While tourism experts gathered in Rio de Janeiro to discuss green innovation in tourism at a special tourism event at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20) recently, the Australian government was taking measures to increase the energy efficiency of its tourism industry by awarding over 1 million Australian Dollars in Energy Efficiency Information Grants to help tourism businesses.

The grants, which form part of the Australian Government´s $40 million Energy Efficiency Information Grants Program, are awarded on the basis of merit under the nation´s plan for a Clean Energy Future. The Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) and the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) were awarded $612,040 and $423,690 respectively during the first round of funding last month.

As discussed by participants at the Rio +20 event ´Green Innovation in Tourism,´ a shift to more sustainable practices in the industry is a key part of the future of tourism.

Brazilian Minister of Tourism Gastão Dias Vieira, who participated in the event, highlighted that there can be no economic growth in tourism without sustainability, and without the conservation of natural resources. Shifts in tourism practices can produce major benefits such as an increase in jobs, lower costs and reduced environmental impacts, the event concluded.

A shift in tourism practices was also cited as bringing competitive advantages to companies and destinations, enhancing the visitor experience and encouraging other sectors to move toward more sustainable practices.

While being green is often associated with increased costs for businesses, this is not necessarily the case, as stated by Alain Dupeyras, Head of the Tourism Unit at OED´s Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs and Local Development, another participant in the Rio +20 events.

Recipients of the Australian Government´s Energy Efficiency Information Grants come from a broad range of sectors including tourism, agriculture, automotive, manufacturing and retail. The grants aim to provide funding to industry associations and non-profit organizations who work with small and medium businesses and community organizations to provide information on the smartest way to use energy. The first round of grants was awarded in April and the second round will be awarded in October.

The Kingdom of Bhutan, one of the Asia Pacific Region´s most up-and-coming destinations, will host the 6^th UNWTO Asia/Pacific Executive Training Programme on Tourism Policy and Strategy in Paro next month. With its select and high calibre of speakers and participants, this year´s event promises to attract the participation of high-level officials from the region.  

This annual training programme provides a forum for tourism industry executives to share knowledge and experiences in successful policy making and implementation. With the financial support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea, UNWTO has designed the training programme to assist Member States in the region to improve governance and increase the effectiveness of their tourism industry management.

This year, high-level Ministry representatives, CEOs and officials from 22 countries will give country-specific presentations, demonstrating south-south cooperation in the region. Keynote presentations will be given by UNWTO’s seasoned consultant Dr. Paul Rogers, Director of of Asia Pacific Projects Inc.  Mr. Ludwig Rieder, and Dean of the School of Tourism Management at Yat-sen University, China, Professor Bao Jigang.

¨This is the most high-level participation we have ever had at this training programme,¨ said Mr. Xu Jing, UNWTO Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific. ¨It is a sure sign that government representatives at the highest level are acknowledging the importance of the tourism sector. There is an understanding that tourism can bring not only economic benefits but also fight poverty, promote sustainability and bring employment to many people. However, good and strategic planning is the key to achieve the perceived objectives, which is the theme of this year’s programme. ¨

Through experience sharing, networking and country presentations, best practice models can be developed which will pave the way for consistent, effective and good tourism governance in the Asia Pacific Region for the future.

Bhutan, well known around the world for its focus on the Gross National Happiness Agenda rather than Gross Domestic Product as a sign of healthy national development, seeks to develop a tourism industry which promotes the conservation of the environment and cultures, and one which contributes to the happiness of its people. 

Due to its unique approach to measuring the impact of tourism on a destination, Bhutan looks set to become the latest home of a UNWTO Sustainable Tourism Observatory, the first three of which are in China. These observatories gather data about the environmental, social and economic impacts of tourism in a region and assist policy-makers to ensure tourism growth is managed in a responsible and sustainable manner.

The newly appointed Maldives Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture, H.E. Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Ghafoor met with UNWTO Secretary-General Mr. Taleb Rifai on the occasion of the 24^th Joint Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and UNWTO Commission for South Asia in Chiang Mai early this month, to discuss the way ahead for the Maldivian tourism industry.

