Category: Latest Travel News

London (Great Britain) – February 12, 2020 (travelindex.com) – The World Travel and Tourism Council [WTTC], which represents the global travel and tourism private sector, today unveiled the first class speakers of its 20th Global Summit this year, in Cancun, Quintana Roo.

The Global Summit will feature the participation high-level leaders within the travel and tourism sector, including Chris Nassetta, President and CEO of Hilton; Alex Zozaya, President of Apple Leisure Group; Kim Day, CEO of Denver Airport and Richard Fain, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises.

The event will take place at the Moon Palace Convention Centre and will welcome first class speakers such as:

– Andy Duncan, CEO, Travelopia
– Brett Tollman, Chief Executive, The Travel Corporation
– Caroline Beteta, President & CEO, Visit California
– Darrell Wade, Co-founder & Chairman, Intrepid Group
– Deepak Ohri, CEO, lebua Hotels & Resorts
– Desiree Bollier, Chair, Value Retail
– Frank R. Rainieri, President & CEO, Grupo Puntacana
– Fred Dixon, President & CEO, NYC & Company
– Friedrich Joussen, CEO, TUI
– Gibran Chapur, Executive Vice President, Palace Resorts
– Greg O’Hara, Founder &, Managing Partner, Certares
– Hiromi Tagawa, Chairman of the Board, JTB Corp
– Jeffrey C. Rutledge, CEO, AIG Travel
– Joan Vilà, Executive Chairman, Hotelbeds
– John Sage, CEO & Founder, Accessible Travel Solutions
– John Wasson, President & CEO, ICF
– Julian Balbuena, CEO & Chairman of the board of Directors, Best Day Travel Group
– Keith Barr, CEO, InterContinental Group (IHG)
– Kike Sarasola, President & Founder Room Mate Hotels & Be Mate com
– Kurt Ekert, President & CEO, Carlson Wagonlit Travel
– Michel Taride, Chair, Global Travel & Tourism Partnership (GTTP) Advisory Board
– Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports International
– Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, MSC Cruises
– Robin Ingle, Chairman & CEO, Ingle International
– Ryuhei Maeda, Member of the Board, ANA
– Scott Rosenberger, Global Sector Leader for Transportation, Hospitality & Services, Deloitte & Touche LLP
– Sean Donohue, CEO, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
– Stephen Colvin, Bloomberg
– Shirley Tan, CEO Rajawali Property Group

Over the next several weeks, WTTC will be celebrating its 30th anniversary while also preparing for the 20th Global Summit in Cancun. The theme for this year’s Summit; “Making a Lasting Difference”, will encourage delegates to discuss approaching the world differently, recognising that what has got us to this point, will not work to tackle global challenges and incite positive change for the future.

WTTC is focused on the ways that the world is changing, and how this will initiate a change in how we travel, and how the Travel & Tourism sector operates. Digital transformation and the emergence of new technologies such as 5G, combined with global challenges such as climate change and geopolitical and economic crises, will turn the world on its head once more. With such rapid, dramatic and interlinked changes, WTTC and its Members must be sure to stay ahead of the curve.

The world is on the edge of fascinating social change, driven by huge technological advance, with every generation having to adapt to this new world. WTTC will be part of that social change and, at the Summit, we intend to outline how we will reflect new ways of thinking in the Travel & Tourism sector for the next decade.

The most important annual event in Travel & Tourism, the WTTC Global Summit takes place in a different region every year, and important public figures have participated in the past such as Former Presidents of the United States Barack Obama and Bill Clinton; Felipe VI, King of Spain; Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Spain; Mauricio Macri, Former President of Argentina; José María Aznar, Former Prime Minister of Spain; as well as David Cameron and Tony Blair, former Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom. Quintana Roo is a trusted ally for growth, innovation and inclusion with a clear trend of openness to new markets and new businesses, making it the perfect place to welcome the distinguished speakers for this year’s summit.

