PR No.: PR 17027
Tourism can transform our world and build better understanding in a world living a deficit of tolerance said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, at the opening ceremony of the 2017 edition of ITB Berlin (Berlin, Germany, 7 March 2016).
“We live the worst of times and the best of times. Times when we wake up every other day with the threat of terrorism at our doorstep and the glooming numbers of unemployment. Times of isolationism and ill-conceived actions like travel bans, which do not lead to increased security but just to growing tension. Despite all these complex and interlinked challenges, despite acts against the freedom of travel, the power of tourism continues to shine through the darkness” said Mr Rifai.
Quoting the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, he said, “Beyond the measurable advances that tourism can make possible, it is also a bridge to better mutual understanding among people from all walks of life.”
In this context, Mr Rifai recalled the declaration of 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations is a clear recognition of the potential contribution of tourism to social progress, equality and prosperity and peace and that tourism must be at the forefront of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
“In a world that seems increasingly short of tolerance and generosity, we should cherish tourism as a precious pillar of peace amongst communities and nations.“ he said.
“We all need to ensure that, as our sector grows, it contributes to the wellbeing of the world and not to its peril. Tourism must fulfil its responsibility to contribute to all 17 universal Sustainable Development Goals” he added.
Additional information:
Calendar of UNWTO events at ITB 2017
UNWTO's Provisional Programme of Activities on ITB
UNWTO Secretary-General Speech ITB Opening 2017
Contacts:
UNWTO Media Officer Rut Gomez Sobrino
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60 / rgomez@unwto.org
UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme
Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218 / comm@UNWTO.org
PR No.: PR 17025
UNWTO activities at the 51th edition of ITB, taking place next 8-12 March in Berlin, include the 7th UNWTO Silk Road Ministers Meeting, events on the New Platform Tourism Services (or the so- called sharing economy), Child Protection and Indigenous Tourism.
Expected to gather around 20 Ministers of Tourism, the Silk Road Ministerial Meeting (8 March) will address the contribution of tourism to Sustainable Tourism and Local Communities.
On the 9th March, UNWTO will debate the New Platform Tourism Services (or the so-called sharing economy) with a focus on how it impacts on destinations and how are destinations addressing these new services.
In addition, also on the 9th March, UNWTO organizes the 32nd Meeting of the World Tourism Network on Child Protection and a Panel on Indigenous Tourism, underlining the relevance of inclusive practices to approach local communities in order to achieve a more sustainable tourism sector.
The World Tourism Network on Child Protection serves as a platform for tourism stakeholders to exchange good practices and discuss the most pressing challenges in curbing child and youth exploitation in the tourism sector, including sexual exploitation, child labor and trafficking. The Network draws together governments, the tourism industry, international organizations, non-governmental organizations and media associations.
“ITB is always vibrant and interesting, but this year it acquires a higher relevance as we are celebrating the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017 and this highly prominent fair provides one of the best platform to advocate responsible tourism worldwide,” said UNWTO Secretary General, Taleb Rifai.
Additional information:
Calendar of UNWTO events at ITB 2017
Contacts:
UNWTO Media Officer Rut Gomez Sobrino
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60 / rgomez@unwto.org
UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme
Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218 / comm@UNWTO.org
PR No.: 16022
UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, met the Minister of Tourism of Egypt, Hisham Zaazou, on the side-lines of ITB to discuss the current measures being implemented by the country to stimulate recovery (Berlin, Germany, 9 March 2016).
The meeting followed up on the official visit of Mr Rifai to Egypt last month, where he had the opportunity to meet President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Prime Minister Sherif Ismail to discuss the tourism situation in the country and the recovery plans being implemented.
Meeting with Minister Zaazou in Berlin, the UNWTO Secretary-General commended the measures taken by Egypt to restore market confidence and expressed the full support of the Organization to this programme.
“The work of the Ministry and of Minister Zaazou in promoting the highest political support for the sector, enhancing tourism safety and security by successfully integrating the sector into risk and emergency management structures both at national and local levels, and the various marketing initiatives taken in key markets are the correct ways to restore confidence and accelerate the recovery of tourism in Egypt”, said Mr Rifai.
“We should never forget that Egypt’s tourism sector is one of the world’s most remarkable success stories. In the last decade, the number of visitors to Egypt practically tripled and so did the exports generated by international tourism. Despite current challenges Egypt is today, and will continue to be, a world-leading tourism destination, capturing one in every four international tourist arrivals to the Middle East”, said Mr Rifai.
Mr Rifai and Minister Zaazou also discussed the actions that the Ministry has swiftly taken to communicate with competent authorities and the public in source markets on safety and security issues, to unlock the support of airlines and tour operators, to incentivise demand, and to engage key players in Egypt in these concerted efforts. UNWTO experts have visited Egypt in recent months to support the Ministry in these areas.
The meeting was also an occasion to further discuss the upcoming UNWTO City Tourism Summit being held later in 2016 in Cairo.
“We are holding this important event in Cairo as a clear sign of confidence in Egypt, and we trust that it will be a great opportunity to showcase all the progress and initiatives that Egypt has been implementing to accelerate recovery”, added Mr Rifai.
