Generously supported by ITB Berlin, the Technical Cooperation and Silk Road Department successfully hosted two events at this year's ITB Berlin.
For more information, including the presentations held during the two events, please click on the links included above.
The Technical Cooperation and Silk Road Department wishes to express its gratitude to all speakers and attendants for their great input and support.
Should you have any questions regarding the two events, please do not hesitate to contact us at silkroad@unwto.org
PR No.: PR 19015
Madrid, Spain, 5 March 2019 – Tourism’s coming of age puts the sector in a position of global responsibility to face up to challenges ranging from climate change to social inclusion. Furthermore, toruism’s growth unlike almost any other economic sector offers the economic and social resilience needed in times of uncertainty. This was the central message delivered by Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), during the opening ceremony of ITB 2019 in Berlin, the leading travel trade show of the world.
With international arrivals reaching 1.4 billion in 2018, the UNWTO Secretary-General underscored how tourism “keeps growing ahead of the world economy, which we almost doubled last year”.
Addressing tourism authorities and industry leaders from around the world, Mr. Pololikashvili remined that “big numbers also entail big responsibilities”. To “grow better” has been UNWTO’s constant message over the past year, calling on the need of private sector commitment and appropriate public sector governance to ensure that tourism can deliver on its wide sustainability potential.
“Tourism has a say when it comes to facing up to global challenges”, the UNWTO Secretary-General said, underscoring how tourism’s “cross-cutting nature and deep social rooting like almost no other activity provides the resilience that economies need and everybody is craving, especially true in times of uncertainty”.
Mr. Pololikashvili praised the support of tourism at the highest political level in Germany, represented at the opening by the Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy. Mr. Peter Altmaier, said that "Tourism is a key economic activity, it’s part of global economic integration and contributes to 4% of Germany’s GDP and provides hundreds of thousands of direct and indirect jobs”. The minister ensured Germany's support to UNWTO in supporting tourism for sustainable development.
These remarks coincide with UNWTO’s special 2019 focus on education, skills and jobs, a joint task among all tourism stakeholders to “enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of tourism destinations”, the UNWTO Secretary-General said, reminding that “tourism’ cannot prosper in isolation and therefore needs partnerships and collaboration to strive, so that everybody wins”.
The opening of ITB 2019 was also chaired by the Mayor of Berlin, Michael Müller, the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia, Datuk Mohamaddin bin Ketapi, representing this year’s ITB partner country, the CEO of Messe Berlin, Christian Göke, and the President of the Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry, Michael Frenzel.
Contacts:
UNWTO Communications Department
Whatssapp at ITB: +34 692 00 69 54
Headquarters in Madrid: Tel: +34 91 567 8100 / comm@unwto.org
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UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili met with Germany’s Parliamentary State Secretary Mrs. Iris Gleicke to discuss collaboration between Germany and UNWTO.
Discussions focused on sustainability, seasonality, rural development and climate change.
The Secretary-General stressed the importance of using Germany’s expertise and experience in sustainable development. He added that although Germany is known due to its automotive industry tourism is as important to the country’s GDP as the automotive sector.
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PR No.: PR 18020
Berlin, Germany, 6 March 2018 – The tourism sector’s role and responsibility in contributing to sustainable development on a global scale was the central message delivered at the opening of the 2018 edition of the ITB Berlin travel trade show by Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Speaking in the presence of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, tourism ministers from around the world and the leaders of the tourism sector, Mr. Pololikashvili stressed how tourism not only needs to consolidate current growth rates, but “to grow better”.
In 2017, international tourist numbers grew a record 7% to reach 1.3 billion. UNWTO’s message underlines the need to turn these figures into benefits for all people and all communities. “Leaving no one behind” is the benchmark for true sustainability, which must also decouple growth from resource use and place climate change response at the heart of the tourism sector’s agenda.
“Tourism’s sustained growth brings immense opportunities for economic welfare and development”, said the UNWTO Secretary-General, while warning at the same time that it also brings in many challenges. “Adapting to the challenges of safety and security, constant market changes, digitalization and the limits of our natural resources should be priorities in our common action”, he added.
Speaking at the opening were the Federal Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel, the Governing Mayor of Berlin Michael Müller, the President of the Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry (BTW) Dr. Michael Frenzel, the Minister-President of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Manuela Schwesig and Dr. Christian Göke, CEO of Messe Berlin.
“Tourism is an example of the opportunities of globalisation. Tourism brings people closer together and creates the foundation for growth” said Chancellor Angela Merkel. “We are committed to the Agenda 2030. We are committed to sustainable tourism.” she added stressing the role of tourism in the sustainability agenda
The UNWTO Secretary-General stressed education and job creation, innovation and technology, safety and security; and sustainability and climate change as the priorities for the sector to consolidate its contribution to sustainable development and the 2030 Agenda, against the backdrop of its expansion in all world regions and the socio-economic impact this entails.
To address these issues, Mr. Pololikashvili concluded that “public/private cooperation as well as public/public coordination must be strengthened, in order to translate tourism growth into more investment, more jobs and better livelihoods”.
Related links:
Speech by UNWTO Secretary General delivered during opening ceremony
Contacts:
UNWTO Senior Media Officer Marcelo Risi
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60 / mrisi@unwto.org
UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme
Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218 / comm@UNWTO.org