The popular South Asian island destination experienced slow growth in tourist arrivals earlier in the year, but it is now looking ahead to further enhance development of the islands for tourism.

Attracting 931,000 international travellers in 2011, the island nation in the Indian Ocean that is famous for its crystal clear water and white sandy beaches has a lot to offer to international travellers. However, its vulnerability to natural and man-made ecological damage and global events highlights the need for strategic planning that ensures a sustainable tourism industry into the future.

During his attendance at the UNWTO Joint Commission Meeting, Minister Ghafoor outlined the nation´s strategic objective of continuing to develop the Maldives as a best practice example of sustainable tourism development – a nation with an economically profitable tourism industry that is in harmony with its natural environment, cultural resources and the values of its people. This will form part of the Fourth Tourism Master Plan(FTMP), (2012-2016), a document that will be drafted upon a new Tourism Development Strategy, as discussed with Secretary-General Mr. Rifai.

The Minister further discussed with the Secretary-General that a new tourism development strategy needs to be included in the FTMP which provides a standardized, transparent guide for foreign investment and be based on past experience. The specialized knowledge of local experts and assistance of UNWTO expertise should help to ensure a clear, credible and forward-looking strategy for the Maldives.

Over the coming months, UNWTO will work closely with the Maldives to organize and promote World Tourism Day 2013, which will be held in the country in September 2013. The Minister has been invited to attend the World Tourism Day celebrations in Spain this year to observe the annual event and start the plans for the Maldives´ World Tourism Day celebrations in 2013.

With tourism arrivals to the country steadily increasing since 2009 and international tourist receipts more than tripling since 2000, Bhutan is well on the way to becoming one of Asia´s destinations to watch. The UNWTO-commissioned long-term tourism strategy and development plan, released in February, examines this country´s plans further.

UNWTO, the leading international organisation in tourism and the specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism, commissioned a project to formulate Bhutan´s latest five-year tourism plan: Bhutan Tourism Strategy and Development Plans 2013-2018. This plan, presented to the Government in February, presents a mission statement, product development plan, marketing and communication plan and an institutional development plan to achieve Bhutan´s tourism vision.

Bhutan´s tourism vision, ¨to foster a vibrant industry as a positive force in the conservation of the environment and promotion of cultural heritage…, ¨ reflects the country´s desire to develop a responsible, sustainable tourism industry.

In line with its mission to promote sustainable tourism development and help its Member States to maximise the potential of tourism thereby bringing benefits to their countries, UNWTO has been engaged with the nation of Bhutan since it first joined the organization in 2003 in order to achieve this goal.

These days, Bhutan is well known around the world for its distinctive focus on the Gross National Happiness (GNH) agenda, an alternative to the commonly used Gross Domestic Product (GDP) method of measuring the wellbeing of nations. GNH is receiving increasing attention around the world, especially following its endorsement by the United Nations General Assembly and its inclusion in the Millennium Development Goals.

While the new Tourism Strategy and Development Plan outlines the country´s challenges and difficulties in developing a tourism industry that is closely aligned to the GNH philosophy, it also outlines suggestions of increasing the tourism industry´s potential to be a front-liner in the communication of GNH-focused national development.

Representatives from other UNWTO Asia Pacific Member States will have the chance to explore Bhutan for themselves next month, when UNWTO holds its 6^th UNWTO Asia/Pacific Executive Training Program on Tourism Policy and Strategy from 25^th – 28^th June 2012.

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Chiang Mai, Thailand, 4 May 2012 -- The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is undertaking a broad-ranging programme of activities designed to help the Asia-Pacific region, especially its emerging destinations, cope with record increases in visitor arrivals projected for this year.

Announced at the 24^th Joint Meeting of the Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and the Commission for South Asia, UNWTO´s activities range from supporting emerging destinations such as landlocked Bhutan in updating its tourism master plan, to helping recovering destinations such as sea-locked Sri Lanka to better tap into the potential of the massive Chinese outbound market.

