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UNWTO: European Tourism Leaders Meet as Sector Restarts

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UNWTO European Tourism Leaders Meet as Sector Restarts - TRAVELINDEXYerevan, Armenia, Jun 13, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The European Member States of UNWTO have highlighted the importance of jobs, professional training and sustainability and innovation as they jointly guide the recovery of tourism across the region.

Read all the latest UNWTO News and Updates here.

The 67th meeting of the UNWTO Commission for Europe (Yerevan, Armenia, 1-3 June 2022) convened as the restart of European tourism gathered pace. Of the 47 countries in the world that have lifted all restrictions on travel, 31 are in Europe. Against this backdrop, Member States looked to the future to address both short-term challenges and longer-term opportunities for tourism to grow as a driver of sustainable and inclusive development.

High-level representatives from 35 Members States and many representatives of the European and global tourism private sectors were given an overview of UNWTO’s work in the region since the last Regional Commission meeting in Athens in June 2021.

Political recognition

From the start of the pandemic and into the recovery phase of the crisis, Europe has led by example in supporting and restarting tourism

Opening the session, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Hambardzum Matevosyan called tourism a “locomotive” for recovery and opportunity, both in Europe and globally. With Armenia celebrating 25 years as a UNWTO Member State, Mr Matevosyan commended the Organization’s work in bridging the public and private sectors and making tourism a pillar of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili met personally with the President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan with the Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzooyan, acknowledging their leadership and support for tourism and discussing ways in which UNWTO can further support the country as it grows its tourism in size and significance, with a focus on investments and on rural development.

Also opening the session were the Minister of the Economy for Armenia, Vahan Kerobyan, and Sofia Zacharaki, Deputy Minister of Tourism of Greece and current Chair of the UNWTO Regional Commission. Ms Zacharaki also commended UNWTO’s leadership through the crisis and stressed that the determination to restart tourism for economic recovery “must not outweigh our efforts to become more sustainable”.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “From the start of the pandemic and into the recovery phase of the crisis, Europe has led by example in supporting and restarting tourism. At the heart of this has been cooperation and coordination, the same spirit that must lead all European destinations forward as they use the power of tourism to drive development and growth for all.”

Ms. Sisian Boghossian, Chair of the Tourism Committee of the Ministry of Economy emphasised: “Armenia reasserts its commitment to effective cooperation with all UNWTO member states to achieve the joint goals aimed at implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Tourism is a priority sector of the economy in Armenia which is not only defined in the Law on Tourism but also expressed in the political agenda and included in the Government´s program”.

Delivering results

The Secretary-General provided an updated overview of the latest international tourism data and trends and made clear how even in challenging times, UNWTO advanced its priority areas of work, with a focus on boosting tourism investments, promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, tourism jobs and education and accelerating sustainability.

UNWTO Regional Director for Europe, Alessandra Priante, highlighted current initiatives and future regional implementation of the UNWTO programme of work, stressing the importance of fostering the successful methodology of cooperation with and within the most visited region in the world: Europe. She pointed out the landmark projects focused on youth, with the first Global Youth Tourism Summit to be hosted in Sorrento, Italy, the Students’ Leagues in the various European countries and on rural development, with the 2nd edition of the World’s Best Tourism Villages following the great succusses of the initiative in 2021, and UNWTO’s technical assistance projects supporting tourism recovery to grow back sustainably and responsibly were further highlights.

As part of the high-level policy discussion, delegates highlighted the need to balance short-term measures for enabling a swift recovery of tourism, notably addressing workforce shortages, making jobs more attractive and retaining the right talent with sustainability imperatives, including measurement, investing in tourism education, and capacity-building.

Tourism and Rural Development

On the occasion of the Commission Meeting, UNWTO and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), with the support of the government of Armenia, partnered to set the stage for a discussion about tourism’s role in rural development and how to build bigger synergies between agriculture and tourism.

Read all the latest UNWTO News and Updates here.

With a special focus on design thinking to enhance local experiences and add value to destinations, gastronomy and wine tourism, the event highlighted the need to work on infrastructure, governance, product development, collaboration frameworks, quality and market access, digitalization and capacity building. Counting on the participation of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the conference highlighted the value of intellectual property to protect and value of local products and processes. The event closed with a Masterclass on Gastronomy Tourism to support knowledge building and capacity for Members States and stakeholders in Armenia.

Members of the region unanimously agreed to have Bulgaria host the 68th session of the UNWTO Regional Commission in 2023.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

World Tourism Forum Lucerne WTFL Ready for Future with New Owner

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World Tourism Forum Lucerne WTFL Ready for Future with New Owner - GLOBALTOURISMFORUM.com - TRAVELINDEXLucerne, Switzerland, May 30, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Tourism Forum Lucerne has made a considerable differ- ence in the global tourism industry over the past 15 years. As of today, the ‘World Tourism Forum Lucerne’ brand has evolved and found a new owner in the form of SHL Schweizerische Hotelfachschule Luzern. This guarantees the continued existence of the ‘World Tour- ism Forum Lucerne’ brand. The company WTFL AG is to be liquidated.

