Unwto News
UNWTO: Tourism is a development opportunity for Small Island States
International tourism is one of the principal economic activities of Small Island Developing States (SIDS). A new UNWTO report launched on the occasion of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (RIO+20), confirms tourism as an essential source of job opportunities, livelihood, foreign exchange and inclusive growth for these countries.
Jamaican prime minister offers firm support to tourism industry
Jamaican prime minister Portia Simpson Miller has argued tourism is delivering jobs, income and well-being around the world and deserves increased support from political leaders in these challenging economic times. Miller delivered the message during a meeting with United Nations World Tourism Organisation secretary-general Taleb Rifai and World Travel & Tourism Council president David Scowsill in Montego Bay, Jamaica, earlier.
WTTC/UNWTO call on G20 to consider tourism as engine for growth
Ahead of the G20 world leaders’ meeting in Los Cabos, Mexico, the UNWTO and WTTC have called on the leaders to consider tourism as an engine for economic growth and stimulating the global economy. Increasing tourism demand through visa facilitation can be central to stimulating job creation, a priority given the high current unemployment levels.
Tourism vital to tackling global economic challenges
“On this occasion, I would like to underscore the role of tourism as a creator of jobs in today’s difficult situation, especially among younger populations who find themselves unfairly denied access to the labor market,” said His Royal Highness Prince Felipe of Asturias, Spain, opening the 93rd session of the UNWTO Executive Council.
UNWTO confirms Africa to host African Tourism Ministers’ Confab
The UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has formally confirmed Nigeria as the host of its 53rd meeting of the Commission for Africa (CAF) summit, a regional meeting for African Tourism Ministers slated to take place in Calabar, Cross River State, from June 25-27, 2012, Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, High Chief, Edem Duke, has revealed.
UNWTO Executive Council highlighted role of Tourism
Ministers of tourism and high-ranking officials meeting at the 93rd session of the UNWTO Executive Council have highlighted the role of tourism in addressing continuing challenges in the world economy, from a slowdown in growth to global unemployment.
UNWTO consultant in Seychelles to re-look at STB structure
Mr. Jim Flannery, a UNWTO consultant, is in Seychelles to relook at the structure of the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) and that of the newly-formed Ministry of Tourism.
UNWTO launches project to protect biodiversity in Georgia
Biodiversity is tourism’s natural capital, motivating millions of people to travel the world each year. Yet biodiversity is at risk on a global scale due largely to unsustainable human activities.
IIPT signs MOU with World Tourism Organization
The International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) is proud to announce that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
UNWTO and the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) join forces
On June 4, 2012, at the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, Le Chalet-à-Gobet located at 1000 Lausanne 25, Switzerland, 170 final year students from the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) are being challenged to build strong strategic plans for 10 Silk Road countries through the EHL/UNWTO (UN World Tourism Organization)Silk Road Strategy Challenge.
UNWTO welcomes T20 decision to advance visa facilitation
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation has welcomed a declaration issued by the tourism ministers of the G20 economies (T20) calling for priority to be given to facilitating travel as a means to boost economic growth and create jobs. “To ensure that tourism can play a key role in creating employment opportunities, both directly and indirectly through linkages to the local economy, raising national income, improving the balance of payments and boosting economic growth, priority should be given to facilitating travel and tourism,” read the declaration.
WTTC: Visa facilitation can create five million additional jobs
Visa facilitation is central to stimulating economic growth and job creation through tourism, the World Travel & Tourism Council has argued. The G20 can have a particularly important role to play in this respect, boosting their international tourist numbers by an additional 122 million, generating an extra $206 billion in tourism exports and creating over five million additional jobs by 2015 the body argued.