Said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai, “in line with our Programme of Work and strategic objectives, the primary focus of our activities in Asia and the Pacific is improving competitiveness and sustainability. This is being done through a series of initiatives, including capacity building activities, research and technical assistance projects.”

With almost 130 participants from over 20 countries, the 24th Joint Meeting of the Commissions was the largest ever attended in the history of such commission meetings. Mr. Rifai noted that Asia will play a major role in helping to meet the global forecast of one billion international tourists crossing borders this year.

Over the past two years, Asia and the Pacific was the world’s strongest growth region in international arrivals (217 million international tourists in 2011). This marked a 6.1% increase in international arrivals in 2011, following a 13% increase in 2010. South-East Asia (+10.4%) and South Asia (+8.0%) especially benefited from strong intraregional demand. In 2012, UNWTO has forecast a growth in international tourist arrivals of between 4% and 6% in Asia and the Pacific.  

Mr. Rifai said there were many countries, cities and destinations in the Asia-Pacific still in need of technical and professional assistance.

In the past year, UNWTO has organized its Asia Pacific Executive Training Programme in Brunei Darussalam, a Workshop and Regional Seminar on Tourism Statistics and Capacity Building in Thailand, and a training programme on Tourism Marketing in Tianjin, China. It has also undertaken research on the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibition market for the Hangzhou Tourism Commission and produced a Compendium of Best Practices and Guidelines for Ecotourism in the Asia Pacific Region.

In Japan, following the earthquake and tsunami, UNWTO organised a special international symposium on the revitalization of Japan’s tourism sector and earthquake-affected regions.

In addition to its ongoing programmes such as the annual UNWTO/PATA Forum on Tourism Trends and Outlook in Guilin, China, UNWTO is supporting Bhutan to update its tourism master plan, and helping to guide the Maldives in the formulation of their 4th Tourism Master Plan and Integrated Tourism Development Projects.

In Sri Lanka, UNWTO organised a seminar in March 2012 to assist officials to examine tourism trends and behaviour of emerging markets with special emphasis on China. The Joint Commission meeting in Chiang Mai was also preceded by the first High-Level Regional Conference on Green Tourism.

UNWTO sustainable tourism observatories have been established in China (Yangshuo Observatory (2004), Huangshan Observatory (2008) and Zhang Jiajie Observatory (2011)). UNWTO is now developing a standardized and systematic approach for managing these observatories as well as future ones.

Mr. Rifai also lauded the extensive support emanating from national leaders in the Asia-Pacific for the joint UNWTO-WTTC Global Leaders for Tourism Campaign.

Designed to help mainstream the travel & tourism industry in the global economic development agenda, the campaign involves the presentation of an Open Letter to Heads of State and governments around the world calling on them to prioritize the tourism sector higher in national policies in order to maximize its potential.

To date, 28 Heads of State and Government have received the Open Letter, nine of which are from the Asia Pacific region: Indonesia, China, Korea, Malaysia, Brunei, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar. Two more countries (Australia and Mongolia) are in the pipeline to be included in the campaign later this year.

 “We are indeed overwhelmed by the support we are receiving from Asia Pacific. Several other countries in the region have expressed interest in joining the campaign over the coming months and it is precisely such support that is driving travel & tourism growth,” said Mr. Rifai.

The next joint commission meetings are to be held in India at a date and venue yet to be confirmed.

 

PR No.: PR 12030

“Tourism is a major sector of the economy not only for Myanmar but also for all countries around the world. It brings benefits to a country, boosts its economy and create employment opportunities,” said President Sein. “We therefore request that our membership of UNWTO be restored so that we can obtain the relevant knowledge to further promote and develop our tourism sector.”

Meeting with President Sein, Mr. Rifai assured him that UNWTO stood ready to support Myanmar in taking full advantage of its “tremendous tourism potential”.

“Myanmar is a country abundant in natural and cultural resources, the foundation of any tourism sector,” said Mr. Rifai. “Following talks with the Minister of Hotels, Tourism and Sport, U Tint San, UNWTO will lend its expertise in a number of areas, ranging from capacity-building to sustainable tourism practices and travel facilitation, to responsibly develop tourism for the benefit of all.”

