Top travel technology experts will participate in a dedicated digital session that will highlight some of the most important technology trends and innovations that could benefit Travel & Tourism over the next decade and beyond. This informative session will take place during the 11th Global Travel & Tourism Summit in Vegas on 17 - 19 May.

The National Tourism Administration of the People’s Republic of China (CNTA), together with the Provincial Government of Sichuan, has officially opened the 2011 Sichuan International Tourism Festival, 2011 with a formal ceremony held at the town of Shuimo in Wenchuan County, Sichuan ProvinceRunning until May 15th, 2011 this international tourism festival commemorates the devastation caused by the 8.0-magnitude earthquake that struck the province of Sichuan at 2:28pm China local time on May 12th, 2008 with devastating consequences to both life and property.

David Scowsill, president and chief executive of the World Travel & Tourism Council, has returned from a visit to Tokyo to assess the tourism situation following the recent tsunami. During the visit he held meetings with the government, airlines and travel leaders to discuss how WTTC could help to kick-start the recovery in inbound, domestic and outbound travel.

The World Travel & Tourism Council has unveiled the finalists for the Tourism for Tomorrow awards on the first day of ITB Berlin. The awards showcase travel and tourism initiatives leading the world in sustainability, with the winners set to be revealed in Las Vegas later this year.

While economic growth faces many challenges, the travel and tourism industry is still expected to be one of the fastest growing sectors in the world, according to new Economic Impact Research from the World Travel & Tourism Council. The research – which examines the likely trends in the sector between for 2011 and 2021 - reveals the power of tourism to boost economic growth and employment.

As millions of people prepare to fly around the world for the holiday season, Germany’s tourism industry could lose out to rival destinations, the World Travel & Tourism Council has warned. The organisation – which represents the world’s leading private tourism operators - points to the German government’s recently enacted air passenger departure tax, which has already caused airberlin and Ryanair to cut capacity.