International tourism experts and leading media representatives, including from Newsweek, TIME Magazine, Google and the national tourism entities of Brazil, Columbia and Slovenia, will come together to discuss the positioning of tourism in the media as an economic, employment and development driver at ‘Tourism in the Headlines’, the 1^st UNWTO International Conference on Tourism and the Media, (12 – 13 September, Zagreb, Croatia).

The UNWTO event, organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism of Croatia, will address the growing need for tourism to be acknowledged, in mainstream media as much as in specialized travel outlets, as an economic and development tool for modern-day challenges. The conference will consider the case for tourism as a socio-economic instrument – facilitating jobs, economic growth and poverty alleviation opportunities – and provide practical debates on the most effective tools for reaching the headlines.

CNN International will act as the media partner for the event and their own Germany correspondent, Frederik Pleitgen, will deliver the keynote presentation ‘Tourism: Front Page News’, sharing with participants his unique insight as a well-respected and experienced reporter.

Other confirmed speakers include Michael Schuman of TIME Magazine, Sana Butler of Newsweek International, John Bell of the Guardian and Susana Reyero of Edelman. 

The event provides an outstanding global networking opportunity, with confirmed participants from over 30 countries worldwide with backgrounds ranging from National Tourism Authorities to social media specialists. The meeting also features the collaboration of the World Federation of Travel Journalists and Writers (FIJET).

All information about the conference, including discounted accommodation options, is now available here and registration through the website is open.

Relevant links:

‘Tourism in the Headlines’ conference information

Conference registration

‘Tourism in the Headlines’ press release

 

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

 

 

International tourism recovery is underway across the world. Sustaining this growth through innovation, while advancing social responsibility in the sector, is the objective at the heart of the activities and events organized by UNWTO at this year’s Travel Trade Show, ITB Berlin (Berlin, Germany, 9-13 March 2011).

The UNWTO Secretary-General will deliver the keynote address at the official opening of ITB (8 March, 18.00, ICC, Hall 1) reflecting on tourism’s role in the past decade, looking ahead to the next, and setting the tone for UNWTO activities at ITB 2011:

Silk Road Ministers’ Summit (9 March, 11.00 – 13.00, Room Istanbul between Halls 10 and 11)

Leaders of the Silk Road destinations will meet to discuss how they can work together to maximize tourism development through the revival of the Silk Road brand. Organized by UNWTO and supported by ITB Berlin, the Summit will debate development and investment opportunities while tackling some of the regions’ most critical issues and challenges such as travel facilitation.

The Silk Road B2B Tour Operators Networking Event (10 March, 10.00 – 11.30, Room Istanbul between Halls 10-11), will bring together outbound and and incoming tour operators to explore new business opportunities and exchange tips on selling the Silk Road.

The Silk Road Hour, shown daily at 14.00-15.00 on the silver screen at the ITB Film Festival 2011, will be a collection of short films and live cultural performances featuring the destinations of the Silk Road, organized by the National Tourism Administrations.

For more information, please visit www.UNWTO.org/silkroad or contact silkroad@UNWTO.org

Workshop on the Protection of Tourists/Consumers and Travel Organizers (9 March, 17.00 – 19.00, Palais West, North Entrance through Hall 19)

The rapid growth in international tourism, coupled with the rise of crises situations, man-made or natural, calls for global binding rules governing the rights and responsibilities of tourists and tour operators. This first UNWTO Workshop is intended to trigger debate on a future legal instrument that will ensure the protection of both tourists and professionals in times of crises.

For more information, please visit http://www2.UNWTO.org/en/event/unwto-workshop-touristsconsumers or contact ecsr@UNWTO.org

UNWTO Press Conference - International tourism figures and UNWTO events (10 March, 12.00 – 14.00, ICC, Hall 4/5)

The UNWTO Secretary-General will present the tourism trends and figures for the full year 2010 and preliminary data for 2011. The conclusions of the Global Tourism Forum Andorra 2011, directly preceding ITB, will be presented, as well as the calendar of upcoming UNWTO events for 2011.

