PR No.: PR 17082

A total of 973 participants from 88 countries, among which Ministers, Chief Statisticians, private sector and key decision makers from international organizations, gathered in Manila to discuss how to advance a rigorous, statistical approach to the measurement of sustainable tourism. To better measure is to better manage, and thus a common and robust set of data is critical for governments and stakeholders to design, implement and monitor effective sustainable tourism policies

“The Manila Conference constitutes a milestone for tourism measurement, not only by extending the current statistical standards beyond their economic focus to cover the social and environmental dimensions, but because it represents a global commitment to sustainable tourism and a recognition of its contribution to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the universal 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” said UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai.

The Manila Call for Action reflects the collective vision and commitment to collaborate on the further development and implementation of a Measuring Sustainable Tourism (MTS) statistical framework. The document will be formally presented by the Secretary of Tourism of The Philippines, Mrs. Wanda Teo, to the UNWTO General Assembly, taking place in Chengdu, China, this September.

Sustainable tourism is understood as tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industries, the environment and host communities. As such it is a continuous process and requires constant monitoring of impacts.

The Conference is part of the process to develop a framework to measure sustainable tourism, and builds upon and expands the two official UN statistical standards for measuring tourism adopted in 2008: the International Recommendations for Tourism Statistics 2008 and the Tourism Satellite Account: Recommended Methodological Framework 2008.

The Measuring Sustainable Tourism (MST) initiative has received full support of the United Nations Statistics Commission and is geared towards shaping and sharing a common understanding of how to measure the economic, environmental and social aspects of tourism across relevant spatial scales – global, national and subnational levels – while incorporating the possibilities opened by technological advancements and continuing to advocate for the sustainability principles of our sector.

The event is part of the calendar of official events of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017.

Additional information:

Programme of the Conference

Measuring Sustainable Tourism (MST)

International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development

Photos of the Event

Contacts:

UNWTO Media Officer Rut Gomez Sobrino

Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60 / rgomez@unwto.org

UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme

Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218 / comm@UNWTO.org

The first part of a itinerary seminar on Biodiversity and Tourism was conducted in Gabon (20-22 June) and Niger (11-13 July) respectively. Niger and Benin are home to the Park W, the largest territory of protected savanna in West Africa, so the seminar involved participants from both countries.

The first activity took place in Pongara National Park, 20 minutes away from Libreville (Gabon) by boat. The second seminar was facilitated at W National Park, 2 hours away from Niamey (Niger). Tourism and environment stakeholders from the public and private sector participated in these seminars. Gabon hosted 25 participants while Niger welcomed 36 participants coming from both Benin and Niger.  

Read the Press Release of the event: http://www2.unwto.org/news/2017-11-07/unwto-implements-first-two-series-training-seminars-tourism-and-biodiversity-west-an

Nearly 400 travel and tourism industry professionals exchanged lessons and experiences to promote competitive, inclusive, and sustainable tourism at the 2017 Mekong Tourism Forum (MTF 2017), held on 5-9 June in Luang Prabang, Laos. Hosted by the Luang Prabang Provincial Government and the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism in collaboration with the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office, the theme 'Prosper with Purpose' reflected the event's strong focus on sustainability and engagement.

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PR No.: PR 17072

Japanese cuisine has become a world reference and at present, Japan is the country with the highest number of restaurants awarded with 3 Michelin stars. In addition, Japanese gastronomy has been officially designated as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.

The Report will provide a global overview of gastronomy tourism in Japan and explores the potential of this segment as an instrument for inclusive development in the country. The publication will primarily deliver the findings of the extensive research conducted by two UNWTO Affiliate Members, the Japan Travel and Tourism Association (JTTA) and Gurunavi.

Data compilation will include interviews, surveys, research and field work conducted with stakeholders from both the private and public sectors. The publication will also include case studies and best practices in gastronomy tourism in Japan.

Additional information:

JAPAN TRAVEL AND TOURISM ASSOCIATION

The Japan Travel and Tourism Association, serving as a national center for Japanese tourism, is engaged in supporting travel and tourism to promote Japan as a tourism-oriented country. The Association contributes to promoting the growth of regional economies and the tourism industry, enriching Japanese citizen’s lives and culture, and encouraging international goodwill by creating attractive domestic sightseeing destinations, organizing wide-area tourism routes and energizing exchanges through tourism. The Association’s goal is to effectively promote tourism by supporting regionally based tourism promotion activities and through broad coordination between the regions and the tourism industry. The Association has 650 members nationwide engaged in tourism-related activities. They include local governments, tourism associations, tourism industry bodies, railways, airlines and tourism-related companies.

Official Website

GURUNAVI INC.

Gurunavi, Inc. is an Internet search service provider, focusing on the provision of information for restaurants and the service of restaurants through personal computers, cellular phones and smart phones. They also offer marketing promotion services for restaurant operators. In addition, Gurunavi is involved in the sale of food products, the home delivery catering, wedding information and the travel-related businesses. As of April 1, 2016, the site had grown into a major website, with more than half a million restaurant profiles and listings, and 13.97 million members.

Official Website

Useful links

Pictures of the signing ceremony

UNWTO Gastronomy Network

3rd UNWTO World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism, San Sebastian, Spain, 8-9 May 2017

UNWTO Second Global Report on Gastronomy Tourism

Contacts:

UNWTO Media Officer Rut Gomez Sobrino

Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60 / rgomez@unwto.org

UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme

Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218 / comm@UNWTO.org

PR No.: PR 17071

On behalf of the international tourism community, UNWTO conveys its heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the families and friends of the victims and to the Filipino people.