“We are very proud to be able to attract this prestigious global event to Quintana Roo, which will focus the attention of the global tourism leaders towards Cancun and Quintana Roo, as well as the whole country” said Carlos Joaquin Gonzalez, Governor of the State of Quintana Roo.

“In Quintana Roo, we have the fortune of relying on tourism as one of the key pillars of investment, employment and economic prosperity in coordination with government, businesses and the community. We have positioned ourselves as the leader in international arrivals in Mexico and Latin America.”

Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC, said, “The WTTC Global Summit will be the most important Travel & Tourism event of 2020, and a fitting recognition of a sector which last year, contributed 10.4% to global GDP and supported 319 million jobs worldwide.”

“The 20th Global Summit will benefit and showcase not only Quintana Roo, but Mexico, and the whole region including US, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean. Cancun is a global icon and I feel honored to host the most important Travel & Tourism event of the year in my home country. Our Summit is the place where the future of our sector is shaped, and we look forward to hearing the insight of so many industry leaders, as we welcome them to our stage.”

London (United Kingdom) – February 10, 2020 (travelindex.com) – Co-operation between public and private sectors within Travel and Tourism is essential to mitigating the impact of the coronavirus, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council.

The call from Gloria Guevara, President & CEO of World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), follows the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration of coronavirus (2019-nCoV) as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

Ms. Guevara, former Tourism Minister of Mexico, was closely involved in 2010 with the aftermath, and then recovery, of the Mexican outbreak of the H1N1 influenza virus in 2009, which led to fatalities and a significant impact on the country’s economy.

The move from WTTC comes as airlines around the world, including leading carriers such as United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Lufthansa, Air France, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, suspended flights to mainland China to help contain the spread of the virus.

Major hotels groups such as Hilton and Accor have also taken action, offering customers free cancellations at a number of hotels within Greater China.

Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said: “Combatting the spread of the coronavirus is absolutely crucial and the global Travel & Tourism sector has a vital part to play. As expected, the private sector has stepped up to offer its support and come together during this crisis by putting people before profits.

“It has helped curtail travel in affected areas, with airlines cancelling flights and hotels suspending reservations. Meanwhile, travel providers have offset the impact on customers by providing full refunds to people who want them and future flexible travel options to those looking to travel at a later date.

“The public and private sectors working in tandem is essential to helping contain the spread of this new virus strain and protecting the public. The resilience of the private sector is shown in its determination to overcome whatever challenges are thrown its way to minimise the economic impact of such events. But there is always more that can be done in what is a rapidly changing situation.

“Information sharing is vital. We would urge even closer cooperation between public and private sectors, not only in China but further afield, across Asia Pacific, Europe, Africa and the Americas. Rapid action can help limit lasting damage and the economic impact on the global Travel & Tourism sector, an industry that generates 10.4% (US$8.8 trillion) to global GDP.”

WTTC says previous viral outbreaks show how devastating their effect can be. The worldwide economic impact of H1N1 was estimated at up to US$55 billion, with the loss to the Mexican tourism industry valued at US$5 billion after the 2009 outbreak.

A similar economic impact affected China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Canada after the 2003 SARS outbreak, damaging the global Travel & Tourism sector by between US$30 and US$50 billion. China alone suffered a 25% reduction of tourism GDP and a loss of 2.8 million jobs.

Analysis of previous major viral epidemics by experts from WTTC, shows that the average recovery time for visitor numbers to a destination was 19.4 months, but with the right response and management could recover in as little as 10 months. Many lessons have been learned since the 2003 outbreak, which have been implemented recently to stem the spread of the virus.

WTTC supports WHO recommendations for travellers, and the general public, to reduce exposure to and transmission of a range of illnesses including frequent hand cleaning; covering mouth and nose with flexed elbow when sneezing or coughing; avoid close contact with anyone who has a fever and cough; avoid direct, unprotected contact with live animals as well as the consumption of raw or undercooked animal products.