For more information, please contact comm@UNWTO.org

For information on the Global Tourism Forum Andorra 2011: http://gtfandorra.UNWTO.org

Launch of the UNWTO/UN Women Global Report on Women in Tourism 2010 (11 March, 10.30 – 12.30, ICC, Hall 7)

Since 2008, UNWTO and UN Women (formerly UNIFEM) have been working together to bring gender issues to the forefront of tourism, promoting gender equality, women’s empowerment and the mainstreaming of gender issues in national tourism policies and corporate decisions. The result of this close collaboration, the ‘Global Report on Women in Tourism 2010’, is a landmark study and the first to map women’s active participation in the tourism sector worldwide.

The report will be officially launched at ITB by the UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, and the UN Women Deputy Director, Joanne Sandler.

For more information please visit /archive/global/event/launch-unwtounwomen-global-report-women-tourism-2010 or contact ecsr@UNWTO.org

26th Meeting of the Task Force for the Protection of Children in Tourism (11 March, 14.30 – 17.30, ICC, Hall 7)

The annual meeting of the International Task Force for the Protection of Children in Tourism will this year focus on child protection in tourism planning and development.

 

 

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The heads of 25 UN entities have released a statement reaffirming their commitment to make young people a priority in their work and incorporate their perspectives within the United Nations system. This expression of support at the highest level comes in the context of the United Nations International Year of Youth (August 2010 – August 2011).

“With strengthened resolve, we stand ready to work as one within the United Nations to support young people in achieving their aspirations,” says the statement.

UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, was among the signatories of the joint statement of the UN Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development (IANYD). Youth travel has become an increasingly important part of global tourism in recent decades and the sector offers vital socio-economic opportunities for young people.  

Relevant links:

Joint Statement of the UN Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development

About the UN Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development

Joint Statement by Heads of UN Entities for the Launch of the International Year of Youth

Youth Travel Matters – Understanding the Global Phenomenon of Youth Travel

Youth Outbound Travel of the Germans, the British & the French

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.: PR 11065

Following the terrible events in Norway, the UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, made the following statement:

“UNWTO was profoundly shocked by last Friday’s appalling attacks in Norway which claimed many innocent lives.

On behalf of UNWTO and the international tourism community, I wish to convey our sincere condolences to all those that have lost loved ones and to the Government and people of Norway in this difficult time”. 

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

                     

Montreal, 28 June 2011 – On 27 May 2011, the seven Parties to the Framework Convention on the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Ukraine) signed a protocol on sustainable tourism in Bratislava, Slovakia, that uses as its basis the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Guidelines on Biodiversity and Tourism Development. More...

The First International Tourist Forum in Arkhangelsk ITFA was held in the framework of the celebrations dedicated to the 300-years anniversary of the famous Russian scientist Mikhail Lomonosov in order to stimulate tourism development in the Barents Region and extend interregional and international relations in tourism sector (Arkhangelsk, Russian Federation 25-26 May 2011).

The Forum was organized by the Government of the Arkhangelsk region, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the Federal Agency for Tourism and the World Tourism Organization and gathered about 400 participants from the Northern Russian regions. Foreign experts from neighbouring northern countries shared their experience and presented successful cases of the development of sustainable tourism in Arctic Region that can serve as a model for the development of tourism in the Northern Russia.

An International Conference on „Tourism Development in the Northern Regions” focused on current trends in tourism development in the North in general and Northern Russia in particular highlighting the development of arctic tourism and increasing demand of such on the global market.

“Pomor Land has enormous tourism resources as a key destination for researchers in the Arctic and the Northern Sea Route, as well as for travellers” said Valery Korovkin Head of International Cooperation of the Federal Agency for Tourism. He described the International Tourist Forum as a major event for promoting tourism in the northern regions, and drew attention to an increasing interest in the Arctic.

The Deputy Regional Director for Europe, Ms. Cordula Wohlmuther, congratulated the Northern Provinces for their intention to further develop arctic tourism. Most of them already have strategies in place in order to start exploiting environmental and cultural tourism assets in the Barents Region. However, the huge potential is also followed by the challenges to be faced, such as climate change and sustainability issues. Ms. Wohlmuther stressed that despite the high competition among the Arctic countries regional alliances are very important since synergies between countries can create far more attractive tourism products than those countries might be able to achieve working in isolation.

THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL TOURISM FORUM IN ARKHANGELSK - ITFA

PR No.: PR11050

 

“The world faces mounting changes and challenges which call for innovative strategies and policies. Governments, business and civil society need to devote attention to knowledge management in tourism, to better understand and act upon the forces shaping today’s world, especially on the critical issues of development, climate change and governance. We need to bring these players together in governance solutions; it’s possible and achievable,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, opening the Forum.

On governance, the Forum stressed the significance of participation and efficiency. Institutions and stakeholders, whether in the public or private sector as well as those in civil society, need to take advantage of innovation, providing for the full use of networks and information-communication technologies. Cooperation and knowledge-based decisions are the basis of good governance.

The conclusions also highlighted the need to develop new indicators to measure the real effects of tourism on development and its impacts on climate change. These indicators should also provide for a better balance between the challenges of climate change and the use of tourism as an instrument for development.

The UNWTO Algarve Forum was organized by the UNWTO Knowledge Network with the able support of one of its most active members, the University of the Algarve. Participants agreed to establish a platform to carry forward the work initiated during the last few months within the UNWTO Knowledge Network and the Forum and build a community of knowledge on tourism; providing a framework of support for policy-making on development, governance and climate change goals. The results are to be translated into a set of guidelines and policy programmes known as the UNWTO Algarve Consensus.

UNWTO awards the 2011 Ulysses Prize and Awards

The 2011 UNWTO Ulysses Prize and Awards Ceremony took place during the Forum, rewarding initiatives and projects of excellence undertaken by public tourism institutions, tourism enterprises and non-profit institutions that have made a significant contribution to the advancement of tourism through innovation.

The awardees showcase some of the best examples of tourism projects from around the world that are improving the positive social impact of the sector.

The UNWTO Ulysses Prize was awarded to Professor Kaye Chon, Dean and Chair Professor of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, for his outstanding contribution to tourism knowledge.

UNWTO Secretary-General awarded Honoris Causa doctorate by the University of Algarve

UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, has been awarded a Honoris Causa doctorate by the University of Algarve (1 June 2011). In his acceptance speech, Mr. Rifai stressed that the doctorate was recognition of the role of UNWTO and that of tourism in creating a better world. “By honouring me, you are recognizing the central role tourism has come to play in the lives of millions around the world,” he said. ”This gives me further responsibility to continue working to position our sector as an important tool for global prosperity and wellbeing. To promote its economic and social value; the millions of jobs it provides; the development opportunities it creates; and the links it builds among people around the world”.

 

Note for Editors

The 2011 UNWTO Ulysses Awards winners are as follows:
 

For Innovation in Governance:
• China Tourist Satisfaction Index - China Tourism Academy (China)
• Development of the ‘Ruta Moche’ as a Tourism Destination – Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Peru)
• Environmental Certificate "Friend of the Environment Establishment” - Madeira Regional Secretariat for Tourism and Transport (Portugal)

For Innovation in Enterprises:

• The Artemisa project: transforming organic waste into biofuel for more sustainable tourism – Ingelia (Spain)
• Mayakoba Tourism Resort Mexico: sustainable and responsible tourism development - OHL Desarrollos (Mexico)
• TravelSat Competitive Index: global survey benchmarking international tourists’ satisfaction and trip quality – TCI Research (Tourism Competitive Intelligence) (Belgium)

For Innovation in Non-Governmental Organizations:

• Connecting People with the Environment, W James Whyte Island Reserve: tourists volunteering to protect biodiversity - Conservation Volunteers (Australia)
• Development of Accessible Tourism in Slovenia (PREMIKI): accessible tourism for those with special needs - SENT Slovenian Association for Mental Health (Slovenia)
• La route accessible (The Accessible Road): an informative travel tool designed to promote accessible tourism in Quebec, Canada - KÉROUL (Canada)

Special Jury Awards to:

• Cultural Villages Development Project - Alghat Cooperative Association (Saudi Arabia)
• UruguayNatural.tv – Ministry of Tourism and Sport (Uruguay)
• European Cemeteries Route - Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe (Italy)

Relevant links:

UNWTO Algarve Forum / Photos

UNWTO Ulysses Prize and Awards / Photos

UNWTO Knowledge Network

Contacts

Prinicipla Media Officer: Marcelo Risi

Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60

www.UNWTO.org

Executive Secretary - UNWTO Knowledge Network: Eduardo Fayos-Solá

Tel: (+34) 91 567 82 09