During his visit, Mr. Rifai, presented President Sein with an Open Letter from UNWTO and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) on the importance of tourism to global growth and development. Accepting the Letter, President Sein stated that “tourism should be considered a ‘smokeless industry’” and one that “boosts growth, creates job opportunities, conserves the environment and helps to maintain traditional arts and crafts.”

“Given the political support for tourism demonstrated today, Myanmar is set to significantly enhance its tourism sector over the coming years,” said Mr. Rifai. “At the same time, the international community has been greatly encouraged by recent reforms in Myanmar and this will no doubt be reflected in an increasing numbers of tourists. These tourists will quickly prove a vital source of jobs and economic growth, helping to secure the country’s future prosperity. UNWTO is 100 per cent committed to supporting Myanmar, to make sure that its tourism development is a success story.”   

David Scowsill, President & CEO, WTTC said: “I am pleased that the significance of the Travel & Tourism industry is increasingly being recognised by Myanmar. With its rich eco-diversity, natural and cultural heritage together with a commitment to responsible tourism, Myanmar is increasingly harnessing its Travel & Tourism potential. In 2011, the industry contributed MMK1435.4bn to the GDP of the economy and contributed 726,500 jobs. By joining this global movement of Heads of State and Government through this signing of the Open Letter, the President demonstrates his commitment to support the growth and development of its Travel & Tourism industry. “

According to UNWTO’s long-term forecast, Tourism Towards 2030, international tourist arrivals to Asia and the Pacific will increase from 204 million in 2010 to 535 million in 2030. South Asia will be the fastest growing sub-region in the world, growing 6% a year. “Asia and the Pacific is the future powerhouse of global tourism and Myanmar is in a strategic position to receive a significant share of these arrivals,” said Mr. Rifai.  

 

Note to Editors:

Through the Global Leaders for Tourism Campaign, UNWTO and WTTC are jointly presenting heads of state and government around the world an Open Letter which calls on them to acknowledge tourism’s key role in delivering more sustained and balanced growth and to prioritize the sector higher in national policies in order to maximize its potential. The 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, over 27 heads of state and government have received the Open Letter from UNWTO and WTTC: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Brunei, Burkina Faso, China, Colombia, Croatia, the Gambia, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Serbia, the Seychelles, South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia and Vietnam.   

 

Useful links:

Open Letter to Heads of State and Government

Further Information on the Joint Campaign

 

Contacts:

Principal Media Officer: Marcelo Risi

Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60

 

WTTC Media Relations Manager: Anja Eckervogt

Tel: (+44) 20 7481 6484

 www.WTTC.org

PR No.: PR 12029

“The stance of the Thai Government towards tourism is one of strong support, as evidenced by the announcement of 2012 as the Miracle Year of Amazing Thailand,” said Prime Minister Shinawatra. “In this regard, we need to focus on the needs of tourists and leave them with the best possible impression. We need to make sure that relevant infrastructure for hotels and restaurants is in place, as well as advancing in other areas such as visa facilitation.”     

Presenting the Prime Minister with an Open Letter on the importance of tourism to global growth and development, Mr. Rifai praised the Government for its commitment to the tourism sector, particularly in times of crisis.  

“The Thai Government has been a strong advocate of tourism for years,” said Mr. Rifai. “A direct result of this support has been the phenomenal rise of Thailand up the tourism league tables. Today, despite the challenges of the past few years, Thailand remains one of the world’s most-visited and attractive destinations.”  

David Scowsill, President & CEO of WTTC said: “Thailand has shown incredible resilience in the face of natural disasters over the last few years and has repeatedly demonstrated that it is able to re-invent itself while remaining true to its deep cultural history. Domestic tourism has also risen in the past decades, as well as various forms of niche tourism that cater to various markets, reflecting dynamism and adaptability as well as a huge recognition of the role tourism plays in the economy. In 2011, Travel & Tourism supported 4.4million jobs which is over 11% of total employment; and also contributed THB 1,735.5bn to the economy, that is 16.3% of total GDP. This commitment of leadership to advancing Thailand’s deeply cultural Travel & Tourism industry is enriched by the signing of the Open Letter.” WTTC Members from Lebua Hotels & Resorts, Deepak Ohri and Rattawadee Bualert were also present at the meeting.