About WTTC
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) represents the Travel & Tourism private sector globally. Our Members include over 200 CEOs, Chairpersons and Presidents of the world’s leading Travel & Tourism companies from all geographies covering all industries. WTTC works to raise awareness of Travel & Tourism as one of the world’s largest economic sectors, supporting one in 10 jobs (319 million) worldwide, and generating 10.4% of global GDP.

For the past 30 years, WTTC has conducted research on the economic impact of Travel & Tourism in 185 countries. In 2018, the Travel & Tourism sector experienced 3.9% growth, outpacing that of the global economy (3.2%) for the eighth consecutive year. Over the past five years, one in five jobs were created by the sector, making Travel & Tourism the best partner for governments to generate employment.

Cancun (Mexico) – February 8, 2020 (travelindex.com) – The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) announces its annual Global Summit will now be held in Cancun, with a major event in San Juan, Puerto Rico to be held later this year.

WTTC’s mission is to promote sustainable growth for the Travel & Tourism sector globally, so it has decided to change the location of the Global Summit given what is best for Puerto Rico at this time. The financial resources that had been set aside will instead be focused on impactful, consumer-facing campaigns and marketing efforts that strongly promote Puerto Rico’s “open for tourism” message and drive immediate visitor numbers to the Island.

Gloria Guevara, President & CEO of WTTC, said: “WTTC remains strongly committed to supporting Puerto Rico’s amazing comeback story as seen in their record-breaking year in tourism last year. Although the island was ready to welcome us with open arms this April, despite the recent seismic activity in the southern region, reallocating resources to continue this great momentum is the right thing to do in order to further boost tourism. We are looking forward to hosting an event in Puerto Rico later this year.”

“This switch to Cancun will enable us to host a Global Summit focused on the opportunities and challenges facing our sector in 2020 and beyond, which will help to grow tourism further. The 20th Global Summit will benefit and showcase not only Mexico, but the wider regions of the US, Latin America and the Caribbean.”

The WTTC Global Summit will be held in Cancun, Mexico, from 21st to 23rd April 2020, with the dates for the upcoming official WTTC event in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to be announced in the near future.

About WTTC
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) represents the Travel & Tourism private sector globally. Our Members include over 200 CEOs, Chairpersons and Presidents of the world’s leading Travel & Tourism companies from all geographies covering all industries. WTTC works to raise awareness of Travel & Tourism as one of the world’s largest economic sectors, supporting one in 10 jobs (319 million) worldwide, and generating 10.4% of global GDP.

For the past 30 years, WTTC has conducted research on the economic impact of Travel & Tourism in 185 countries. In 2018, the Travel & Tourism sector experienced 3.9% growth, outpacing that of the global economy (3.2%) for the eighth consecutive year. Over the past five years, one in five jobs were created by the sector, making Travel & Tourism the best partner for governments to generate employment.

Bangkok (Thailand) – February 10, 2020 (travelindex.com) – From close to 1,000 submissions, ten winners were chosen by a panel of judges and the public to receive the Asia Destination Film Awards 2020 in the categories Tourism Boards, Travel Industry, Filmmakers, User-generated Content, and Sustainable Travel. Closing the Asia Destination Film Forum on 30 January 2020, the Asia Destination Film Awards were presented to ten winners from close to 1,000 submissions in the categories Tourism Boards, Travel Industry, Filmmakers, User-generated Content, and Sustainable Travel. After shortlisting 200 semi-finalists and 34 finalists, a jury of filmmakers, tourism professionals, and media determined the best submissions in each category. Also, over 7,000 votes from the public decided the public choice awards.

Mr. Jens Thraenhart, Founder of the Asia Destination Film Forum and Executive Director of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office said that “the impact of visual storytelling, be it through feature films or online content, can be observed in decision making of tourists. Destinations can inspire travelers to explore new experiences through film and human impact stories. Movies, such as “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider”, “The Beach”, and “Lost in Thailand” are only some of the high impact examples. Other films, from destination videos to films by travel companies, bloggers, or regular travelers, also engage audiences and inspire them to travel, as well as drive sustainable tourism. We want to recognize this through our festival and awards and also put a focus on challenges filmmakers and destinations are facing and how they can achieve sustainability”.

