Dubai’s tourism chiefs are set to join global players to focus on strategies for sustainable tourism at the upcoming Skal World Congress, the global gathering of travel and tourism professionals, in Turkey later this year (November 4-9 2007).

The Dubai chapter of Skal, the global travel and tourism organisation, will be represented at the upcoming 68th Skal World Congress in the resort city of Antalya, dubbed as the capital of the Turkish Riviera.

Meanwhile, Skal’s worldwide president, Litsa Papathanassl, is set to make a whistle-stop tour of the emirate. She will address the Skal Dubai September lunch meet on 9 September 2007, and kick start the club’s hot-topic debate on managing a sustainable industry.

Skal Dubai chapter vice president, Chris Anns, is nominated to take the voice of the 100-strong membership representing the cream of Dubai’s tourism and hospitality sector to the congress.

Anns said: ‘Sustaining tourism development has been a concern to one of the world’s largest and fastest growing industries for some time now.’

‘Average global economic growth forecasts for international tourism range between three and six percent annually, placing great stress on protecting the global tourist destinations in every sense.’

‘And, even more so in the Middle East, currently pegged as one of the fastest growing destinations, recording up to 16 per cent annual growth over 2006.’ (Source: WTTC)

Anns will join more than 500 Skal members representing 90 countries worldwide at the six-day forum.

‘By participating in such events, Dubai Skal club members are able to dialogue with industry colleagues from around the world to share and develop ideas, opportunities and a significant industry matter such is sustaining the development of our industry.’
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