UNWTO and UnionPay International signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Shanghai on Nov, 13th 2014. The MOU is aimed at enhancing the global cooperation between the two parties, improving the consumption experience through resource sharing, mutual support of relative advantages. UnionPay is the special supporting unit for the China International Tourism Forum which is co-organized by UNWTO and China National Tourism Administration on the occasion of 2014 China International Travel Mart (CITM). About 300 experts and representatives from the tourism administrations and private sectors from all over the world attended this Forum. It provided excellent platform for the participants to get insights on how to better penetrate the Chinese market, and to share with China´s experience in destination promotion.

According to the sighed MOU, UNWTO and the UnionPay International will carry out a series of cooperation on joint research about tourism consumption, improvement of payment services for the tourism sector and branding.

About UnionPay International

UnionPay International (UPI) is a subsidiary of China UnionPay focused on the growth and support of UnionPay’s global business. In partnership with more than 300 institutions worldwide, UnionPay International has enabled card acceptance in over 140 countries with issuance in more than 30 countries. UnionPay International provides high quality, cost effective and secure cross-border payment services to the world’s largest cardholder base and ensures convenient local services to a growing number of global UnionPay cardholders and merchants. 

Useful Links:

http://www.unionpayintl.com/en/index.shtml

Contacts:

UNWTO   asia6@unwto.org

UnionPay  UPIPR@unionpayintl.com

PR No.: PR 14069

International tourism in Japan rebounded strongly following the impact of the Tohoku earthquake in 2011. In 2013, international tourists to Japan increased by 24% to reach more than 10 million for the first time – nearly doubling the number of visitors registered in 2002. Similarly, tourism exports rose 27%, earning a record US$ 15 billion.

“Japan’s remarkable tourism results are the result of the solid and cohesive efforts of the Japanese government to position Japan as a distinguished tourism nation. I would like to especially commend the government´s recent initiatives to facilitate the visa requirements for the nationals of several Asian countries, which led to a sharp increase in the country´s visitors”, said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, speaking at the 2014 JATA Tourism Expo Japan, organized the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA), a UNWTO Affiliate Member.

“These positive steps, as well as the upcoming Summer Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo, renew our confidence that Japan will welcome its envisioned 20 million visitors by 2020”, he added.

The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism emphasized Japan’s continued willingness to play an active role in the field of international tourism, by becoming a member of the UNWTO Executive Council in 2015. Mr. Ohta further expressed his support in promoting the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism in Japan in order to further contribute to the development of sustainable tourism around the globe.

Mr. Rifai held meetings with the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Mr. Akihiro Ohta, the Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kazuyuki Nakane, the Commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency (JTA), Mr. Shigeto Kubo, the Chairman of JATA, Mr. Hiromi Tagawa, as well as Senior government officials in Nara. Discussion topics included tourism policy, tourism and ethics and Nara’s support to the UNWTO Silk Road Programme.

On the occasion of Mr. Rifai’s visit, 12 representatives from the Japanese private sector signed the Private Sector Commitment to the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics, declaring to uphold ethical standards in their policies and operations.

Useful links:

UNWTO Regional Programme for Asia and the Pacific

UNWTO Silk Road Programme

SG Keynote Speech

Private Sector Commitment to the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics

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 

UNWTO and Guilin further strengthened their bilateral cooperation through a meeting on the 24^th of October 2014, led by  Mayor Tang Congyuan at the UNWTO Headquarters in Madrid, Spain.

UNWTO Secretary General, Taleb Rifai, warmly greeted the delegation, congratulating the success of the recently held 8^th UNWTO/PATA Forum on Tourism Trends and Outlook in Guilin and emphasized UNWTO´s continued support of Guilin in progressing tourism development including for the support of boosting rural tourism.

Mayor Tang Congyuan expressed his gratitude for UNWTO’s support over the years and outlined Guilin´s planned tourism development agenda including a strong commitment to sustainable development.

Further discussions over the next session of the UNWTO/PATA Forum and its 10th anniversary have been carried on between the two sides. To signify the commitment of both parties for the ongoing joint relationship, minutes on the future collaboration between UNWTO and Guilin Municipal Government was signed by Mr. Taleb Rifai and Mr. Tang Congyuan.