All the winners of the 2020 Asia Destination Film Awards are listed below.

The Asia Destination Film Awards are part of the Asia Destination Film Forum, which took part in Bangkok on 30 January 2020. They included live public voting as well as acrobatic performances and Mongolian wrestlers, supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism Mongolia, Asset World Corporation, ThaiBev, HMD Asia, Cambodian Living Arts, and MIAT Mongolian Airlines. Some of the winning films of the Asia Destination Film Awards will be highlighted during the 4th Mini Mekong Tourism Forum at ITB Berlin in Germany on March 4th, 2020, at 11 am, as well as during the 2020 Mekong Tourism Forum in Bagan, Myanmar on April 28-29.

The 2021 edition of the Asia Destination Film Awards will be open for submissions by tourism boards, travel companies, filmmakers, students, and travelers from 15 February 2020 to 15 October 2020. The 3rd Asia Destination Film Forum is scheduled to take place on 25 February 2021, and bids for destination partner and host destination are being accepted.

About the Asia Destination Film Forum
The Asia Destination Film Forum is celebrating tourism marketing and sustainability via inspiring visual storytelling.

Since 2018, the Asia Destination Film Forum brings together the travel & tourism industry and filmmakers from motion pictures to video content creators to foster collaboration in leveraging films and drive sustainable tourism. The forum includes conferences, workshops, seminars, annual awards, and an online platform.

The Asia Destination Film Forum is produced by United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Affiliate Member Chameleon Strategies, who is supporting destinations and brands with sustainable strategies including how to use visual storytelling to engage travelers and businesses.

More information is available at www.Destinationfilmforum.com

The winners of the 2020 Asia Destination Film Awards are:

Basel (Switzerland) – February 7, 2020 (travelindex.com) – Baselworld will welcome the Dolce&Gabbana Group as an exhibitor in the prestigious Hall 1.0. By participating in the show, the Italian designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana continue to communicate their passion for craftsmanship in the watch and jewellery industry.

Michel Loris-Melikoff, Managing Director of Baselworld said: “We are delighted to welcome Dolce&Gabbana to Baselworld and to start working together. We are embarking on a creative process that will allow Dolce&Gabbana to express not only its uniqueness to the 80,000 expected visitors, but also to benefit from the program we are putting in place to keep the international community alive throughout the year, digitally and physically. Because this is precisely our vision of a platform of experiences: enabling brands to be unique in their presentation to their various audiences while benefiting from the networks and powerful audience of Baselworld.”

“We tiptoed into the watch and jewellery industry knowing it wouldn’t be easy,” says Domenico Dolce. “The work of researching was long and hard, but it was worth it. It is a very fascinating world in which we have brought our values: the love for craftsmanship, the art of handmade, the attention to detail and the scrupulous choice of materials.”
Stefano Gabbana: “This world represents an exciting challenge. Every goal we’ve achieved has taught us that there’s always more to learn, that nothing is impossible when it’s passion that drives everything. Today, we are happy to take part in this important international event.”

It is the first time that the Italian Group and its international management will be present at the fair with the new jewellery and watch proposals, resulting from years of research and technical development, and with the unique creations from the Alta Gioielleria and Alta Orologeria Collections. Dolce&Gabbana has already participated in Baselworld in the past, but through a licensed partner for the watch and jewellery collections created for a young audience.

Synonymous with Italian savoire faire and Sicilian tradition, creativity, audacity, allure, hand-made ornaments, fine engravings and chisels, original inlays, extravagant settings, a singular vision of time through limited series and unique pieces, an atypical reinterpretation of the codes of elegance while cultivating traditional know-how, Dolce&Gabbana presents High Jewellery and High Watchmaking creations whose inspiration is drawn from innovation combined with the many references of the Mediterranean heritage of its origins and the engineering accuracy of Swiss mechanisms, as with its own proprietary movement entirely assembled by hand by the master watchmakers of Geneva.