The Corona pandemic has taken its toll on the tourism industry. The World Tourism Forum Lucerne also felt this and very unfortunately the WTFL had to close its doors at the end of January 2022. The regrets about the discontinuation of the WTFL’s valuable activities from home and abroad were overwhelming. The numerous feedback has affirmed WTFL’s founder and CEO, Martin Barth, in his intention to preserve the value that WTFL AG has established and to uphold the vision of the organisation. The intensive search for the suitable organisation to hand over to was successful. This marks the beginning of a new chapter for WTFL: the new owner SHL Schweizerische Hotelfachschule Luzern, who benefits from the excellent existing reputation of the WTFL, will bring new energy and bold ideas.

SHL Schweizerische Hotelfachschule Luzern is expanding its international activities – also with the ‘World Tourism Forum Lucerne’ brand

SHL Schweizerische Hotelfachschule Luzern will be the new owner of the ‘World Tourism Forum Lucerne’ brand. Its aim is to use the brand and its existing values and visions to fur- ther expand its international business. In concrete terms, SHL wishes to become more in volved in the establishment of hospitality schools abroad, strengthen its consultancy in service marketing and management, and at the same time organise more international events at home and abroad. Furthermore, since 2019 SHL has been running the English course of studies ‘Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management’, which is offered in cooperation with the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Christa Augsburger, Director of SHL, is proud that SHL is the new owner of the ‘World Tourism Forum Lucerne’ brand. «We can use the brand, which is very well established in the market, to help SHL progress even further in its international endeavours. Not only is the purchase of the brand important, but also Martin Barth’s agreement to support SHL in developing its international activities. We are delighted that we will be able to draw on his expertise and his fantastic international network in the future.»

Martin Barth expands his portfolio, but remains loyal to the tourism industry

Martin Barth, the founder and CEO of WTFL, will contribute his expertise and international network to various projects and committees in the future. He is pleased that SHL has en- trusted him with the further development of the international business. In addition, he will remain a professor at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, an expert at Inno-Suisse and a board member of several start-ups. «I am convinced that with SHL we have found the perfect new owner of the ‘World Tourism Forum Lucerne’ brand to continue pursuing the vision together. In addition, I can now broaden my portfolio and devote myself even more to entrepreneurial tasks – I am very much looking forward to that.»

About the WTFL
Over the last 15 years, the World Tourism Forum Lucerne has built a global platform with a great deal of heart and soul and a clear vision from Lucerne. This platform is the base where three generations discussed opportunities, risks and new ideas in tourism together. The World Tourism Forum Lucerne was the only platform that integrated start-ups, young executives and students in dialogue with ministers, CEOs and investors worldwide. Our achievements are great: a worldwide network of 15’000 personalities, a cooperation with 40 partner schools from all over the world, an innovation community of 5000 start-ups, a global think tank working on new concepts in the tourism industry every year and an international Next Generation Leader and Young Talent Community with an innovative coaching concept.

About SHL
Since 1909, SHL Schweizerische Hotelfachschule Luzern has been the practice-oriented, innovative training institution that paves the way for young, success-oriented students to enter the national and international hotel and catering industry. As one of two original Swiss hotel management schools, SHL has strongly influenced hotel management education in Switzer- land. SHL graduates hold management positions in the hotel, gastronomy and other service industries in Switzerland and internationally. In addition to the traditional courses of study ‘Dipl. Hotelier(e)-Gastronom(in) HF’ and ‘Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management’, SHL offers continuing education concepts, training opportunities and consulting services in ‘Best Customer Experience’ for companies in various industries. In addition, SHL is involved in international development projects by being active in the conception and development of various industry-specific training initiatives.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

New Travel and Tourism Development Index Benchmarks 117 Countries

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WEF-New Travel and Tourism Development Index Benchmarks 117 Countries - TRAVELINDEXDavos-Klosters, Switzerland, May 28, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Economic Forum released today its latest travel and tourism study, revealing that the sector is showing signs of recovery in many parts of the world after being hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Japan, the United States, Spain, France and Germany are at the top of the list.

The Travel & Tourism Development Index 2021: Rebuilding for a Sustainable and Resilient Future, ranks 117 economies on a range of factors that are crucial to the development, sustainability and resiliency of their travel and tourism industry, which in turn contributes to economic and social development.

“COVID shutdowns have re-emphasized the important contribution travel and tourism makes to many economies around the world,” said Lauren Uppink, Head of Aviation, Travel and Tourism at the World Economic Forum. “As the world emerges from the pandemic, economies must invest in building a strong and resilient environment to deliver the travel and tourism experience and services for many decades to come.”

