World Tourism Day (WTD), celebrated every year on 27 September, is a global observance to highlight tourism’s social, cultural, political and economic value.

WTD 2014 is being held under the theme Tourism and Community Development - focusing on the ability of tourism to empower people and provide them with skills to achieve change in their local communities.

A number of Asian and Pacific countries celebrated it in their own special ways.

Afghanistan is holding the Fourth National Tourism Conference and Fair in conjunction with World Tourism Day. The Secretary-General of UNWTO, Mr. Taleb Rifai sends his personal message. (https://vimeo.com/107256868)

Vanuatu Tourism Office sends out their greetings of a Happy World Tourism Day 2014, on Saturday 27th September 2014! 

Malaysia has also held a special celebration for World Tourism Day 2014 from 26 Sept until 28 in order to create awareness on tourism’s contribution towards community development. Check out the celebration and the Prime Minister's WTD message at their facebook page http://www.facebook.com/mymotac.

We invite you to join us in celebrating this year´s World Tourism Day and welcome you to share your photos with us too!

Find more information about WTD in the following websites.

Official page: http://wtd.unwto.org (available in EN, FR and ES)

Official logos and digital postcards: /content/communication-kit-wtd2014 (available in EN, FR and ES)

Official Message by the Secretary-General: https://vimeo.com/98731453

Tourism Stories Video: http://vimeo.com/unwto/tourismstories

UNWTO’s Facebook Album on Tourism and Community Development: http://ow.ly/BP3rk (feel free to send your photo to comm@unwto.org)

Livestream from the official celebrations in Guadalajara, Mexico: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/world-tourism-day-2014---tourism-and-community-development

PR No.: PR 14060

The UNWTO/WTTC Open Letter calls on heads of state and government around the world to acknowledge tourism's key role in delivering more sustained and balanced growth and prioritize the sector higher in national policies in order to maximize its potential.

Meeting UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, and WTTC Chairman, Michael Frenzel, on the sidelines of the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States, Tuilaepa said:

“Sustainable tourism is an area that our government has placed much importance, as it holds key potential for future economic growth and social development. Great benefits from tourism are envisaged and have already been realised accounting for 20 per cent of national GDP per annum. Sustainable Tourism supports employment, provides foreign exchange and builds the economy and it is still expanding the capacities of Samoa."

“We envisage a growing tourism sector that will lead in green growth development that engages our visitors and people to a Samoa that is recognized as a leading Pacific nation for Sustainable Tourism.”

 “I am very happy to see such high level support afforded to tourism in Samoa, a country that has progressed significantly in recent yearsthanksin no small part to the benefits brought by the tourism sector”, said Mr. Rifai. “Tourism is a socio-economic mainstay in many islands such as Samoa and I am confident that the political support demonstrated to the sector by the Prime Minister will allow it to be a continuous driver of sustainable development and improvedlivelihoodsin this pristine country”, he added.

Dr.Frenzel said: “WTTC is delighted that the Samoan Government is committed to the sustainable development of our industry. Travel & Tourism is a major contributor to economic growth, to trade, to job creation, to diversification of the economy and to social well-being. It is vital that the travel andtourism industry in Samoa gets the right support and investment at government level to allow the industry to continue to thrive.”

In 2013, Samoa welcomed 116.000 international tourists. International tourism represents 55% of all exports in Samoa (US$ 136 million).

Note to Editors:

The UNWTO/WTTC Open Letter outlines Travel & Tourism’s value as one of the world’s largest generators of jobs, a powerful driver of socio-economic growth and development and a key player in the transformation to the Green Economy. To date, the Open Letter has been received by 65 heads of state and government.

Useful links:

UNWTO/WTTC Open Letter on Travel and Tourism

Tourism in Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) – Building a more sustainable future for the people of islands

 

Contacts:

UNWTO

Senior Media Officer: Marcelo Risi

Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60 

 

WTTC

Head of Communications: Emma Coulthurst
Tel: (+44 ) 207481 6483 

www.wttc.org

We are pleased to share that the Ministry of Immigration and Population of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar has launched a new e-visa system. This system was launched on 1^st September, 2014.

The new service is designed to facilitate a user-friendly visa process and has been implemented to assist the country in achieving its goal of receiving five million tourists a year by 2015.

For the first phase, the system grants tourist visas for citizens of forty three countries. The Ministry of Immigration & Population is working on including a business visa and other visa types in the e-visa system in the near future.

For further information on the e-visa application process, current countries included and for FAQs please refer to the website: http://evisa.moip.gov.mm/.

 

PR No.: PR 14057

In a Joint Statement on Renewable Energy and Tourism in Islands, released at the Third UN Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in Samoa, IRENA and UNWTO commit to encourage investment in cost-effective energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions that reduce the reliance of islands on carbon-emitting fossil fuel.

