The Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Mr Zurab Pololikashvili, paid an official visit to Kazakhstan where he discussed with national authorities the Kazakh Tourism Strategy 2030.

Mr Pololikashvili met the Prime Minister, H.E. Mr. Bakytzhan Sagintayev, to discuss the development of the tourism sector in the country and how to further strengthen cooperation between Kazakhstan and UNWTO. The following issues were addressed during the meeting: support in the implementation of investment projects, trainings for tour guides, reinforcement of cooperation within the UNWTO Silk Road Programme and UNWTO assistance to Kazakhstan in marketing and communication.

During the visit, the Secretary General met Mr Muhamediuly Arystanbek, Minister of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan to discuss the Tourism Strategy 2030. Mr Pololikashvili also visited the Museum of Future Energy established following Kazakhstan hosting of Expo 2017 Astana on the Future of Energy.

BANGKOK, March 28, 2018 — Abdulla Ghiyas, President of the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) – one of the most active NGOs in the Maldives dedicated to fostering and promoting the sub industry of local travel agents, is today named as the 2018 PATA Face of the Future. This is the most prestigious honour open to young tourism professionals in the Asia Pacific region.

Dr Mario Hardy, CEO of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), said, “I would like to congratulate Abdulla on winning the 2018 PATA Face of the Future award. His clear commitment to the responsible development of travel and tourism in the Asia Pacific region is highlighted by his more than 10 years of service with MATATO and his many other activities and partnerships in the industry. In addition, his unique experience and insights will be a welcome addition to the Executive Board.”

As the 2018 PATA Face of the Future, Abdulla will have extensive exposure at the PATA Annual Summit 2018 from May 17-20 in Gangneung, Korea (ROK). He will be one of the speakers at the PATA Youth Symposium, be interviewed by BBC World News Presenter & Producer Sharanjit Leyl at the one-day conference and be one of the debaters at the UNWTO/PATA Leaders Debate. Abdulla will also be invited to join the 2018/2019 PATA Executive Board as a non-voting member and observer.

“I am truly overwhelmed and humbled to have been recognised with the prestigious PATA Face of the Future award. This award is for the hard-working team at MATATO and Inner Maldives Holidays, and every dreamer out there for believing that there is always room for thinking bigger, pushing limits and imagining the impossible,” said Abdulla. “Today we are living in an era of ever evolving challenges and changes. The role of youth and students across the globe is being redefined and I believe younger generations can play a vital role in travel and tourism. I look forward to working together with PATA and other travel industry stakeholders to further the role of youth and inspire them in joining this movement.”

Abdulla is a young energetic disrupter in the Maldivian tourism industry, who has changed the tourism landscape in the last few years by giving a voice to all Small Medium Enterprises in the industry.

MATATO is today considered the leading NGO in the Maldives with the association engaged in various activities such as advocacy and lobbying, training and workshops, fam trips, loan schemes via different financial institutions, recognition programs such as Awards, travel conferences and forums, publications and much more. The association last year organised destination stands and road shows, exhibiting brand Maldives in 14 countries around the world.

Abdulla is also a serial entrepreneur engaged in leading travel businesses and startups. He is the Deputy Managing Director of Inner Maldives Holidays, one of the largest inbound and outbound travel agency in Maldives. He is also a Director for Ace Travels Maldives and Spence Maldives, which are joint ventures with Sri Lankan blue chip conglomerate Aitken Spence PLC. Having 14 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry, Abdulla was the youngest Board Director of the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) from 2014 to 2017. He was also named by the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Maldives as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons in Maldives in 2010 for his role in business turnaround in Inner Maldives Holiday. Abdulla also contributes to the Consulate of the Republic of Seychelles to the Maldives as the Deputy.

KINGSTON, JAMAICA; January 29, 2018: Mr. Donovan White has been selected to fill the position of Director of Tourism of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), after an extensive local and international search. His appointment has been announced by Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Edmund Bartlett.

Mr. White, a Jamaican national, whose term as head of the country’s tourism marketing agency, will commence officially on February 15, 2018, brings with him many years of marketing and business development experience. He served recently as Vice President of Cable & Wireless Business, Jamaica, where he was responsible for year over year revenue growth of 29 percent and 12 percent in 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 respectively.