"The Philippines is one of the most consolidated tourism destinations in the world. We are fully confident that this will continue to be the case and we look forward to meet in Manila next 21 June for 6th International Conference on Tourism Statistics: Measuring Sustainable Tourism, one of UNWTO’s major events. This will be the best expression of support and union against these hideous acts." said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.

Contacts:

UNWTO Media Officer Rut Gomez Sobrino
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60 / rgomez@unwto.org

UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme

Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218 / comm@UNWTO.org

On 22 May, the Global Centre for Tourism Education and Training (hereafter the Centre) organised an eight-day training programme titled “Strategic Tourism Planning and Management for a Sustainable Future”. It is the third time of training held by the Centre, followed by two professional training programmes for representatives from Asia-Pacific countries and regions last year. Twenty one representatives from Myanmar, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Mainland China and Macao SAR participated in the programme. In addition, ten representatives from Portuguese speaking countries namely Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and Timor Leste organised by the Macao Government Tourism Office also joined some sessions of the programme.  

On 26 May, the faculty and participants of the training programme had a meeting with Dr. Alexis Tam, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of Macao SAR Government. During the meeting, the Secretary recounted that Macao SAR Government and United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Macao in October 2015. The objective was to enhance cooperation between the two parties in improving the quality of human capital and increasing the competitiveness of tourism destinations in order to achieve sustainable tourism development. The Global Centre for Tourism Education and Training, which was officially set up by the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) in 2016, has organised several training and education programmes for tourism officials and industry representatives in collaboration with UNWTO. He also added that the Macao SAR Government supports and encourages IFT’s Global Centre for Tourism Education to organise more training programmes for different countries, especially those along “One Belt, One Road”.  Apart from education and training, he hoped that Macao could further collaborate with “One Belt, One Road” countries and regions in other areas including tourism, culture, healthcare, sports and social services.

The training programme includes lectures, case studies, experience sharing, presentations and visits. Besides the lectures delivered by scholars and experts, IFT also invited the Secretary-General of the Talents Development Committee Mr. Sou Chio Fai, and representatives of Human Resources Department of Melco Resorts & Entertainment and Sands Macao to share their experiences in regard to nurturing talent and human resources management. The participants also visited the world heritage sites of the Historic Centre of Macao, museums and hotels in order to understand the planning and management of tourism facilities in Macao.  

Established in 1995, the Institute for Tourism Studies, Macao (IFT) offers the most extensive selection of tourism and hospitality related bachelor degree programmes in Macao, and about twenty thousand participants attend its vocational and professional training courses annually. IFT collaborates with 101 universities and tourism organisations around the world, and builds strong links with 500 leading tourism and hospitality corporations to offer internship opportunities to its students. Being the first institution accredited by the UNWTO.TedQual Certification System for tourism education, IFT has now 8 bachelor degree programmes with the Certification. Currently, the Institute has the most number of bachelor degree programmes certified under the System of any tertiary education establishment worldwide. In 2017, the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) becomes the first higher education institution to receive a successful International Quality Review(IQR) from the UK's Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). IFT has been ranked by the “QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017” as the 2^nd best higher education institution in Asia in the field of hospitality and leisure management and the 18^th best higher education institution in this field in the world. In addition, IFT has received the Medal of Merit in Tourism from the Macao SAR Government, and won twice the Gold Award in ‘Education and Training’ from the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).

Contacts:

Institute for Tourism Studies

Tel: (853) 28561252

Fax: (853) 28519058

www.ift.edu.mo

PR No.: PR 17066

“With growth comes power, and with power, comes responsibility. With 1.8 billion international tourists foreseen to travel the world by 2030, we could end up with 1.8 billion opportunities or 1.8 billion disasters. These 1.8 billion travellers can and should translate into opportunities for inclusive economic growth, for more and better jobs, opportunities to protect our natural and cultural heritage, to better know and respect each other, to bond people, to distribute wealth and share prosperity,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai, opening the event.

“Tourism can help us achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Your presence in Bangladesh will help us to support our tourism sector achieve its potential,” said the Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism of Bangladesh, Rashed Khan Menon.

The meeting recalled the advances of the region in terms of visa facilitation, namely in Indonesia and India, in line with UNWTO’s priority to promote safe, secure and seamless travel. It also reviewed the work of the UNWTO technical committees on tourism competitiveness, sustainability, statistics and Tourism Satellite Account (TSA), and the activities being carried out at national level to celebrate the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017.

Further items on the agenda included the transformation of the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics into an international convention and the creation of national committees on tourism ethics. Fiji was selected to host the 2018 Regional Commissions meeting and India as the proposed host country of the official celebrations of World Tourism Day in 2019.

Marking the International Year, UNWTO announced its support to Bangladesh in implementing capacity building programmes on wildlife and tourism within the UNWTO/Chimelong Initiative. Wildlife is one of the most important tourism assets of Bangladesh.

The joint meeting was preceded by a regional forum on crisis communication in tourism, with a step-by-step review of how to prepare a crisis communication plan and exchange of experiences in managing communication in situations of crisis, and of strategies for recovery.

Additional information:

UNWTO Regional Programme for Asia and the Pacific

Photos of the Event

2017 International Year of Sustainable Tourism for development webpage

Contacts:

UNWTO Media Officer Rut Gomez Sobrino

Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60 / rgomez@unwto.org

UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme

Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218 / comm@UNWTO.org