Islands are burdened by high energy costs due to their reliance on costly imported diesel fuel. In spite of efforts to improve energy efficiency, more than 90% of SIDS´ energy consumption is met through oil imports, which represent up to 20% of their annual imports. Many islands have goals to expand the use of renewable energy options and reduce this oil dependency. Since tourism is an economic mainstay for many islands, investment in such options by hotels is key to achieving these goals. Renewable options for water heating, air conditioning and electricity generation can cut hotel operating costs, advance sustainability while making them more appealing for tourists.

The Statement also calls for hotels to document the energy savings and cost reductions from these applications and to share the information through the Global Renewable Energy Islands Network (GREIN). Finally, it recalls that greater investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy is fundamental to build a more sustainable, competitive and resilient tourism sector worldwide, and particularly, in islands.

In signing the Statement, IRENA Director General, Adnan Z. Amin, and UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai paved the way to cooperation with hotels and tourism authorities in pursuit of these aims.  “Investment by island hotels is vital to demonstrating the business case for renewable energy, which is essential to addressing the burden of costly fossil fuels that inhibits islands’ economic and social development” said Mr. Amin.

“Tourism is a primary economic sector for many SIDS and a dominant force driving inclusive socio-economic growth. Yet, sustainable tourism development in small islands continues to face many challenges; one of the major ones is their high dependence on fossil fuel. The synergy of tourism and renewable energy represents a powerful force that will pave the way for win-win solutions in driving the sustainable agenda of islands forward”, said Mr Rifai.

In 2013, 41 million international tourists visited the SIDS, generating US$ 61 billion in foreign earnings. Tourism accounts for over 20% of the GDP of 16 out of 48 SIDS for which data is available and 9% of total SIDS exports.

 

Useful links:

IRENA

Global Renewable Energy Islands Network

UNWTO Sustainable Development of Tourism Programme 

Tourism in Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) – Building a more sustainable future for the people of islands

UNWTO Hotel Energy Solutions

 

Contacts:

IRENA Chief Communications Officer: Timothy Hurst

Tel (+971) 2 417 9966 

 

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 

PR No.: PR 14054

Facilitation of tourist travel is closely interlinked with tourism development and can contribute in a decisive manner to tourism’s beneficial effects, including economic growth and job creation. While recent decades have seen great progress in travel facilitation all over the world, UNWTO research shows that important areas for improvement remain, among them facilitating visa procedures and advancing air connectivity.

The Government of Mongolia recently granted visa free access to the country for up to 30 days for tourist and short business trips of citizens from 42 countries, in addition to the 20 countries already benefitting from visa free agreements. The decision comes at a time when the open skies resolution, passed by the Mongolian parliament in 2013, is also being implemented. The resolution is defined in the State Policy on Civil Aviation Sector up to 2020 and aims to develop a competitive national civil aviation sector, in view of its potential contribution to socio-economic development.

These and other key issues for the country’s tourism development were discussed on the occasion of the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia, Mr. Luvsanvandan Bold, to UNWTO headquarters where he met Secretary-General, Mr.Taleb Rifai.

 “We are very happy to see Mongolia following UNWTO recommendations and taking concrete action in the area of travel facilitation“, said Mr. Rifai.  “With adequate policies, tourism can have an immense impact on GDP, exports and jobs, and visa facilitation and air liberalization are central to maximize tourism’s development potential”, he added.

A report by UNWTO and the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) on the impact of visa facilitation on job creation through tourism, showed that improving visa processes and entry formalities could generate an extra US$ 206 billion in tourism receipts and create as many as 5.1 million additional jobs between 2012 and 2015 in the G20 economies alone.

 

Useful links:

UNWTO Facilitation of Tourist Travel

Tourism Visa Openness Report – T.20 edition (November 2013)

 

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 

 

PR No.: PR14051

The cooperation agreement was signed by UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, and the Director of GIFT, Susanne Becken, during a meeting at UNWTO’s headquarters in Madrid.

“We are very pleased to reinforce the already close collaboration between UNWTO and the Griffith University, a trusted and valued Affiliate Member of our Organization and an example of the leadership of Australia in the area of tourism research and education”, said Mr. Rifai. ”This partnership enables us to further narrow the gap between demand and supply of tourism research in a number of important areas, not the least tourism and climate change, which is a key priority for both organizations”, he added.

Susanne Becken, Director of GIFT, said “This agreement is a two way street. For us it represents the opportunity to link with global networks through UNWTO, connecting research from Asia Pacific with the global picture and the needs for the tourism sector, while bringing UNWTO closer to the Asia Pacific region.”

The collaboration between UNWTO and GIFT will include research on the role of Asia and the Pacific in global tourism, and the creation and dissemination of knowledge on climate change and sustainable tourism development in the region, one of the main challenges facing tourism in Asia.