Prior to that, Mr. White served as Vice President, Marketing, Sales & Media Services at Columbus Communications Jamaica Limited (FLOW), leading commercial teams to deliver revenue growth in 2013 and 2014. During that period, he was responsible for delivering a 25 percent year over year growth in sales from trade.

Mr. White has also held the positions of General Manager of Caledonia Outdoor Advertising Limited, where he helped to reduce the cost of operations by 25 percent and grow revenues by 15 percent and Digicel Group Limited, working as Marketing Director for Jamaica, Guyana and the Northern OECS, managing the execution of some of the largest and most successful brand and tactical campaigns.

He also served as Vice President, Sales & Marketing, CVM Communications Group Limited, growing sales output for four consecutive years between 1998 and 2001.

With a solid background in marketing, digital media and business development, the Director-designate is expected to build upon the past successes of the Jamaica Tourist Board, help the JTB expand its global reach and continue to forge a strong partnership with the private sector.

“We are pleased with Mr. White’s appointment,” said the Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism. “He brings a solid business acumen and marketing savvy to the Jamaica Tourist Board, having developed, managed and executed vertically integrated marketing and branding strategies for a range of industry sectors including media, telecoms, advertising and technology. As a member of Jamaica’s tourism team, I am confident that Mr. White’s experience will assist the JTB to continue on its current path of delivering increased tourism results through innovative public and private sector partnerships.”

In commenting on Mr. White’s appointment, Mr. John Lynch, Chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board noted, “Donovan brings the right experience and the respect of the marketing and business sectors to this important position. In his capacity as Director of Tourism, he will lead the JTB as Jamaica’s tourist industry continues to grow in a highly globalized and technology driven world.”

Mr. Donnie Dawson currently serving as Interim Director will continue in that role until Mr. White assumes office.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; January 16, 2018: Jamaica and Mexico have today (January 16, 2018) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), to concretize a multi-destination marketing arrangement which will create ease of travelling between destinations and increase arrivals.

The signing, between Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett and Mexican Secretary of Tourism, His Excellency Enrique de la Madrid Cordero, took place at the Westin Palace Hotel in Madrid, Spain.

In a statement made following the event, Minister Bartlett said that the MOU was historic, as multi-destination agreements have now been signed with the four major partners in the region – Jamaica, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Mexico.

“We anticipate that this agreement will have a major economic impact on the region. Not only is it the first of its kind in the Caribbean but it is a symbiotic arrangement that will allow us to provide a market for close to 33 million people. It will also allow us to develop and exchange partnerships with large airlines and major tour operators,” said the Minister.

His Excellency Enrique de la Madrid Cordero shared in his excitement about the new agreement, stating that the move to market the countries together is strategic as it will also aid both countries efforts to get a bigger share of markets such as South East Asia.

A joint summit is scheduled to take place by March 2018 with high-level representatives from Jamaica, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Mexico to discuss the marketing arrangement in greater detail.

The tourism ministries will also appoint someone at a later date to propel the details outlined in the MOU and provide measurable objectives.

Minister Bartlett is currently in Madrid, Spain on official duties and is scheduled to return the island on January 17, 2018.

This past month, the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) organized its inaugural ‘Diplomats for Peace’ event recognizing and celebrating the critical role of Diplomats in nurturing peace and harmony throughout the world.

The first-ever event was presented by VFS Global, the world’s leading visa facilitation agency and TravelBiz Monitor, India’s premier Travel and Tourism industry publication. Participating with IIPT India was the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

Speaking about VFS Global’s partnership with the IIPT ‘Diplomats for Peace’ event, Zubin Karkaria, CEO, VFS Global said that travel and tourism has a strong role to play in spreading the message of peace and understanding as well as building bridges amongst people and cultures. “VFS Global being an agency which handles visa management services plays a pivotal role as a catalyst in supporting outbound travel over the past 16 years. Therefore supporting the cause of peace through tourism is close to our hearts, and hence this partnership with IIPT for the Diplomats for Peace event,” he said.