Alfonso Dolce, CEO of Dolce&Gabbana said: “Baselworld will be an accelerator for our business. Michel Loris-Melikoff and his team were able to listen to our needs by proposing an innovative concept that corresponds to our ambitious development strategy. We are very pleased to join the world’s largest trade show and the largest, broad and unique global community platform, and we will be exploiting every opportunity to take advantage of it.”

Madrid (Spain) – February 7, 2020 (travelindex.com) – In its first edition, the first recipient of the “Accessible Tourist Destination” award was Portugal, while Barcelona and the Indian city of Thrissur received special mentions.

The ATD (Accessible Tourism Destination) are distinctions granted by the UNWTO and the Fundación ONCE to recognize and promote tourist sites accessible to all.

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Fundación ONCE celebrated the best ‘Accessible Tourist Destinations’, at FITUR, the tourism trade fair in Madrid. These are distinctions granted by the two entities to recognize and promote tourist destinations that are accessible to all people. In this first edition of the initiative, this special recognition was given to Portugal, Barcelona and the Indian city of Thrissur.

The recognition ceremony took place within the framework of the International Tourism Fair (FITUR) 2020, which is now in its 40th edition and is held at the IFEMA Fairgrounds in Madrid. Zurab Pololikashvili, UNWTO Secretary-General participated in the event alongside José Luis Martínez Donoso, General Director of Fundación ONCE. Also taking part were Marina Diotallevi, Director of Ethics, Culture and Social Responsibility at UNWTO; Ana Larrañaga, Director of IFEMA, and Jesús Hernández, Director of Universal Accessibility and Innovation of Fundación ONCE.

The ATDs 2019 edition conferred special recognition to Portugal for the importance the country has attached to accessibility and for their involvement in the development and implementation of tourism products and services that have access for all in every part of the design. Rita Marques, Secretary of State for Tourism of Portugal, received the recognition.

In addition, special mentions were given to Barcelona and the Indian city of Thrissur. In the case of the Spanish city, the jury considered that it is “really advanced in terms of accessibility”, presenting good conditions in its tourist resources, including accommodation and catering establishments, in addition to transport. Thrissur, meanwhile, received a special mention as an ‘Emerging Destination’ for being “in full development of accessibility, with strong involvement of public entities in this regard”. The distinctions were collected by Eduard Torres, President of the Executive Committee of Tourism of Barcelona, ​​and P Bala Kiran, Director of Kerala at Tourism India.

Cristóbal Gabarrón, the Spanish artist in charge of designing the ATD2019 trophy, created the sculpture “The Door to Adventure”, reflecting the values ​​of the ATD initiative and tourism itself. Gabarrón created a character through a door, which is the door to the adventure of travel, nature, culture and friendship.

As indicated by the UNWTO Secretary General at its General Assembly in St. Petersburg, when the distinguished destinations were first announced, with the ATDs “the organizers want to value the destinations that make an important effort so that they can be enjoyed by any tourist, regardless of their physical, sensory or cognitive abilities ”.

They also clarify that, although it is a recognition of the effort to maintain and increase the level of accessibility achieved in tourist destinations, the ‘Accessible Tourism Destination’ awards are not formal certifications of accessible destinations that guarantee that accessibility.

Marina Diotallevi was in charge of closing the event with the announcement of the ATD2020 edition.

Luang Prabang (Laos) – February 6, 2020 (travelindex.com) – In the lush, jungle-clad hills of northern Laos, one resort is proving that international tourism can operate in perfect harmony with the environment. Nestled among 16 hectares of beautiful countryside just outside Luang Prabang, the exquisite UNESCO World Heritage city, Pullman Luang Prabang is woven into the natural and cultural fabric of its destination.