While overall international tourism and business travel is still below pre-pandemic levels, the sector recovery has been bolstered by greater vaccination rates, return to more open travel, and growing demand for domestic and nature-based tourism. Many businesses and destinations have adapted to these shifting demand dynamics. According the UNWTO, the difference in international tourist arrivals between just January 2021 and January 2022 is greater than arrivals growth in all of 2021.

As the sector slowly recovers from the global health crisis – especially as vaccines become more available and health restrictions lifted – it will be important for the travel and tourism sector to take steps that embed long-term inclusivity, sustainability and resilience as it continues to face evolving challenges and risks.

Despite positive trends, the travel and tourism sector is still facing many hurdles with its recovery. This includes uneven vaccine distribution, capacity constraints, labour shortages, supply chain disruptions and more.

“Government, business and civil society leaders can address barriers to recovery by looking at the different factors that can support the long-term development and resiliency of their respective travel and tourism economies,” added Uppink. “This will require decision-makers to restore consumer confidence and international openness by prioritizing such things as enhanced health and security measures, encouraging inclusive labour practices, improving environmental sustainability and investing in digital technology.”

Travel and Tourism Development Index 2021 results

In this year’s index, Japan takes the top spot followed by the United States, Spain, France and Germany rounding out the top five.

Other than the US, the top-10 scoring economies are high-income economies in Europe or Asia-Pacific. After top-ranking Japan, regional economies Australia and Singapore come in seventh and ninth, respectively. Italy joined the top 10 (up from 12th in 2019) in 2021, while Canada slid from 10th to 13th.

Viet Nam experienced the greatest improvement in score (from 60th to 52nd) on the overall index, while Indonesia (44th to 32nd) and Saudi Arabia (43rd to 33rd) had the greatest improvement in rank.

While Europe, Eurasia and Asia-Pacific dominate the 2021 rankings, Europe is the only region to have decreased its average score since 2019, slightly eroding its considerable lead. Sub-Saharan Africa had the greatest improvement in performance, but far more needs to be done for economies in the region to catch up with the global average.

The Travel and Tourism Development Index 2021 is a direct evolution of the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index, which has been published biennially for the past 15 years. The change reflects the new index’s enhanced focus on the sector’s overall role in economic and social development and the greater need for stakeholder collaboration and development strategies. Based on an altered framework, methodology and other differences, the 2021 index should not be compared to the one published in 2019. To help address this, the 2019 results were recalculated using the new framework, methodology and indicators; all comparisons in score and rankings throughout the new report are between the 2019 results and the 2021 results of the Travel and Tourism Development Index.

Rebuilding for a sustainable and resilient future

Given the travel and tourism sector’s important role in global economic and social prosperity, investing in the drivers of its development will be crucial in the coming years, according to the publication. As economies look to rebuild their travel and tourism sectors, they should focus on making their travel sectors more inclusive, sustainable and resilient to future risks.

To achieve this, one top enabling factor that should be prioritized is restoring and accelerating international openness and consumer confidence by improving, for example, health and security. This could include more investments into healthcare infrastructure and personnel and greater distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations in lower-income economies.

“Efforts to build favourable and inclusive labour practices, improve environmental sustainability and strengthening the management of tourism demand and impact will help economies ensure strong development of their travel destinations,” said Uppink. For example, sustainable environmental policies that can help protect natural resources have become even more vital as consumer preference for sustainable travel options and nature-based travel grows.

Digital technology will also be vital to achieving all of this. New digital tools can be used to manage tourism flows, optimize visitors’ experiences and reduce overcrowding. Addressing issues such as the digital divide, skills gaps and fully including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in digitalization efforts will be critical to fully leveraging digital technology to improve the tourism sector as a whole.

About the Annual Meeting 2022
For over 50 years, the World Economic Forum has been the international organization for public-private cooperation. The Annual Meeting is the focal point for leaders to accelerate the partnerships needed to tackle global challenges and shape a more sustainable and inclusive future. Convening under the theme History at a Turning Point: Government Policies and Business Strategies, the Annual Meeting 2022 and its 200 sessions brings together global leaders from business, government and civil society.

Read the full Travel and Tourism Development Index here

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Building Back Sustainably Through Cultural Heritage and Community-based Tourism

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Building Back Sustainably Through Cultural Heritage and Community-based Tourism - VISITTHAILAND.net - TRAVELINDEXSongkhla, Thailand, May 10, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is set to organise the PATA Destination Marketing Forum 2022 at the International Convention Center (ICC) in Songkhla, Thailand from August 2-4.

The event, under the theme “Building Back Sustainably through Cultural Heritage and Community-based Tourism”, is generously hosted by the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Songkhla Convention and Exhibition Bureau (SCEB) and the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) with the support of Songkhla City.