Christened as ‘Diplomats for Peace,’ the first ever event brought together more than 40 Ambassadors and diplomatic personnel representing 95 nations together at the ITC Maurya hotel in New Delhi, India. The mistress of ceremony for the event was Shivani Vazir Pasrich.

Introducing IIPT and its vision to the diplomats and mission heads, Ajay Prakash, President, IIPT India read out a short message from Dr. Louis D’Amore, IIPT’s Founder President who, he said, set up the organization in 1986 with the vision of making Travel and Tourism the world’s first Global Peace Industry, and the belief that every traveler is potentially an Ambassador for Peace. Since its inception, IIPT has organized seminars, workshops, international conferences and global summits in regions throughout the world bringing together Heads of State, Nobel Laureates, Royalty, Heads of UN agencies, leaders of the travel and tourism industry and other sectors.

       
Peter Brun Head of Communications VFS Global & Ajay Prakash felicitate Norway (Left); Carl Dantas member IIPT India Board & Madan Bahl MD TravelBiz Monitor felicitate Colombia (Right)

Founded on the premise that the essence of diplomacy is the nurturing of harmony,  peaceful relations and cooperative initiatives with the  aim of mutual benefit, the IIPT India Advisory Board recognized 15 countries for their exceptional work as ‘Diplomats for Peace’ 2017 while additionally, the envoys of over 90 countries were felicitated as ‘Messengers of Peace’’ at the function.

Explaining the objective and the rationale of the ‘Diplomats for Peace’ event, Prakash said, “IIPT is dedicated to fostering and facilitating tourism initiatives which contribute to international understanding and cooperation. Our mission is to encourage, acknowledge and celebrate individuals and organizations who work to make the world a better place and who we can hold up as role models for the younger generation. The essence of diplomacy is the preservation of peace and harmony and we wanted to honour and salute the key role Diplomats play, balancing national interests with global human values, and felicitate each one of you present here as a true Messenger of Peace.”

Dr Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of UNWTO sent a personal video message to the organisers and diplomats which was played at the start of the event. Dr Rifai said that the decision to celebrate 2017 as the Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the UN is testimony to the importance the agency bestows to tourism as an industry which can contribute to build a better world. He reiterated the UNWTO’s support to IIPT and urged the Diplomatic community to use travel and tourism as a transformative power to build bridges among people and cultures to create an atmosphere of understanding, peace and stability in the world.

Amitabh Kant, CEO of NITI Aayog in his keynote message said that Aviation and Tourism are two industries which play a crucial role not only in terms of creating large number of jobs but are also major drivers of peace in this world. Travel and Tourism is an antidote to terrorism and violence, he said. Travel creates friendship across boundaries and therefore barriers to travel need to be reduced, he added.

Sheldon Santwan member IIPT India Board & Hans Dannenberg Castellano Dean of the Diplomatic Corps felicitate Greece (Left); Zubin Karkaria CEO VFS Global & Ajay Prakash President IIPT India felicitate the Kingdom of Bhutan (Right)

While diplomats from over 90 countries were felicitated as ‘Messengers of Peace’ at the ceremony, 15 of them were also decorated with the title ‘Diplomats for Peace.’ The countries whose Ambassadors and High Commissioners were awarded the Diplomats for Peace citations included: Maj. Gen. Versop Mangyel; Ambassador of Bhutan to India; Pichkhun Panham, Ambassador of Cambodia; Nadir Patel, High Commissioner for Canada in India; Monica Lanzetta Mutis; Ambassador of Colombia in India; Alexander Ziegler, Ambassador of France in India; Dr. Martin Ney, German Ambassador to India; Kenji Hiramatsu, Ambassador of Japan to India; Melba Pria, Ambassador of Mexico in India; Ernest Rwamucyo, High Commissioner for Rwanda in India; Jose Ramon Baranano Fernandez, Ambassador of Spain in India;  ChitranganeeWagiswara, High Commssioner of Sri Lanka in India; Dr. Andreas Baum, Ambassador of Switzerland in India; Dr. Abdul Rahman Albanna, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to India; and Sir Dominic Asquith, High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to India.