The meeting with the Prime Minister was held ahead of the 24th Joint Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and the UNWTO Commission for South Asia (3-5 May, Chiang Mai, Thailand) during which senior tourism officials debated how to ensure the sustainability of their fast-growing tourism markets.

According to UNWTO’s long-term forecast, Tourism Towards 2030, international tourist arrivals to Asia and the Pacific will increase from 204 million in 2010 to 535 million in 2030. As a result, the region will receive a 30% share of the world’s international tourists by 2030. Thailand is an excellent example of the “dynamism of the region”, said Mr. Rifai, having received 19 million international tourists and earning US$ 26 billion in international tourism receipts in 2011.

A High-Level Regional Conference on Green Tourism was held as part of the Commission, to present national experiences on how, if properly planned and managed, tourism can be one of the most promising drivers of sustainable socio-economic development in Asia and the Pacific.

Note to Editors:

Through the Global Leaders for Tourism Campaign, UNWTO and WTTC are jointly presenting heads of state and government around the world an Open Letter which calls on them to acknowledge tourism’s key role in delivering more sustained and balanced growth and to prioritize the sector higher in national policies in order to maximize its potential. The 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, over 27 heads of state and government have received the Open Letter from UNWTO and WTTC: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Brunei, Burkina Faso, China, Colombia, Croatia, the Gambia, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Mozambique, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Serbia, the Seychelles, South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia and Vietnam.   

 

Useful links:

24th Joint Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for South Asia and the UNWTO Commission for East Asia and the Pacific

UNWTO High-level Regional Conference on Green Tourism

Open Letter to Heads of State and Government

Further Information on the Joint Campaign

 

Contacts:

UNWTO Principal Media Officer: Marcelo Risi

Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60

 

WTTC Media Relations Manager: Anja Eckervogt

Tel: (+44) 20 7481 6484

www.WTTC.org

CHIANG MAI, Thailand, May 3, 2012 - Asia Pacific countries are moving rapidly towards balancing the economic advantages of global travel & tourism with policies to manage the ecological and environmental impact of growing numbers, according to high-level presentations made at a conference organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in this northern Thai heritage city.

The conference was the first one on the subject of “Green Tourism” held by UNWTO following the issuance of a landmark Green Economy Report by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

UNWTO contributed to the crafting of the tourism chapter in the ground-breaking study which advocates that greener policies can help travel & tourism enhance its socio-economic benefits while mitigating its environmental impact. Key findings of the Green Economy report were shared with the participating delegates.

Officially known as the UNWTO High-Level Regional Conference on Green Tourism, this event was held in conjunction with the 24th Joint Commission Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and the UNWTO Commission for South Asia.

Host city Chiang Mai, Thailand’s second largest city, boasts a rich cultural heritage dating back 715 years. It also hosts a popular annual horticultural festival known as the Royal Ratchaphruek, devoted to commemorating the contribution of Thailand’s King Bhumibhol Adulyadej to environmental preservation.

The conference was attended by tourism ministers, government officials, representatives of international organizations such as the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and the Tourism Promotion Organization for Asia-Pacific Cities (TPO) as well as academics, consultants and the media.

Conclusions from the event will form part of the many activities being organized by the UNWTO, other UN agencies and the OECD for a special tourism section of Rio+20, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, also known as the Earth Summit, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 20-22, 2012.

In his opening remarks at the conference, UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai noted that travel & tourism is growing strongly worldwide. In 2011, 980 million tourist arrivals were recorded around the world, and this number is expected to cross the one-billion mark in 2012. The rapid growth and development of both international and domestic travel and tourism sectors is putting significant pressure on the supporting natural and cultural assets.

 “Undoubtedly, this growth in numbers will translate into more job opportunities, the creation of more businesses and the generation of more income. However, it will also bring in its wake or add to the existing sustainable-related challenges of the tourism industry, ¨ said Mr. Rifai.