“At this year’s PATA Destination Marketing Forum, we are ready to celebrate the start of a robust Asia-Pacific tourism recovery. Our experiential conference programme highlights best practices in destination marketing and destination management in the post-pandemic recovery world. We’re here to support a sustainable recovery for the region” said PATA CEO Liz Ortiguera. “All of us at PATA are excited to host our next in-destination event and show that Thailand is open for international MICE events such as ours. We all look forward to welcoming you to Songkhla, Thailand.”

Mr. Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, President, TCEB, said, “TCEB is proud and delighted to promote and co-organize the PATA Destination Marketing Forum 2022, Songkhla in Thailand. The event, which will serve as a driving force for international MICE events in Thailand, contributes to implementing the government’s policy of stimulating and developing the regional economy. Songkhla is one of Thailand’s leading MICE cities, with strong potential and readiness to host international conventions to world-class standards. The city has already built a strong track record in hosting numerous high-profile MICE events.”

“The event will contribute greatly to raising visibility and awareness of Songkhla and other regional MICE cities as international MICE destinations. At TCEB we are committed to supporting responsible, low-impact, sustainable growth in the MICE business, to harness MICE events to benefit local communities, and to drive inclusive economic growth across the country,” he added.

Mr. Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, Deputy Governor for International Marketing (Europe, Africa, Middle East and Americas), TAT, said, ”A historic town with rich cultural heritage, Songkhla is also blessed with beautiful beaches, enchanting waterfalls, and a tranquil lake. In addition, Songkhla exudes a vibrant character of a dynamic commercial and knowledge hub with unique local architecture and exemplary cuisine. We look forward to welcoming all PATA delegates to Songkhla to immerse themselves in this remarkable destination.”

Mr. Ampon Pongsuwan, Vice Governor of Songkhla, said, “Welcome to Songkhla, one of the most beautiful cities in Southern Thailand. Since the city is surrounded by water, you will find some of the freshest seafood cuisine, making this town perfect for seafood lovers. All PDMF 2022 delegates are invited to join our unique cultural activities, well-preserved heritage building sight-seeings, and a boat trip out to see exotic tropical plants and creatures in the largest natural lake in Thailand. Furthermore, Songkhla is also home to the biggest convention centre in Southern Thailand, as well as a range of quality hotels. If you have never visited an ethnically diverse town before, then Songkhla is the destination that is worth a visit. Sawasdee krub!”

The event offers a unique opportunity for networking, learning, and discovery, consisting of a one-day conference and a one-day destination experience through a technical tour, as well as various hosted social functions.

Delegates attending the event will have the opportunity to choose from three unique destinations experiences, planned and craft by DASTA, including:

– Nod Na Lae Lifestyle @ Tha Hin Community: Encounter Tha Hin Community local tribe’s traditional way of lifestyle and learn how they are promoting Ecotourism.
– Nature meets Culture @ Koh Yo Community: Explore the culture of Southern ethnic people and enjoy the authentic village unaltered since the old times.
– Heritage Singora @ Hua Khoa Community: Savour the view of Songkhla Lake Estuar and venture around the Old Town that boasts a collection of UNESCO heritage site candidates.

Gp. Capt. Athikun Kongmee, Director-General, DASTA, said, “With our utmost excitement and readiness to welcome all delegates to Songkhla, DASTA has come up with three routes of technical tour wherein the excellence of community-based tourism, leading to sustainable tourism development, is to be unveiled.”

Located in the southern part of Thailand, Songkhla is a fishing town, known as a major harbour and seaport, and the “City with Two Seas”. Most recently, Songkhla has been proposed by the Thai government as a World Heritage Site and UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy. Travellers will be amazed with the destination’s many beautiful attractions including the city’s Old Town, as well as its great local cuisine.

Songkhla is easily accessible by air from Bangkok, and many international airlines operate flights to/from Bangkok. Furthermore, direct access from Singapore and Malaysia to Songkhla, which had been suspended during the pandemic, will resume soon.

Registration for the event is complimentary, however, due to limited seating, PATA International members will be given priority on a first come, first serve basis.

As PATA acts as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region, the Association is proud to note that the PATA Destination Marketing Forum is a net zero carbon event and PATA is working with a local green project to help support organisations to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration sources in Thailand.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Skål International Leaders Discussed Future for Travel Industry Members

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Skål International Leaders Discussed Future for Travel Industry Members - SKAL.biz - TRAVELINDEXMálaga, Spain, May 5, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX /Skål International met in Torremolinos, Spain, for their annual Mid-Year meeting while also celebrating official Skål Day accompanied by several local officials and mayors.

Skål International Executive Board and International Council held their annual Mid-Year meeting between April 27-30th in Torremolinos, Spain. They celebrated World Skal Day on the 28th of April.

Skål International World President Burcin Turkkan officially welcomed the Executive Board and International Council members to their meetings and a final joint meeting between the Board and Council.

International Council President Julie Dabaly joined the Executive Board in their meetings and led the Council in three days of agenda-packed meetings where several local government officials attended to support the organization.