GIFT, a UNWTO Affiliate Member and partner of the UNWTO Knowledge Network, is a world leading tourism research institution of the Griffith University, in Australia. With strategic research programmes in areas ranging from climate change and aviation management to tourist experience and health in Asia and the Pacific, GIFT works to advance the adoption of evidence-based best practices within the tourism sector.

Useful links:

UNWTO Affiliate Members

UNWTO Knowledge Network

UNWTO Regional Programme for Asia and the Pacific

Griffith Institute for Tourism
 

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

PR No.: PR14039

The Bohol Tourism Recovery Plan is a roadmap to support the recovery of Bohol’s tourism sector, which was struck by the severe earthquake of October 2013. Representing a significant development opportunity for the Bohol province, the tourism sector is fundamental to the region.

Developed by UNWTO and supported by the Department of Tourism (DOT) of the Philippines, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the Recovery Plan includes a global marketing strategy for Bohol, as well as an assessment of what tourism infrastructure and assets need to be prioritized by tourism stakeholders during the recovery process. In addition, the Recovery Plan provides inputs to develop new tourism products in line with Bohol’s positioning as an eco-cultural destination.

“The Philippine people were tested in times of difficulty and they have earned the respect of the whole world by demonstrating greatest courage and confidence. Tourism is one of the best assets for them on their way to recovery and sustainable growth. UNWTO is very pleased to be working alongside the Philippines, the US Government and PATA to make tourism a tool for recovery and sustainable livelihoods here in Bohol” said Mr. Rifai.

The Secretary-General also visited the areas in Tacloban which were affected by Typhoon Yolanda in November 2013. UNWTO, in collaboration with USAID and the UN Development Programme (UNDP),  is in the process of finalizing projects which will enrich the tourism experience in Tacloban through a Learning Centre on Climate Change and strengthen the local economy by including tourism as an alternative source of income.

Despite being hit by two major natural disasters, tourism in the Philippines saw significant growth in 2013 with international tourist arrivals registering a 10% double-digit increase to a total of 4.7 million while international tourism receipts grew by 15% to reach US$ 4.7 billion.

 

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

PR No.: PR14038

Asia-Pacific has been at the forefront of tourism growth and development over the last decade, and recent numbers confirm that tourism in the region continues to progress above average. With rising international tourist arrivals and receipts in 2013 (+6% and +8%, respectively), the region’s tourism leadership is increasingly consolidated. Yet, continued tourism growth and sustainable development depends on improving the tourism’s sector resilience to climate change.

"Climate change is real", said the President of the Philippines, Benigno S. Aquino III, opening the Conference. The President commended the celebration of events such as these and underscored the relevance of tourism as "one of the shortest and most efficient paths to inclusive growth". The Philippines is mainstreaming "climate change adaptation with local, sectoral, and national plans – all of which will consequently guide the development of tourism destinations and tourism activities per locality”. ”With the increasing risks of climate change, this is something we encourage other ASEAN-member countries, as well as countries around the world, to look into", he added.

UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, made a call to position the fight against climate change at the heart of the tourism agenda, underscoring both the need for greater responsibility from the sector and the benefits sustainability entails for tourism and beyond: “Energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies can reduce operational costs. Resource efficiency not only mitigates and reduces the tourism footprint, but fosters economic growth and creates much needed jobs in the process.”

Ms. Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), in her opening remarks to the Conference,  thanked the participants “for advancing the dialogue on how to address the greatest challenge of our time: climate change, and in particular, how to address climate change in tourism and in policy that promotes tourism as an economic engine”.

The Conference highlighted that climate change mitigation policies should be consistent with the overall challenge it represents, thus requiring a multi-stakeholder approach and taking into account specific technological, economic and social changes.

Participants stressed that tourism’s highly dynamic and innovative nature positions it at the forefront of those sectors dealing with climate change adaptation, and therefore providing opportunities to reduce the vulnerabilities it induces. But in order to succeed, this endeavor needs to be shared both by tourism providers and consumers through increased awareness on the individual contribution to climate change response.

The UNWTO-ASEAN International Conference on Tourism and Climate Change brought together more than 200 senior tourism officials, policymakers and industry experts from 18 countries to exchange views and best practices on how to strengthen the sector's ability to address this global challenge.

The upcoming UNWTO/University of Queensland study Tourism´s Response to Climate Change: An Examination of Tourism Related Initiatives in Asia and Pacific shows that Asia-Pacific is affected by 90% of global climate-related catastrophes. Responding to the challenges of climate change is thus fundamental to ensure that tourism, a sector which has been identified by a majority of countries as a pillar for socio-economic progress, continues to advance in the region.

 

Useful links:

UNWTO-ASEAN International Conference on Tourism and Climate Change

26th Joint Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and the UNWTO Commission for South Asia

Climate Change and Tourism

Watch the support message delivered by the Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), Christiana Figueres

 

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