World Tourism Organization (WTO), the leading international travel and tourism body, and International Federation for IT and Travel & Tourism (IFITT), the world`s leading think-tank on information technology in the travel and tourism sectors, have announced a partnership to promote technology in travel.

Caption: Dawid de Villiers (left), WTO deputy secretary general, and Josef Margreiter, president of IFITT, signing the agreement. (Photo: Lasse Keltto).

WTO and IFITT will co-operate through each other`s organisations and events to advance the development and take-up of new technologies in order to ensure sustainable growth in travel and tourism, and will work to enhance standards to ensure best technology practices throughout the global industry.

The alliance will increase the global audience receiving access to IFITT`s research, knowledge-hub and annual ENTER event - the world`s foremost conference on information and communication technologies in the travel and tourism industries - to include WTO`s 139 country and seven territory members, together with over 350 affiliates. The partners will also commence a series of initiatives to highlight the importance of technology in travel.

Dawid de Villiers, WTO deputy secretary general said: “Our partnership with IFITT will add significant value to the service WTO offers, with a platform that will create a comprehensive, and constantly forward-looking, viewpoint on technology uptake, giving our members a stronger decision-making base on this critical issue.”

He continued: “As an organisation within the United Nations system, WTO is well positioned to help governments and tourism authorities to achieve the UN Millennium Goals, and working with partners who have a strong research focus and diverse membership enables us to deliver most effectively on our objectives.”

Josef Margreiter, IFITT`s president added: “IFITT`s aim is always to set the agenda for the development of new technology in the global travel and tourism marketplace. Our partnership with WTO will ensure IFITT continues to build on this presence.”

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