“As an organization, we are constantly searching for updating and optimizing ourselves for the benefit of our membership.” said worldwide president Burcin Turkkan as they discussed the industry’s challenges in post-pandemic times.

‘Together we are stronger as one’ is president Turkkan’s theme for the year as she calls for all members and industry partners to work jointly towards the full recovery of the tourism industry.

Skål International Day was also celebrated during the 3-day meetings, and a live message was delivered on two time zones by president Turkkan and her entire board together with the International Council. She also participated live via zoom-in celebrations and new membership inductions held in other parts of the world, sharing her message of unity.
Skål International Executive Board and International Councillors visiting Skål International HQ in Torremolinos, Málaga, Spain.

Skål International strongly advocates for safe global tourism, focused on its benefits— ‘happiness, good health, friendship, and long life’. Since its inception in 1934, Skål International has been the leading organization of tourism professionals worldwide, promoting global tourism through friendship and uniting all travel and tourism industry sectors.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

WTTC Global Summit Announces Saudi Arabia as Next Host of Global Summit

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WTTC Global Summit Announces Saudi Arabia as Next Host of Global Summit - TOURISMSAUDIARABIA.com - TRAVELINDEXManila, Philippines, April 23, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / At the closing session of its Global Summit in Manila, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) announced that its 22nd event will take place in Riyadh, capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from 29th November to 2nd December this year.

For a comprehensive travel guide on Saudi Arabia, visit TourismSaudiArabia.com

In Manila, more than a thousand delegates, including the world’s foremost business leaders, government ministers and key decision-makers from across the global Travel & Tourism sector gathered together, to discuss how to build upon the continuing recovery.

In her farewell address Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “It has been a privilege to bring together so many leaders from across the global Travel & Tourism sector to the beautiful city of Manila.

“This Summit is living proof that nothing beats getting together, sharing ideas, debating the challenges, and finding consensus.

“We still have a lot of work to do to bring down post-pandemic barriers, open economies and harmonise health data for seamless travel. But the future looks bright, and the next decade is there for the taking.

“We look forward to our 22nd Global Summit later this year in Riyadh, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to mark the next chapter in the sector’s ongoing recovery.”

Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO and Board Member of the Saudi Tourism Authority, said “We are excited to welcome the world to experience the excitement and the energy of Saudi. We promise you that the next summit will be fresh, inspiring, and rewarding.”

Under the theme of ‘Rediscovering Travel’, tourism ministers and Travel & Tourism leaders from around the world reinforced their determination towards greater cooperation and alignment between the public and private sectors.

At WTTC’s Global Leaders Dialogue session they explored how the sector will continue to adapt to COVID-19 and emerge resiliently from the pandemic.

WTTC’s latest Economic Impact Report also revealed the Travel & Tourism sector was expected to create nearly 126 million new jobs within the next decade and Travel & Tourism’s contribution to GDP could reach pre-pandemic levels by 2023.

WTTC’s major ‘Hotel Sustainability Basics’ sustainability initiative was launched at its Global Summit, providing a starting point to drive sustainability throughout the hospitality sector to power the momentum toward responsible Travel & Tourism.

The global body also launched its new cyber resilience report, ‘Codes to resilience’, with Microsoft, for the global Travel & Tourism sector, which outlined pillars to strengthen cyber security for businesses around the world.

For a comprehensive travel guide on Saudi Arabia, visit TourismSaudiArabia.com

British adventurer Bear Grylls was the conference keynote, alongside other major speakers, including American film producer Lawrence Bender, Singapore-born American novelist and writer of satirical novels Kevin Kwan and Indonesian/Dutch environmental activist Melati Wijsen.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Leading The Transformation Summit Looks to More Sustainable Tourism

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UNWTO - Leading The Transformation Summit Looks to More Sustainable Tourism - TRAVELINDEXPalma de Mallorca, Spain, April 19, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The Palacio de Congresos de Palma hosted the Summit of Sustainable Destinations organised by UNWTO in partnership with the Mallorca Tourism Foundation. The conference has shared the best practices of environmental, social and economic sustainability developed around the world by leading organisations and companies in these initiatives.

Read all the latest UNWTO News and Updates here.

Catalina Cladera, the President of Consell de Majorca, Isabel Oliver from the Office of the UNWTO Secretary-General and José Hila, Mayor of Palma, opened the event of which was followed by more than 300 attendees in-person and online. Closing the summit were Closed the summit the vice president of the Spanish Government and Minister for Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, Nadia Calviño; and the president of the Balearic Islands, Francina Armengol

Cladera expressed her pride that Majorca is “the world capital of sustainable tourism during the celebration of this international summit” and assured delegates that “we want it to continue beyond this summit”. During her speech, the president highlighted the potential of the island as a benchmark of sustainability within the tourism sector. The president added, “Majorca is a leading, quality destination around the world, year-round, with pioneering laws in waste management and tourism.

