A four-member delegation led by the Advisor to the Minister of Tourism and Sports – Mr. Korkij Danchaivichit visited UNWTO’s Headquarters on 14 February 2011. This was a follow-up to the visit of the Secretary-General to Bangkok last July with the main purpose of rendering UNWTO’s support and solidarity with the Government of Thailand in the aftermath of the socio-political disturbances that impacted negatively on tourist flow during the second quarter of 2010.
Tourism plays a significant role in the economic development of Thailand – a country that has been promoting tourism for nearly fifty years and has consolidated itself as a major destination for millions of people. It is a major source of foreign exchange, job creation, wages, and government revenues. The significance of the tourism sector to the Thai economy and its overall contribution to the country’s present and future socio- economic development thus need not be overemphasized.
Secretary-General Taleb Rifai praised Thailand for the remarkable 12% growth in its international tourist arrivals in 2010. This performance is all the more impressive in light of the unfavourable environment that surrounded Thai tourism in the recent past. Rifai expressed satisfaction with the Organization’s modest contribution to this achievement attributable to the Special Meeting on International Solidarity with Thai Tourism which UNWTO organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and PATA at the beginning of July last year.
In order to maintain this growth momentum, Rifai assured the delegation of UNWTO’s readiness to assist Thailand in its promotional endeavours and the training of its tourism officials. Thai tourism should also capitalise on mega events such as the forthcoming celebration of King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 84th birthday to maintain itself in the international tourism spotlight. Product diversification is another strategy Thailand could use to revitalise its tourism industry to ensure that it compete effectively with strong neighbours such as Singapore, Malaysia and China.
The Thai Tourism Minister’s Advisor concurred with the Secretary-General’s evaluation of the positive impact of UNWTO’s expression of solidarity with Thai tourism in its crisis moments. He further underlined the importance of resolving national issues through international collaboration. Korkij also informed the Secretary-General that the main purpose of their visit was to express Thailand’s strong commitment to UNWTO’s activities and show their appreciation for the Organization’s continued support of Thailand’s tourism industry.
2012
School of Tourism Managememnt, Sun Yat-sen UniversityZhangjiajie Municipal Goverment
Zhangjiajie City, Hunan province, China
Zhangjiajie boasts the first national forest park in China and the Wuling Yuan Natural Scenic Area, which is listed on the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List. Collecting data on community, tourists, economy, resources and environment can reflect the current situation of its tourism development, provide a basis for informed decision on tourism development in Zhangjiajie and other natural resource-based scenic areas, enhance the awareness of sustainable tourism development, and promote environmental protection and sustainable development.
MISSION
Tourism and employment
Tourism driving regional development.
With regard to the themes of “tourism and employment”, and “tourism driving regional development”, preliminary conclusions have been drawn for Zhangjiajie: residents are generally positive towards tourism development; residents have a clear and comprehensive cognition of tourism; tourists are satisfied with scenic spots, but there is still room for improvement in management; tertiary industry dominates in Zhangjiajie and tourism development showcases a good trend; tourism marketing is effective; environmental protection system is functionable and residents’ awareness of environmental protection needs to be deepened, etc. We will continue to pay attention to the relevant indicators in the subsequent monitoring.
Tourism and Community Engagement
Climate Action
Tourist Behavior and Satisfaction,
Economic Impact of tourism,
Tourism Marketing,
Tourism and Environmental Protection,
Tourism Hospitality
The movie “Avatar” was partially shot in Zhangjiajie. The majestic “Hallelujah Mountain” in “Avatar” took its origin from Zhangjiajie.
2008
School of Tourism Management, Sun Yat-sen University
Huangshan Scenic Area Management Committee
Monitoring Centre for UNWTO Sustainable Tourism Observatories
Huangshan City
Anhui Province
Huangshan is one of the most representative mountain tourism destinations in China. Due to its remarkable uniqueness, the long-term monitoring is conducive to tracking its development in a more systematic manner, optimize sustainable development, as well as disseminate its excellent experience among other tourism destinations in the world.
