tourism companies and representatives from international organizations meeting at a UNWTO conference in Armenia (Yerevan, Armenia, 18-19 October 2012).   

The Conference debated topics ranging from the balance between the integration of universal values in responsible tourism with the preservation of core cultural values, to the protection of cultural heritage sites and the links between tourism and intangible cultural heritage.

“The one billion travelers that cross international borders each year translate into opportunities for intercultural dialogue and understanding, tolerance and respect; the building blocks of universal values,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, opening the International Conference on ‘Universal Values and Cultural Diversity in the 21st Century: How can tourism make a difference?’.

Concluding the Conference, participants adopted the Yerevan Declaration highlighting the role of tourism in advancing intercultural dialogue and understanding. 

“In line with the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, the Yerevan Declaration not only underscores the vital role tourism plays in fostering intercultural understanding, it also sets out the steps that all actors need to take to further strengthen this role,” said Mr. Rifai.

These steps include avoiding the over-commodification of local cultural heritage, encouraging community-based tourism projects, and the training of tourism staff on how to involve local communities in tourism development.    

On the occasion of the Conference, five of Armenia’s most prominent tourism companies signed the Private Sector Commitment to the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism. Representatives of Armenia Marriott Hotel Yerevan, ARM Hotels, Tufenkian Hospitality, the Union of Incoming Tour Operators of Armenia (UITO) and Zvartnots Armenia International Airports, signed the Commitment in the presence of the Minister of Economy of the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Tigran Davtyan, and Mr. Rifai. 

In signing the Commitment, the five enterprises joined the ever growing list of private sector companies and associations that have publicly pledged to uphold, promote and implement the values advocated by the Code of Ethics.

 

Relevant links:

International Conference on: "Universal Values and Cultural Diversity in the 21st Century: How can tourism make a difference?"

Yerevan Declaration

UNWTO 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.: PR12057

Congratulating UNWTO and WTTC on the initiative, which to date counts of the participation of 38 heads of state and government, the Captains Regent applauded both organizations for “bringing tourism back to the centre of attention on account of its economic, cultural and social values.”

“We assure you that we and the San Marino Government will pay the utmost attention to this campaign given the great importance we attach to tourism in our economy. Indeed, every year we host two million visitors in our small country,” said the Captains Regent.

On an official visit to San Marino, UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, presented the UNWTO/WTTC Open Letter on the importance of Travel & Tourism in facing current economic and social challenges to the Captains Regent, on what was their first audience following their swearing-in the previous day. Addressing the Captains Regent, Mr. Rifai spoke of the importance of garnering support for tourism at the highest levels of government.

“By presenting the Open Letter on Travel & Tourism to heads of state and government, UNWTO and WTTC are encouraging world leaders to back tourism as a sector that can deliver on some of the major challenges of our time, including economic growth, employment and inclusive development. Given that over 10% of its population is employed in tourism, San Marino is well aware of tourism’s huge potential,” said Mr. Rifai.   

WTTC President & CEO, David Scowsill, said “San Marino has been welcoming tourists for centuries to experience a history that goes back over two thousand years. Today, its attractions such as Borgo Maggiore and the world-famous Moto GP Grand Prix, bring some two million tourists every year to the Republic. With a total population of about 33,000, the value of Travel & Tourism is absolutely understood by the Government.”

 

Contacts:

UNWTO Principal Media Officer: Marcelo Risi

Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60

mrisi@UNWTO.org

UNWTO.org

 

WTTC Communications Director: Toby Nicol

Tel: (+44 ) 207481 6483

toby.nicol @ wttc.org

www.wttc.org