Representing UNWTO, Isabel Oliver highlighted the importance of “promoting sustainable tourism that respects human rights” and highlighted the weight of Majorca as a benchmark in terms of sustainability for “its ability to innovate, the professionalism of its entrepreneurs and the management of its governments”. The Mayor of Palma, who announced the recent approval of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan for the city, highlighted the “need to bet on sustainability to improve the experiences of tourists and the quality of life of its residents, being a shared work between public administrations, the private sector and citizens”.

Calviño stressed the importance of making public investments now, as well as the need to work collaboratively with the private sector to modernise a sector as important for Spain as the tourism sector and to continue to place the country in a position of leadership. She further emphasised that Spain will be able to recover 80% of international tourists of 2019 this summer under the leadership of the Balearic Islands, which this Easter has already exceeded the figures for 2019 in some segments.

President Armengol ended the closing ceremony by highlighting the importance of the new tourism law that is being processed by the Parliament focused on sustainability from the triple perspective of business competitiveness, environmental sustainability and care for workers.

Discussion of international experts

On the first day, the Minister of Transition, Tourism and Sports, Andreu Serra, commenced the conference with the presentation “Majorca, leading the transition towards regenerative tourism”. This was followed by the first round table of the summit on institutional experiences in water management. Speakers included such as Miquel Mir, the Balearic Islands Minister of Environment and Territory, Jaume Mata, the Head of Sustainable Tourism for Visit Valencia, and Asad Riza, the Deputy Minister of Tourism of the Maldives Islands. Aniol Esteban, Director of the Marilles Foundation, and Stefan Gössling, professor of Linnaeus University School of Business and Economics, also participated. The moderator was the Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Tourism of the University of the Balearic Islands, Tolo Deyà.

Representatives of the private sector also discussed solid waste management, including Sandra Benbeniste, Director of Sustainability of EMEA -Iberostar Hotels, Miguel González San Roman, the Director of Business Development at Minsait/Indra, and Antonio Pérez, the Mayor of Benidorm.

In addition, the experiences of civil society in the United States have been heard, with Nina Bellucci Butler, CEO of Stina, and Andy Schroeder, co-founder of an ocean plastics recovery project. The round table was moderated by Toni Munar of Turismoconsulting.

In the afternoon, the forum began with presentations on circular economy, moderated by José María de Juan, from Koan Consulting. The panel involved the views of Enrique Martínez, President of Segittur, Antoni Riera, Director of the Impulsa Foundation, Jaume Ordinas, the auditor of Hotels Garden, and Elif Balcı Fisunoğlu, the deputy director of the Tourism Promotion and Development Agency of Turkey.

The day ended with the block of analysis of data for the decision making in initiatives of touristic sustainability. The debate was moderated by Dolores Ordóñez, Director General at AnySolution, and was attended by Dirk Glaesser, Director of the UNWTO Sustainable Development Programme, Luis Javier Gadea, Director of Tourism Research, Development and Innovation at Segittur, José Javier Ramasco, CSIC Researcher at IFISC (CSIC-UIB), Sergio Guerreiro, Director of Knowledge Management and Innovation of Tourism of Portugal, and Carlos Cendra, partner at Mabrian Technologies.

The second day of the forum was attended by the Minister of Economic Model, Tourism and Labour of the Balearic Government, Iago Negueruela, who participated with the presentation “Social Circularity and other axes of the Balearic tourism model”. This was followed by a round table on Human Development, with the participation of Catalina Alemany, CSR manager of Riu Hotels, Lola Herrero, professor and director of the Jean-Baptiste Say Institute, ESCP Europe, José Mañas, founder of Wireless DNA, Estelle Antognelli, director of Tourism and Congresses, Tourism and Convention Authority of Monaco, Manuel Butler, director of OTS in London and Juanma Martínez, director of projects and culture of sustainability at Green&Huma.

Read all the latest UNWTO News and Updates here.

Finally, the island councillor for Transition, Tourism and Sports, Andreu Serra, the president of FEHM, María Frontera, Mark Tanzer, executive director of ABTA, Miguel Sanz, director general of Turespaña, and Norbert Fiebig, president of DRV, presented the conclusions of the conference in a debate moderated by Michael Collins, director of TravelMedia.ie.

Hackathon

Parallel to the second day of the summit, a hackathon was held at the same Palacio de Congresos. The event was aimed at professionals, researchers, and students with an interest in and commitment to sustainability. They worked in groups on problems linked to three major challenges: water, food, and mobility. Each challenge will have a winning group, which will receive €5,000, to be divided equally among the members of each team.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

UNWTO and Italy Set Stage for Global Youth Tourism Summit

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UNWTO and Italy Set Stage for Global Youth Tourism Summit - TRAVELINDEXSorrento, Italy, April 14, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / UNWTO has announced more details of the upcoming Global Youth Tourism Summit, set to be held in Sorrento, Italy, from 27 June to 3 July.