Since it opened its doors in 2019, this low-impact resort has developed and implemented a series of important environmental initiatives, including organic farming, local community partnerships and eco-friendly guest activities. These efforts have now been recognised and rewarded by the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Pullman Luang Prabang has received the 7th ASEAN Green Hotel Standard Award, which celebrates hotels and resorts that operate in accordance with ASEAN’S high standards. This covers a wide range of areas such as waste and water management, use of green products, human resources, pollution control and energy efficiency. Pullman Luang Prabang was the only property in Luang Prabang to receive this prestigious award.

“At Pullman Luang Prabang, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. Many hotels implement environmental projects, but we actually operate in a way that is fully integrated with our eco-system. This means that guests can rest assured that the food they eat is locally sourced, the water they use is treated and recycled, and that everyone in our supply chain benefits from the success of our resort. We want to create a positive impact within our destination, and to enable our guests to be part of the experience. I am delighted that ASEAN has recognised our efforts with the Green Hotel Standard Award. In future, we will continue striving for a cleaner and greener tourism industry in Laos,” said Denis Dupart, General Manager, Pullman Luang Prabang.

The hard work starts in resort’s own rice fields, which are cultivated in a traditional way by local farmers using water buffalo. In this mutually beneficial arrangement, the farmers keep 60% of the harvested rice, while the remaining 40% goes to the hotel. The latest harvest produced 3.5 tonnes of rice.

The experience enables guests to learn about the rice cultivation process by helping to plant and harvest the rice, and they receive their own 100 gram bags of organic rice for free when they check out. The next rice harvest is expected to place in April.

This forms a key part of Pullman Luang Prabang’s self-sufficiency concept, through which the resort grows as much of its own produce as possible in an extensive onsite organic farm. Created in partnership with EcoAsia, the environmental consultancy company, this fertile farmstead currently supplies the hotel’s chefs with up to 100kg of fresh vegetables and herbs per month. Other ingredients are sourced from responsible local businesses, including the Namkhan Project, an eco-farm which has helped to reverse soil degradation, and Laos Buffalo Dairy, a unique CSR project that creates an additional revenue stream for the animals’ owners.

Underpinning the resort’s activities is its new Sustainability Guide, which will be launched soon and will be available in every guest room.

The largest hotel in Luang Prabang with 123 rooms and suites, multiple F&B outlets, three swimming pools, a luxury spa and extensive facilities for meetings and events, Pullman Luang Prabang is proving that true sustainability is not only possible for small-scale eco-resorts, but that it can also be achieved by major international hotels.

For more information about Pullman Luang Prabang, please visit www.pullman-luangprabang.com

About Pullman Luang Prabang:
Pullman Hotels & Resorts delivers an experience that is upscale, upbeat and perfectly in tempo with the global zeitgeist. Against the backdrop of today’s fast paced life, Pullman helps guests be at their best, in business and at leisure, enabling them to seamlessly conduct business, explore the locale, workout and make connections – to the neighborhood and people around them. Retaining the values of exploration, comfort and dependability that drove it to become a pioneering travel brand over 150 years ago, Pullman today features more than 120 worldwide properties including Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel, Pullman Park Lane Hong Kong, Pullman Shanghai South, Pullman London St Pancras and Pullman Sao Paulo Vila Olimpia. Pullman is part of AccorHotels, a world-leading travel and lifestyle group which invites travelers to feel welcome at more than 4,600 hotels, resorts and residences, along with some 10,000 of the finest private homes around the globe.

Madrid (Spain) – February 10, 2020 (travelindex.com) – The role of tourism and investment in African development took centre stage at the FITUR trade fair in Madrid this week as sector leaders joined the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for the 11th edition of INVESTOUR (Tourism Investment and Business Forum for Africa) which saw the participation of over 20 African Ministers and Heads of delegations.