MISSION
The impact of tourism activities on environment, cultural heritage conservation, the dualistic jurisdictional mechanism of tourism destinations, government management and marketing.
Huangshan, as a World-class scenic spot is an outstanding representative of tourism destinations based on mountain landscape in China. It enjoys so much fame, including 5A Class Tourist Attraction, National Scenery Tourist Area Demonstrative Site, World Heritage with Mixed Property, that its sustainable development has caught the attention of the world. On February 26, 2008, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and UNESCO officially established an observatory for sustainable tourism development in Huangshan. The objective is to explore an ideal development mode which can maximize economic growth and community benefits while minimize negative impact on environment, by collecting data of long-term monitoring in various aspects such as tourists’ perceptions and satisfaction and the impact of tourism on local community.
Tourism and Environmental Protection
Economic Impact of Tourism
Organization and Management, Tourism and Community
Tourist Experience and Satisfaction
Heritage Value and National Identity
Distribution of Interpretive Board and Tourist Education System, Garbage Disposal System, Spatio-temporal Behaviour of Tourists, Construction of East Gate of Huangshan Scenic Area
The case of Jade Valley Community
Sustainable Livelihood of Buffer Zone Residents
Social Responsibility and Brand Awareness of Huangshan Tourism SMEs
Huangshan is known as "the most wondrous mountain in the world". Chinese people often say: "After visiting Huangshan, people do not need to visit Five Yue". There are four wonders on Huangshan: strange rocks, sea of clouds, strange pines and hot spring.
2005
School of Tourism Managememnt
Sun Yat-sen University
Guilin Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism
Yangshuo County People’s Government
Monitoring Centre for UNWTO Sustainable Tourism Observatories
Yangshuo County
Guilin City
Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region
China
The idea of establishing a research base in Yangshuo was conceived in 2002 when Professor Bao Jigang of Sun Yat-sen University proposed to do so; at that time he was in charge of the tourism planning of the Yulong River. The unique and diverse tourism resources of Yangshuo attracted the attention of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
In 2004, the UNWTO and the Guilin Municipal Government reached an agreement to establish a tourism observatory in Guilin to promote sustainable tourism development, and on July 26, 2005, the world’s first tourism sustainable development observatory was officially established in Yangshuo, and an inauguration ceremony in October 2009 marked the start of long-term sustainable development monitoring in Yangshuo. Since August 2006, the Center of Tourism Development and Research at Sun Yat-sen University has successfully completed the Tourism Sustainability Monitoring in Yangshuo from 2006 to 2022, and its efforts have been fully recognized by the UNWTO for promoting the sustainable development of tourism in Yangshuo. The annual monitoring activities are ongoing with increasing depth, summarizing the successful experience while making suggestions for the problems that arise in the development process. Monitoring activities aim to improve the local sustainable tourism development, and share China’s experience with the UNWTO and other institutes, for instance, the applicant of research indicators.
MISSION
Community residents’ participation in tourism, tourism and commercialization, the roles of market and government in tourism development.
Since August 2006, Yangshuo observatory has been monitored for sustainable tourism development based on indicators and methods of the UNWTO GOST project from 2006 to 2022. The monitoring work focuses on the impacts of tourism development on Yangshuo’s natural resources, ecological environment, social culture and industrial construction. It analyzes and evaluates tourism development, identifies problems and takes corrective and remedial measures. The monitoring work in previous years has been fully recognized by the UNWTO for promoting the sustainable tourism development in Yangshuo.
Tourism and Community
Tourist Satisfaction
Health and Safety
Tourism Planning and Control
Economic Benefits of Tourism
Tourism and Environmental Protection
Tourism Products and Services
Impact of Tourism on Land Use Change
Tourism Commercialization
Tourism Performance: Impression: Liu San Jie
Influence of “Two Rivers and Four Lakes” on Guilin’s Urban Tourism
Food and Beverage of Tourism Places: Beer Fish Theme
In Yangshuo,a festival is celebrated for singing, and that is the Zhuang March 3rd. On this day, the Zhuang people will sing on boats, with their voices rising and falling. Now, this festival is also an important intangible cultural heritage in China.