The Summit, organized by UNWTO in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Tourism and the Italian National Tourist Board, will provide a unique opportunity for young people aged between 12 and 18 to share their vision for the future of the sector. For one week, 100 young delegates will network with and work alongside politicians, leading figures from across the tourism sector as well as from the worlds of entertainment and sports.

Read all the latest UNWTO News and Updates here.

Against the backdrop of the BIT travel trade show in Milan, UNWTO Director for Europe Alessandra Priante joined representatives of the project partners to share more details of the landmark Summit. The inaugural event will be held around the theme of International Sustainable Tourism. The program will include interactive activities oriented towards the Sustainable Development Goals and how they interact with tourism, during which participants will learn how to build a sector that combines sustainability, culture, gastronomy, innovation and climate action.

Empowering the next generation

The Global Youth Tourism Summit is a unique platform to celebrate and empower the next generation of tourism leaders

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili says: “The Global Youth Tourism Summit is a unique platform to celebrate and empower the next generation of tourism leaders. It will help build a lasting legacy by providing young people with the skills and knowledge they need to transform tourism not only in their communities but everywhere.” UNWTO Director for Europe Professor Priante added: “Tourism offers opportunities to the youth. But youth gives tourism the opportunity to become stronger and more resilient. We are extremely proud of the first generation of GYST-ers, who already show their promise and commitment to transform tourism – starting from their local communities.”

High-level participation

In Milan, the organizers confirmed that several Italian Ministries will be involved (education, foreign, south), as will a number of key UN institutions, including FAO, UNICEF and ITU. The Summit will bring together major international players convened by UNWTO, including the Global Tourism Economy Research Center of Macao, the Bella Vista Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland, the Azerbaijan National Tourism Agency, Hilton International, Mastercard Europe and MSC Crociere. Confirmed institutional guests will include Commissioner Gabriel, the UN’s ENVOY for YOUTH Jayathma Wickramanayake, some of the UNWTO Ambassadors for Responsible Tourism Valeria Mazza, Didier Drogba, Gino Sorbillo and many other international VIPs and influencers.

Hosts anticipate ‘unique experience’

“A moment of osmosis between past, present and future can only benefit Italy which is being reorganized and reborn. We believe in the contribution and enthusiasm of the generations of tomorrow, not only for the lessons they can teach us and for the necessary comparison of what will come next, but also because new opportunities arise from this dialogue, not only in terms of tourist offerings, but also in terms of tourist training,” says Enit President Giorgio Palmucci.

Felice Casucci, Councillor for Tourism of the Campania Region adds: “The institutional chain must be compact at a time when it is necessary to have a broad vision and focus on young people for a great international message of peace. Sorrento is a unique opportunity to put together a highly recognized tourist destination with a narrative that is open to the territorial contexts and regional identity values among the most exclusive and attractive in the world.”

Read all the latest UNWTO News and Updates here.

The Mayor of Sorrento, Massimo Coppola says: “Our city is honored to host the first edition of Global Youth Tourism. The objective of the event is to bring participants, selected and from all over the world, to live a unique experience, promoting the comparison and ensure that the new generations can pursue the mission of environmental sustainability. To animate it will be young people aged between 12 and 18 years, who will confront themselves and contribute to the definition of the World Tourism Agenda 2030.”

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

SUNx Malta 2nd Strong Earth Youth Summit

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SUNx Malta 2nd Strong Earth Youth Summit - TRAVELINDEXValletta, Malta, April 8, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / SUNx Malta will host its second Climate Friendly Travel Youth Summit on 29th April 2022. The ‘Strong Earth Youth Summit’ (SEYS) will feature top Tourism Climate Scientists, a renowned UN grass roots leader and sessions on building resilience to extreme weather events, meeting the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and hitting Paris Agreement 2050 targets. The virtual event is in partnership with the Earth Council International, The European Centre for Peace & Development (ECPD), and Les Roches, International Hospitality School.

  • Celebrating 50 years of UN Climate Leadership
  • Youth Summit for tomorrow’s Climate Friendly Travel leaders
  • Celebrating Maurice Strong, Climate Activist 50 years ago

SEYS will focus on creating awareness of Climate Friendly Travel (CFT) and ways to build a resilient Travel & Tourism future.

Announcing the Youth Summit, Professor Geoffrey Lipman, President of SUNx Malta, said:

“We are going beyond the Glasgow Declaration towards Real Zero GHG 2050, halving emissions by 2030 & building resilience now. Keynotes on the Climate Crisis by renowned Tourism Climate Scientists, Professors Daniel Scott (Canada) & Susan Becken (Australia). Professor Felix Dodds will speak on Climate Realities 50 years after the Stockholm Earth Summit. And there will be interventions from some of our top Climate Friendly Travel Diploma students.”