He added, “Integrating tourism into national, regional and international legislations that encompass and encourage green economy strategies is no longer an option – it is an imperative if we are to find long-lasting solutions to the on-going, global, multi-faceted crisis.

“This calls for an integrated approach, a concerted action of the international community and the main players in the tourism industry as well as public-private cooperation. Green tourism can only succeed if it is supported by a green economy.”

In his opening remarks, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism and Sports Mr. Chumpol Silpa-archa highlighted the numerous efforts being made by his country to ensure that conservation and preservation efforts get the same emphasis as marketing as part of the tourism development process.

He said, “We promote products that show a clear commitment to sustainability, such as the Green Hotels, recognize such products through a biannual awards scheme and encourage destinations to undertake all forms of environmental and preservation activities.

“New initiatives such as the Seven Greens project and Tourism Awards are being specifically designed to ensure that the local management of the industry remains as powerful and effective as global marketing efforts,” the minister said.

According to the Tourism Chapter of the Green Economy Report, investments in greener and sustainable tourism are vital to create jobs and reduce poverty while also improving environmental outcomes.

All the country and industry presentations from the conference have been uploaded on the event website. They provide valuable insights into the extensive work being done by established destinations such as Thailand, Philippines and Malaysia, emerging destinations such as Bhutan as well as others such as Sri Lanka, which is now rapidly rebuilding its tourism sector as part of the economic recovery process.

The UNWTO also collaborates with DISCOVERYMICE and the Asia Pacific Ecotourism Society in organizing the World Ecotourism Conference. This year, the fourth such conference will be held in the Republic of Korea at the Korean International Exhibition Centre (KINTEX) from 2nd to 5th September in collaboration with Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Gyeonggi Tourism Organization and Ecotourism Korea.

 

 

 

 

PR No.: PR 12025

“The tourism sector has been a major factor in job creation, economic development and poverty alleviation in Vietnam, leaving no doubt that tourism has played a crucial role in our country’s overall socio-economic development,” said Vice-President Nguyen Thi Doan.  

The Vice-President was speaking after receiving UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, who presented an Open Letter from UNWTO and WTTC on the significance of tourism to global growth and development.

“Vietnam is a tourism success story,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. “The country has clearly identified tourism as key to its future prosperity, has implemented the appropriate policies and strategies and, as a result, has transformed Vietnam into a leading tourism destination in Asia.”

David Scowsill, President & CEO of WTTC, said: "Vietnam must be recognized for its admirable commitment to Travel & Tourism. The sector already accounts for 4.3% of Vietnam's GDP and 3.7% of all jobs - numbers which are expected to rise at almost double the global average over the course of the next 10 years."

Meeting with the Vice-President, Mr. Rifai underscored the importance of government support for the tourism sector to stimulate investment, he said, as well as ensuring efficient coordination among relevant ministries and tourism industries.

In 2011, 6 million international tourists visited Vietnam and this figure is set to increase. Close to 1.9 million tourists visited the country in the first three months of 2012 alone, an increase of 25% compared to the same period in 2011. Revenue from tourism was also up, with close to US$ 2 billion in international tourism receipts in the first quarter of 2012, up 14% as compared to the same period in 2011.  

 

Note to Editors:

Through the Global Leaders for Tourism Campaign, UNWTO and WTTC are jointly presenting heads of state and government around the world an Open Letter which calls on them to acknowledge tourism’s key role in delivering more sustained and balanced growth and to prioritize the sector higher in national policies in order to maximize its potential. The 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, over 20 heads of state and government have received the Open Letter from UNWTO and WTTC: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Brunei, Burkina Faso, China, Colombia, Croatia, Gambia, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Mozambique, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Serbia, the Seychelles, South Africa, Tunisia and Vietnam.   

 

Useful links:

Open Letter to Heads of State and Government

Further Information on the Joint Campaign

 

Contacts:

Principal Media Officer: Marcelo Risi

Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60

 

WTTC Media Relations Manager: Anja Eckervogt

Tel: (+44) 20 7481 6484

www.WTTC.org