A special award was bestowed on India as the land of Ahimsa, Acceptance and Assimilation. IIPT plans to make the Diplomats for Peace an annual event in the social calendar of the Diplomatic Corps.

2017 IIPT Peace Diplomats Recipients

IIPT is currently planning its 30th Anniversary Global Summit in Montreal, 27-30 August, 2018, being co-organized with the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). IIPT has launched a “Global Peace Parks Project” with a goal of 2,000 Peace Parks circling the earth by November 11, 2018, which marks the Centenary of the end of World War I – with its theme “No More War.” Persons wishing to learn more about the Global Summit in Montreal, and/or the Global Peace Parks Project are invited to email: [email protected].About IIPT
The International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) is a not for profit organization dedicated to fostering travel and tourism initiatives that contribute to international understanding, cooperation among nations, an improved quality of environment, cultural enhancement and the preservation of heritage, poverty reduction, reconciliation and healing wounds of conflicts; and through these initiatives, helping to bring about a peaceful and sustainable world.  It is founded on a vision of the world’s largest industry, travel and tourism – becoming the world’s first global peace industry; and the belief that every traveler is potentially an “Ambassador for Peace.”

KINGSTON Jamaica; December 19, 2017: Minister of Tourism Hon. Edmund Bartlett and the outgoing Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Dr. Taleb Rifai today (December 19, 2017) signed the Montego Bay Declaration which will chart the course forward for a sustainable tourism world agenda.

Following the signing, which took place during the UNWTO’s Closing Ceremony for the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017, in Geneva, Switzerland; Minister Bartlett stated that, “the Montego Bay Declaration cements our legacy in the industry’s history books forever.”

The Declaration is one of the major outcomes of the recently concluded UNWTO, Government of Jamaica, World Bank Group and Inter-American Development Bank Global Conference on Jobs and Inclusive Growth: Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism, held at the Montego bay Convention Centre from November 27-29, 2017. It has been described as a blueprint for global tourism sustainability issues that will inform the next set of global millennial goals.

Building on the legacy of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017, which had the objective of setting a common action plan towards 2030, the Declaration which is a 15-point action plan, also highlights two principal points which the Minister believes are pertinent to the development of Jamaica’s tourism sector.

He noted that it outlines the need for Governments, private sector, donors and international and regional organisations to support the establish recommendation for the establishment of a Global Tourism Resilience Centre in the Caribbean.

“I am very pleased to share that the declaration not only has the support of the UNWTO but also the international community at large, who have expressed particular interest in the proposal to establish a Resilience Centre to mitigate the possible impact of disasters. We are currently in discussions with key stakeholders who I am certain will be giving their official endorsements soon,” said the Minister.

The Declaration also highlights the need for multilaterals to channel development financing to Small and Medium-Sized Tourism Enterprises (SMTEs), which drive 80 percent of global tourism and are important to the development of Jamaica’s second biggest employer and foreign exchange earner.

The aim of the closing ceremony was to bring the international community together to commit to realizing the universal 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through tourism, at the national and global level. Most importantly, it brought to a close, the initiatives and actions initiated this year to provide a roadmap for the global community at large to embrace sustainable practices and maximize the engagement in the global development agenda.

Minister Bartlett is scheduled return to the island on December 21, 2017.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; December 17, 2017: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett travels to Geneva, Switzerland today (December 17, 2017) , to present the recently unveiled Montego Bay Declaration, to delegates attending the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) Closing Ceremony for the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017.

“The Declaration of Montego Bay will become incorporated in the documents and the outcomes of the International Year of Sustainability. This is the perhaps the biggest legacy that we could hope for as a small destination – that our name will be indelibly etched in the lexicon of tourism references so that children yet unborn, will know that Montego Bay existed,” said Minister Bartlett.

The 15-point Declaration was one of the major outcomes of the recently concluded UNWTO Global Conference on Sustainable Tourism held in Montego Bay from November 27 to 29. It was first presented by Minister Bartlett and Executive Director of the UNWTO, Carlos Vogeler, on November 29 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James.

The Minister received the invitation to make the presentation from the UNWTO’s outgoing Secretary General Dr. Taleb Rifai, for the event which will take place on December 19, 2017.