SEYS will again honour the vision and contribution of the late Maurice Strong, after whom the summit is named. Strong was the architect of the UN Sustainable Development and Climate Framework for half a century, co-founder of the Earth Charter and inspiration for SUNx Malta and its Climate Friendly Travel System.

“SEYS is our annual testimony to the legacy of Maurice Strong, Champion for the planet, bringing a sharp focus on the fact that we are running out of time. We must act now,” says Lipman.

To Register for SEYS please click here

All participants will receive electronic copies of the book “Remembering Maurice F. Strong” courtesy of ECPD and the Earth Charter launched by Strong and Mikhail Gorbachev.

About SUNx Malta
SUNx Malta is a not for profit, EU based, organisation, partnered with the government of Malta that has created a unique, low cost, system to help Travel & Tourism companies and communities transform to the New Climate Economy. The SUNx Malta “Green & Clean, Climate Friendly Travel System” is Action and Education focused – supporting today’s companies and communities to deliver on their proclaimed ambitions and encouraging tomorrow’s young leaders to prepare for rewarding careers across the sector.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

WTTC Announces Speakers for Global Summit in Philippines

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WTTC Announces Speakers for Global Summit in Philippines - VISITPHILIPPINES.org -TRAVELINDEXManila, Philippines, April 6, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) unveils its speakers for its upcoming Global Summit in Manila, which includes Indonesian/Dutch activist Melati Wijsen.

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At just 12 years old, activist Melati Wijsen founded Bye Bye Plastics – a global movement powered by youths around the world to end the use of plastic bags, and in 2018 alongside her sister, was named one of the “World’s most influential teens” by Time magazine.

Taking place in Manila, Philippines from 20-22 April, the global tourism body’s highly anticipated 21st Global Summit is the most influential Travel & Tourism event in the calendar.

Industry leaders will gather with more than 20 government representatives in Manila, to continue aligning efforts to support the sector’s recovery and move beyond to a safer, more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future.

South Korean politician Ban Ki-Moon who served as the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations between 2007 and 2016, will also address delegates virtually at this prestigious event.

Also taking to the stage at the Global Summit will be the Tourism Ministers from around the world including Spain, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Thailand, Japan, Maldives, and Barbados amongst others.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “We are delighted to have such influential speakers already confirmed for our Global Summit in Manila.

“Melati is an inspiration to us all. A real changemaker, who from such a young age, has been instrumental in raising awareness of the damage caused by plastic and has inspired young people around the world to lead change.

“After more than two years, the region is perfectly positioned to post the losses caused by the pandemic. WTTC’s Global Summit will act as a catalyst to drive forward the recovery of a sector that is critical for both the economy and jobs.”

Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Philippine Tourism Secretary, said: “Preparations are underway to ensure the success of WTTC’s Global Summit in Manila, which serves as the light at the end of tunnel following a long period of darkness for global tourism.

“It is heartening that these inspiring individuals have joined our efforts to bring the industry onward to full recovery” Puyat added.

Other notable speakers taking to the stage during the Global Summit will be international business leaders such as Arnold Donald, President & CEO Carnival Corporation and Chairman at WTTC; Greg O’Hara, Founder and Senior Managing Director Certares and Vice Charman at WTTC; Craig Smith, Group President International Division Marriott International; Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones, COO Tourism Promotion Board Philippines; Federico Gonzalez, CEO Radisson; and Nelson Boyce, Head of Travel for the Americas at Google Inc.

A hybrid event, WTTC’s Global Summit will also feature Kelly Craighead, President & CEO CLIA; Jane Sun, CEO Trip.com, Ariane Gorin, President Expedia for Business; and Darrell Wade, Chairman Intrepid Group; amongst others.

More speakers will be announced over the coming weeks.

The WTTC Global Summit is taking place in the Philippines at a time when the country and the region begins to recover from the pandemic and will showcase the importance of Travel & Tourism in the region.

WTTC’s recent research shows the forecast for the Asia Pacific region could see its Travel & Tourism sector approaching pre-pandemic levels this year.

According to the research, the sector’s contribution to the region’s GDP could reach USD 2.9 trillion, near pre-pandemic levels, while employment could reach over 190 million jobs, surpassing 2019 figures and providing an additional five million jobs to the sector.

To reach close to pre-pandemic levels this year, WTTC says governments across the region and around the world must continue focusing on the vaccine and booster rollout – allowing fully vaccinated travellers to move freely without the need for testing.

Discover and Experience the Philippines with VisitPhilippines Travel Guide – It’s More Fun in the Philippines

The WTTC Global Summit in Manila is sponsored by Resorts World Manila, Global Rescue, Okada Manila, Turkish Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, Etihad Airways, Philippine Airlines, Tourism Promotion Board Philippines, Hilton Manila, UBE Express, Inc., Tieza, Nissan Philippines, Inc., Press Reader, SSI Group, Xpansiv.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News