Supported by Casa Africa (Representing the Spanish Government), the International Tourism Fair of Madrid (FITUR) as UNWTO’s official partners and in collaboration with Côte D’Ivoire, this latest meeting of Investour focused on the continent’s potential on creative industries as well as on the potential benefits of diversifying the tourism sector, in particular as a means of driving rural development. Against the backdrop of FITUR, the round table discussion explored the untapped potential of gastronomy tourism and the growing African fashion industry, particularly with regards to attracting international tourists. In addition, a session was also dedicated to the presentation of 10 projects aiming at the development of tourism in various countries in Africa, such as South Africa, Zambia, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Côte d’Ivoire.

The creative industries, including a thriving fashion industry, culture and gastronomy are all increasingly relevant ‘pull factors’

The forum came on the back of the UNWTO General Assembly unanimously approving its Agenda for Africa 2030, a roadmap and strategic framework for tourism for sustainable development and inclusive growth. At the same time, the 11th edition of INVESTOUR was held during UNWTO’s Year of Tourism and Rural Development, with this theme the main focus of discussions between tourism leaders from both the public and private sectors.

Opening INVESTOUR 2020, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “The creative industries, including a thriving fashion industry, culture and gastronomy are all increasingly relevant ‘pull factors’. They are encouraging visitors to see another side to Africa. Investment in these sectors will pay dividends, not just for investors themselves but, equally or more important, also for African society as a whole.”

Also during FITUR, UNWTO released its latest data on international tourist numbers and trends. The data shows that international arrivals to African destinations reached 71 million in 2019 and grew by 4% when compared with the previous year. This trend is expected to continue over the years ahead, and UNWTO has stated its commitment to supporting its African destinations grow their tourism sectors responsibly and sustainably. Next month, Côte d´Ivoire will host the 1st UNWTO Global Tourism Investment Forum in Africa, a landmark event for the continent and its tourism sector.

Madrid (Spain) – February 8, 2020 (travelindex.com) – The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is closely monitoring developments related to the outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), both in China and worldwide and is cooperating closely with the World Health Organization (WHO).

Since the very start of the emergency, the Chinese authorities have acted swiftly and decisively. UNWTO expresses its solidarity with the Chinese people, its government and its tourism sector at these challenging times.

In recent years, China has emerged as a true global tourism leader, both as a source market and as a leading destination in itself, providing livelihoods for millions of people across the country. And tourism will offer a valuable lifeline as China recovers and rebuilds from this setback, just as the sector has proven its resilience many times before.

The responsibility of tourism

During times of crisis, tourism has to live up to its responsibility as an integral part of wider society. The sector must put people and their wellbeing first.

The cooperation of the tourism sector will be vital in stopping the spread of the virus and limiting its impact on people and communities. Tourists also have a responsibility to inform themselves before they travel in order to limit the threat of transmission, and they should follow the recommendations of the WHO and their own national health authorities.

Tourism is vulnerable to the effects of public health emergencies and is already being affected by this outbreak. However, it is too early to fully estimate the impacts this outbreak will have.

UNWTO as the specialized UN agency for tourism will continue supporting WHO, the lead UN agency for the management of this outbreak by advising and providing tourism specific guidance.

Macao (Macao SAR) – February 5, 2020 (travelindex.com) – As part of the activities held in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Italy diplomatic ties, the China-Italy Year of Culture and Tourism 2020 opened in Rome, Italy on 21st January to promote bilateral exchanges and constructive collaboration between the two countries, with the aim to further strengthen the bond between the two peoples. The event coincided with the upcoming 9th Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF), hosted in partnership with Italy. To mark this occasion, Ms Pansy Ho, Vice Chairman & Secretary-General of GTEF, graced the opening ceremony as the guest representative of GTEF and gave a speech at the China-Italy Tourism Forum to share insights into China-Italy strategic cooperation in the development of tourism, setting the scene for creative and constructive flow of discussions to come. Meanwhile, the Global Tourism Economy Research Centre (GTERC) also rang up the curtain on the pre-GTEF roadshow activities, bringing together ministers and industry leaders from participating countries in Rome.

