Madrid, Spain, 28 September 2018 – World Tourism Day 2018 was observed in Budapest, Hungary yesterday (27 September 2018) with the official celebration focusing on the digital transformation in tourism, a World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) priority. The event examined how investment in new technology provides the sector with opportunities for innovation.

Introducing a new seminar-based format, the official celebration provided crucial insights into the actors and initiatives leading the digital transformation of the tourism sector and aimed at providing participants with concrete and actionable objectives to take away.

During the official celebration, the 20 semi-finalists of the 1st UNWTO Tourism Startup Competition gave pitches to investors and tourism leaders of their innovative projects with potential to disrupt the sector. They were selected from over 3000 applicants from 132 countries. The competition was launched by UNWTO and Spanish tourism leader Globalia to find projects that harness innovation and can change the way we travel.

“UNWTO is proud to have positioned, for the first time, tourism in the global innovation agenda – where it deserves to be because of its economic weight and importance. This is only possible by bringing the private and public sectors together in a meaningful way, and providing opportunities to share ideas, like we have done today”, said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili to conclude the event.

Mr. Pololikashvili was joined for the opening ceremony by Hungary’s Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Csaba Domotor and Gloria Guevara, President and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council, who emphasized the role of technological solutions such as biometric data capture in ensuring safe, seamless and sustainable travel.

Key amongst the conference conclusions was that political support is central to putting tourism at the centre of the global innovation and digital agenda. The event harboured this sentiment, attracting the participation of ministers from several countries and high-level political representatives at all levels of government, from local to national, as well as tourism’s main entrepreneurs, investors and innovators.

Other World Tourism Day celebrations also took place worldwide today, helping to mark the 38th year the observance day that has taken place to give visibility to the tourism sector’s role in international economic growth and development.

The Seychelles International airport, the Praslin Airport and the La Digue Tourism Office near the Jetty witnessed the effervescence of a beehive this Thursday September 2018 as Seychelles joins the world to mark the celebrations of the World Tourism Day.

A series of activities coordinated by the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) offices have been organised for the day on the three main arrival points of the different Islands.

Visitors disembarking on the Seychelles Shores have been treated to a warm welcome with traditional live music imbued of Creole touch.

On Mahé, the activities undertaken by the STB were conducted in conjunction with the Department for Tourism, the Seychelles Sustainable Tourism Foundation (SSTF), the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHTA) and the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA).

The customary welcome treat to passengers disembarking was honoured by the presence of Principal Secretary for Tourism; Mrs. Anne Lafortune and STB Deputy Chief Executive; Ms. Jenifer Sinon and Director for Trade & Visitor Services Section; Ms. Selma Magnan.

Commenting on the day’s special welcome event, Ms. Jenifer Sinon, STB Deputy Chief Executive mentioned STB’s commitment to make the celebrations meaningful by not only greeting our guests but also showing the industry’s pledge to making Seychelles a sustainable destination.

“The World Tourism Day is a day for us all to reflect on how to keep our destination relevant not only in providing the best services but also in contributing towards a greener Seychelles,” said Ms. Sinon.

The delegation was accompanied by members from the STB Trade and Visitor’s Services Section, Digital Marketing and News Bureau team, SSTF representatives Diana Körner and Rosetta Alcindor and finally the SCAA PR team, Customer Service officers and Social Media Specialist.

The meaning of the annual commemoration was heightened with the implementation of the ecological campaign Pristine Seychelles. The campaign spearheaded by the SSTF, is a call to all tourism stakeholders to promote the three pillars of sustainability, which are environment, Creole culture and local economy amongst tourists and locals.

Talking about the SSTF’s participation to the event SSTF representatives Diana Körner and Rosetta Alcindor both mentioned their happiness to have been able to contribute towards sensitizing tourists about protecting Seychelles’ environment, learning about the Creole Culture and supporting the local economy as part of the Pristine Seychelles campaign.

“The SSTF team is very passionate about the Pristine Seychelles Campaign. The special welcome at the airport today was a great experience to be part of. It was great to see the smiles on the tourists’ faces when they were welcomed by Creole music and received a Pristine Seychelles pin. We hope that this is the starting point to communicating the Pristine Seychelles messages throughout the industry!

The local civil aviation authorities, SCAA also took the opportunity to bring forward their commitment to the conservationism by creating awareness about their Eco Leap campaign launched in 2015.

“The SCAA is pleased that the STB and SSTF chose Seychelles International Airport to commemorate International Tourism day with the launching of the Pristine Seychelles Campaign, because of the need to strengthen efforts to preserve the environment, importantly so, in light of the expected continuous growth of air transport activities in Seychelles and globally,” Mr. Gilbert Faure, SCAA Chief Executive.