Contact:
UNWTO Senior Media Officer: Ruth Gomez
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60
UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme
Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) partnered with the International Trade Centre (ITC) to promote the Kayah State of Myanmar in a series of well-attended events at ITB Berlin. The events included a panel session focused on authenticity and sustainability in tourism, B2B meetings focused on niche tourism products and a joint press conference. Myanmar obtained the first prize, the Diamond Award, at the Golden City Gate Awards, an international tourism film competition held during the ITB Berlin fair.
Since 2014, ITC has been developing the “NTF III Myanmar” project, a tourism approach, focused on the Kayah State, aiming to curb job creation and socio-economic development through sustainable and inclusive practices. The project is part of the Netherlands Trust Fund III programme funded by the Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI).
With the support of UNWTO, a range of activities were held during ITB Berlin 2016 focused on showcasing the benefits of this tourism project to an international audience.
The very well attended events covered topics of high relevance to today’s tourism sector, such as sustainable tourism growth, the importance of safeguarding natural and cultural heritage, and the key involvement of local communities in tourism development planning.
Overall, the jointly organized events provided a valuable platform to raise awareness on the tourism potential of Myanmar and its eastern Kayah State, and to assist in the internationalization of its tourism sector.
Asia and the Pacific is becoming one of most dynamic and sought after tourism regions in the world, receiving a total of 277 million international tourist arrivals in 2015. Within the region, Myanmar welcomed over 3 million international tourists in 2015, a staggering number compared to the less than one million international tourist arrivals registered in 2010.
A main concern shared by UNWTO and ITC is to ensure that this overall growth goes hand-in-hand with sustainable and responsible tourism practices. As said by UNWTO Secretary-General, Mr. Taleb Rifai, during his welcome speech at the panel session focused on authenticity and sustainability in tourism: “It is crucial to ensure that, at the outset, tourism development is done with the full engagement of local communities, empowering them to manage their destination, their traditions and cultural values”.
A major highlight was Myanmar’s successful participation in the Golden City Gate Awards, an international tourism film competition held during ITB Berlin. “Myanmar: Let the Journey Begin. An Introduction to Kayah State”, an ITC film directed by Mr. Max Kerkhoff, received the highest distinction, the Diamond Prize. The Jury acknowledged the short films beauty and the care with which the Kayah State, its people and traditions are depicted.
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PR No.: 16016
On the 50th anniversary of ITB Berlin, UNWTO’s activities at the fair will focus on the development of the Silk Road and the World Tourism Network on Child Protection. ITB will take place on 9-13 March.
One of the major events organized by UNWTO at ITB Berlin will be the 6th UNWTO Silk Road Ministers’ Meeting (9 March). The meeting brings together Ministers and high ranking officials from over 20 countries to discuss how public/private sector partnerships (PPPs) can contribute to advancing tourism on the Silk Road. The meeting will focus on the valuable role of PPPs in marketing and promotion, infrastructure development, heritage management, aviation, major events and risk and crisis management. On the occasion, UNWTO will launch the Silk Road Action Plan 2016/2017. In addition, the 5th UNWTO Silk Road Tour Operators’ Forum (10 March) will take place as a means to empower inbound Silk Road tour operators to better understand, engage and work with the international travel trade.
UNWTO will also hold the 31st Meeting of the World Tourism Network on Child Protection (10 March), an initiative to prevent all forms of child and youth exploitation in the tourism sector. Under the chairmanship of Carol Bellamy, the Chair of the Network and former Executive Director of UNICEF, the meeting will focus on Responsible Business Strategies and Child Protection in Tourism,’ highlighting the good practices championed by the tourism industry. The event will feature interventions from ABTA, TUI Group, as well as the Chair of the High Level Global Task Force to End Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism Najat Maalla M’jid, who will share the results of the Global Study on the Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism.
Additionally, the UNWTO Secretary-General will be a keynote speaker at the ITB Ministers' Roundtable: “Tourism in the 21st century: new business models in a digital world”, an event organized by the ITB Convention Programme in collaboration with UNWTO. The theme of this year’s roundtable will be the ‘Digitalization of economy and society’.
ITB 2016 will also be the stage for the launch of two UNWTO Affiliate Members Reports – the ‘Global Report on The Transformative Power of Tourism’ focusing on the role of socially and environmentally responsible practices in the sector, produced by UNWTO and the Institute for Tourism of Croatia; and the ‘Global Report on The Power of Youth Travel’, now in its second edition, developed incooperation with the World Youth Student and Educational Travel Confederation (WYSETC).
Finally, UNWTO has partnered with the International Trade Centre (ITC) to promote the Kayah State of Myanmar during ITB Berlin. Since 2014, ITC has been working with the Government of Myanmar on an inclusive tourism project aimed at supporting the local tourism sector through the development of cultural and eco-tourism products. UNWTO joins ITC and Myanmar to showcase the multiple benefits arising from this project by co-organizing a series of events throughout the fair including a press conference, a seminar and a number of business to business events.
Additional information:
Download the full program of UNWTO activities at ITB
Visit the page of the Silk Road Ministers Meeting
Know more about the Affiliate Members Programme
Know more about the Myanmar activities at ITB Berlin
31st meeting of the World Tourism Network on Child Protection
Contact:
UNWTO Media Officer: Rut Gómez Sobrino
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60
UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme
Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218