World`s leading hotel company calls for the Travel industry to take up the environmental challenge

Representatives from the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP<.>)were urged to give priority to Travel Tourism and the role it can play in sustainable development in a speech given today by Daniel Desbaillets, Chief Operating Officer for Six Continents Hotels in South Asia. Desbaillets was speaking on behalf of the World Travel and Tourism Council and the International Hotel and Restaurant Association at the United Nations Environmental event in Bali, to mark the launch of the travel industries sectoral report on tourism.

Desbaillets explained that travel and tourism globally contributes over 10 per cent to GDP and around 200 million jobs worldwide. It is amongst the top five export sectors for more than 80% of developing countries. With world travel and tourism forecast to rise by 4.5% per annum, he stressed that there is clear potential for the industry to play a major role in the development process and improve the quality of life of millions of people.

The Tourism Industry Report forms one of the 22 reports being examined by the conference in preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development. Desbaillets observed that the report demonstrates the delicate balance between sustainable development and the economic growth that stems from tourism. He stressed the importance of including this industry sector on the agenda for the World Summit in Johannesburg.

Desbaillets was addressing an audience at the UNEP event held at the Bali Inter-Continental Resort on Sunday 2nd June 2002.