“One of the elements I am most excited about from the Declaration is the establishment of a Global Resilience Centre – which we need here in the Caribbean, especially to build the capacity to respond to natural disruptions. Now the Caribbean, and Jamaica, will be the centre of an international resilience centre that will have the attention of the world,” he said.

The Minister also revealed that preliminary discussions have begun with representatives from the University of West Indies, Mona to establish the centre at their facilities. He also noted that 18 institutions from across the globe, have already indicted their willingness to work with Jamaica to establish the centre.

The United Nations designated 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. In the context of the universal 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the International Year has promoted the change in policies, business practices and consumer behaviour towards a more sustainable tourism sector that can contribute to all the 17 SDGs.

The aim of the closing ceremony is to bring the international community together to commit to realizing the universal 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through tourism, at the national and global level. Most importantly, it brings to a close, the initiatives and actions initiated this year to provide a roadmap for the global community at large, to embrace sustainable practices and maximize the engagement in the global development agenda.

Minister Bartlett is scheduled return to the island on December 21, 2017.

WASHINGTON (December 5, 2017)—U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow issued the following statement upon Senate confirmation of Kirstjen Nielsen as Homeland Security Secretary.

“Sec. Nielsen is a highly qualified leader who understands the importance of blending enhanced security policies with the message that America is open for business. Her previous work on aviation security, international engagement and cybersecurity gives us confidence that she will advance smart travel policies that do not deter legitimate international visitors.

“The U.S. travel community looks forward to working with Sec. Nielsen to implement effective measures to protect our country’s citizens, while ensuring that our country remains as open and welcome as ever to travelers worldwide.”

The new minister of Tourism and Hospitality for Zimbabwe was appointed today by the president. She is Hon Miss Cde Pricah Mupfumira. She was recently removed by the former president Mugabe as the Public Service Minister.

Dr. Jorum Gumbu was appointed as minister of transport. Joram Macdonald Gumbo was a member of the Pan-African Parliament from Zimbabwe.^[1] He is a member of the Zimbabwe House of Assembly for Mberengwa West in the Midlands province, and belongs to the Zanu-PF party.

That leaves Dr. Walter Mzembi with no official appointment in the new Zimbabwe government. Mzembi was one of the longest servicing ministers of tourism in Zimbabwe and is internationally known and respected. For a short while he had the post of the Foreign Minister in the last days of the Mugabe government.

To recognize individuals and organizations that consistently make significant contributions to Jamaica’s thriving tourism sector, Minister of Tourism Hon. Edmund Bartlett officially launched the Tourism Service Excellence Awards (TSEA) on Tuesday, November 14, 2017, at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston.

TSEA, which was conceptualized by Minister Bartlett in 2008, is geared at recognizing and rewarding both individuals and organizations that exemplify service excellence in the local tourism sector. The Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCO), an agency of the Tourism Ministry, leads the programme.

Minister Bartlett said the awards programme came about as a way to give back to those who play an integral role in Jamaica’s successful tourism sector. “We had to create an arena to showcase, to reward, in a less tangible but a more meaningful way and to respond to the need for you (tourism workers) to feel respected and honoured. Because it is the crew that has enabled this ship of tourism, and it is the crew we want to celebrate, to extol in all its values and virtues and exemplify as the symbol of excellence in our space,” he noted.

Minister Bartlett said once excellent service is provided and efforts are made to reward the major players in the industry, they will continue to perform at a high standard and Jamaica will maintain a remarkable tourism product. “Visitors will then view Jamaica as the place of promise and hope, which will inspire more people to visit the country,” the Tourism Minister said.

“It is about giving our workers a stronger sense of themselves, to make them understand that material response is not enough, but by giving them relevance, meaning and fulfilment to what they are doing this will inspire them to go the extra mile, which will make us an extraordinary people and destination,” he added.

The launch of TSEA comes at a time when the tourism sector is experiencing record-breaking arrivals. According to Minister Bartlett, between January and October 2017, the country has seen a 9.5% growth in total visitor arrivals and 10.8% increase in revenues, which has earned the country US$2.343 billion in revenues, over the corresponding period last year.