The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) said today that 2007 should be a critical year to consolidate tourism as a key agent in the fight…
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) said today that 2007 should be a critical year to consolidate tourism as a key agent in the fight against poverty and a primary tool for sustainable development.
Against a projection of continuing worldwide growth in international tourism of more than 4% for international arrivals and revenues, Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli called for renewed effort to include sustainable tourism in the international development agenda, as a key tool to advance the Millennium Development Goals.
He identified five major areas for consolidated global action:
First: for Industrialized and Newly Emerging States to craft pro development strategies and agreements which encourage tourism to the world’s poorest countries to advance economic well being, social development and mutual understanding.
Second: for Least Developed States to collectively recognize the impact and potential of tourism across their economies, integrate it into national accounting systems using the UN Tourism Satellite Account and place it at the heart of their Poverty Reduction Strategy Programs.
Third: for All States
- In acting within the Doha Development Round of the World Trade Organization, to increase tourism commitments and provide specific tools to help poor countries use tourism services to fight poverty and promote sustainable development.
- In acting on Climate Change, to build a pro development element into tourism and climate strategies, particularly for airline flights, taxation and emission trading.
- In acting on Security Enhancement, to recognize the importance of tourism in building understanding between people and to facilitate tourism links between industrialized and developing states as well as providing the technology and training support to poor countries.
Fourth: for International Development Agencies – the World Bank Group, the Regional Development Banks and National Aid Agencies, to place Tourism amongst their key priorities for infrastructure and entrepreneurial support.
Fifth: for Tourism Stakeholders – public sector, private sector, non government organizations, tourists and the destinations they visit, to embrace the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and pursue sustainable and responsible practices laid out in the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics.
Frangialli said that “mainstreaming tourism in the International Development Agenda did not require such a great leap of faith. The tourism sector is the largest common area of export income and foreign direct investment across the world’s poorest countries. Tourism to these countries is growing at twice the rate of industrialized markets. No sector spreads wealth and jobs across poor economies in the same way as tourism.”
“In the UN, which is at the heart of the Development Agenda, we have a new Secretary-General from a region that has recently seen summits with Africa in China and Korea. Look at the difference the huge numbers of travellers forecast from India and China in the years ahead could make in Africa and the Asia Pacific region.”
“It just needs imagination and political will. And the same holds true for the industrialized states who should see their tourists as human development support, with the additional benefit that they build bridges of understanding between cultures.”
The Secretary-General said that the organization would intensify its actions to support the sector, advance the MDGs and promote the Global Code of Ethics in the years ahead. In this context and in order to help respond to the immediate challenges and opportunities he announced that in 2007, UNWTO as the UN Agency for Tourism would:
- Convene a World Summit on “Tourism and Religion”, hosted by the Government of Spain, which will explore ways to strengthen the interrelationship between tourism and the world’s great religions so as to further encourage peaceful development and intercultural dialogue.
- Organize a second Summit on “Tourism and Climate Change” hosted by the Government of the United Kingdom and in collaboration with World Travel Market. The Summit, which will consider new international developments like the UK Stern Report and President Chirac’s call for a post-2012 international climate change policy, would be preceded by a technical conference and would build on the foundation of the 2003 UNWTO Djerba Declaration.
- Hold a Global Conference for Parliamentarians and Local Authorities, hosted by the Government of Tunisia, to explore how tourism can more effectively encourage understanding between nations and how its benefits can be more readily spread to the community level. It will also explore how to enhance decision making between different levels of government.
- Celebrate the role of women in tourism, linking its UN World Tourism Day theme of “Tourism opening doors to Women” with MDG 3 promoting gender equality. Host of the 2007 World Tourism Day on September 27th will be the Government of Sri Lanka.
- Strengthen its ST-EP Program (Sustainable Tourism – Eliminating Poverty) by consolidating funding partnerships with government / private sector sources, by boosting the activity of the Foundation established in Seoul, Korea and by launching new projects – particularly in Africa.
- Intensify its eTourism initiatives, together with Microsoft, to introduce an Emergency Response System; operationalize the Windows on Africa Portal for Distribution and Destination Management; explore ways and means to use technology to increase Security and simultaneously reduce hassle for travellers: coordinate action on tourism across the UN system.
- Launch its Centre of Excellence for Destinations in Montreal, supported by the Federal Government of Canada and the Provincial Government of Quebec to promote and support sustainable quality tourism at the community level.
- Consolidate its organization to respond to changing times, through its new management leadership: restructured secretariat and by more active private sector involvement, with a strengthened Affiliate program and expanded PPP network.
These challenges and opportunities will be reviewed at the UNWTO General Assembly which will take place from the 22nd- 29th of November in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