Entitled ‘Heritage and Tourism – China-Italy Cultural and Tourism Cooperation’, the China-Italy Tourism Forum aimed to boost the bilateral partnership in order to promote tourism and the common ground of profound cultural heritage that’s found in both countries. Chaired by Francesco Rutelli, the Italian coordinator of the Sino-Italian cultural cooperation, the forum received congratulatory letters from both Chinese President Xi Jinping and Italian President Sergio Mattarella. Chinese Minister of Culture and Tourism Luo Shugang joined Italian Minister of Cultural Heritage and Activities Dario Franceschini to deliver opening speeches in the Forum.

Following the opening ceremony, Dean of the China Tourism Research Institute Dai Bin presented the Report on China-Italy Tourism Cooperation and Exchanges, offering food for thought for attending industry leaders to shape the agenda for the ‘new era of tourism cooperation based on cultural exchanges.’ The Forum was divided into three sessions, probing new possibilities in tightening the Sino-Italian partnership in the pursuit of comprehensive tourist experiences that combine the old and new from the perspectives of heritage conservation, technology and sustainability respectively.

The first session centred on the theme ‘Entwining Heritage & Tourism Exchange.’ Leading the discussion on the importance of world heritage in promoting tourism was GTEF Vice Chairman and Secretary-General Pansy Ho, who was joined by CEO of Ctrip Jane Sun; Director and General Manager of Overseas Chinese Town Holdings Limited Yao Jun; Italian Undersecretary of Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities Lorenza Bonaccorsi; General Director of Museums of the Italian Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Tourism (MIBAC), Antonio Lampis; and Chairperson of FICO Foundation Andrea Segrè in a fruitful dialogue on the rejuvenation and sustainability of history, heritage and culture. ‘Macao is a textbook case of cultural diversification, which makes the city the perfect stage for the annual GTEF events. We have come a long way in building up holistic tourism on a robust economy,’ said Pansy Ho in her speech. ‘We must impart the idea of tourism as a means of passing down heritage and culture, as opposed to mere entertainment, to the younger generation. Through the tourist experience, we are passing on the torch of civilisation. In the future, our job is to engage young people through innovation, thereby nurturing in them the genuine love for our heritage and culture, and eventually a sense of national pride. I think this is the challenge facing the culturally rich nations of China and Italy.’

As a leading international exchange platform dedicated to the promotion of sustainable development of tourism, the Global Tourism Economy Forum strives to convene in Macao global policy makers, scholars, industry leaders, entrepreneurs and young professionals to catalyse discussions on the opportunities and challenges facing the global tourism economy, with a focus on China. The 9th GTEF is slated to open in Macao in October 2020. With its strategic position, Macao is a ‘Centre of World Tourism and Leisure’, and an integral city of the Greater Bay Area. To commemorate 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Italy, the GTEF has invited Italy, the first G7 member to participate in the ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative, to join the featured Chinese Province Gansu, a strategic bastion on the ancient Silk Road and ‘One Belt One Road’, on a cultural journey where the heritages of two great civilisations entwine as a prelude to a tightened bilateral partnership between China and Italy in tourism development.

Stay tuned for more information about GTEF via www.gte-forum.com and its social media channels.

About Global Tourism Economy Forum
The Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) is hosted by the Macao SAR Government, in collaboration with World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), co-organized by the China Chamber of Tourism under the authorization of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), co-organized by Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), and coordinated by Global Tourism Economy Research Centre (GTERC). GTEF’s supporting units include the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR, World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) and European Travel Commission (ETC).

Since its inception in 2012, GTEF has successfully established itself as an influential high-level cooperation platform to promote sustainable development in the global tourism industry with a focus on China. To date, GTEF had received more than 10,783 participants from 89 countries and regions, including delegations from 147 provinces and cities of Mainland China; and 570 internationally renowned speakers.