As part of their contribution to the world Tourism Day, the STB offices on Praslin and La Digue have extended their Welcome celebrations to a half day activity on both Islands.

Today, WTTC CEO & President Gloria Guevara joined Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), and Csaba Domotor, State Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister, in the opening ceremony of the official UNTWO World Tourism Day celebration in Budapest, Hungary.

Today celebrates a sector that contributes 10.4% of the world’s GDP and generates 313 million jobs. In terms of GDP growth, the Travel & Tourism industry has outpaced the global economy by 4.6% for the seventh successive year. This year’s celebration brought together industry leaders and members of government to discuss Tourism and the Digital Transformation.

“I am grateful to my industry peers who have realised the impact of technology, and want to thank UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili for prioritising this issue as we work together to harness innovation and digital advances.

“Technology has changed the way we travel and WTTC Members are powering travel. In one day, there are 15 million Uber rides, 15.2 million Trip Advisor visits, and 22.5 million visits to Expedia sites.

“Our industry needs to maximise the power of technology and innovation to increase the benefits of Travel & Tourism. By capitalising on this opportunity, we can create more jobs and ensure growth is sustainable and inclusive,” commented Guevara.

IATA reported 4.1 billion passengers were flown in 2017, a new record, with a promising forecast to reach 7.8 billion passengers by 2036 worldwide. At the same time, the UNWTO anticipates a rise in international visitor arrivals from 1.3 billion in 2017 to 1.8 billion by 2030. Travel & Tourism’s GDP grew 50% more than the world economy in 2017 at 4.6% and the projections indicate that Travel & Tourism will continue to outpace global economy growth in the future.

Guevara continued, “We have the potential to double the number of air passengers and increase the number of travellers around the world. Travel & Tourism is the best partner for growth, and our recently published Country Power and Performance report illustrates the economic impact our sector has on 185 countries.

“I am delighted to be in Hungary, where we have had a great opportunity to celebrate the hugely positive impact that our sector makes to the world. I look forward to seeing you in Seville, Spain at our 2019 Global Summit where WTTC will bring together Heads of Government, CEOs and Tourism Policymakers to raises awareness of the global, social and economic role of Travel & Tourism and debate the biggest challenges for our industry.”

Madrid, Spain, 24 September 2018 – Investment in innovation and smart management for tourism will form the major theme of the Ministerial Summit of this year’s World Travel Market, to be held in London, UK (6 November 2018). The 2018 Summit, a joint initiative of World Travel Market and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), will debut a revamped format

This year’s World Travel Market (WTM) will introduce a disruptive new format to the long-running UNWTO/WTM Ministerial Summit. With the private sector crucial in setting the tourism agenda, private sector leaders will be involved for the first time via a panel on investment in tourism technology. This will be followed by a round table of both ministers and private sector to discuss a way forward for tourism that includes stronger public-private partnerships and an agenda for the sector’s digital transformation.

The 2018 Summit will be hosted by CNN’s Richard Quest, anchor of Quest Means Business. Developing an innovation ecosystem, data-driven decision making, digital destination branding, and the role of government and policy in smart tourism management are among the topics to be addressed this year.

The Summit reflects on a hyper-connected and informed world where tourists are one click away from their next destination and share their interests and emotions in real-time – and where technological advances have an exponential impact on management efficiency and sustainability. It will expand its practical impact with a focus on creating and exchanging innovative ideas and partnerships that can boost investments in tourism technology.

The Summit will continue the conversation on ‘Tourism and the Digital Transformation’ that is set to dominate proceedings for this year’s World Tourism Day official celebration on Thursday 27 September. The event, to be held in Budapest, Hungary, will feature sessions on the role of innovation and technology in tourism development. It will also see the announcement of the semi-finalists of the 1st UNWTO Tourism Startup Competition, launched by UNWTO and Globalia to give visibility to tourism startups with innovative and disruptive ideas.

Madrid, Spain, 19 September 2018 – Innovation, traveller demand for diverse and authentic experiences in cities, and urban tourism governance models will be the central themes of the “UNWTO Conference on City Breaks: Creating Innovative Experiences”, to be held in Valladolid, Spain, on 15-16 October 2018.

The conference will address the future of urban tourism, with special emphasis on current challenges, technology, governance and public-private partnership models, as well as generating opportunities along the entire tourism value chain of the city and integrating gastronomy and wine tourism in urban experiences.

City tourism is one of the fastest-growing segments in the world. It attracts both business and leisure travellers, generating income that supports socioeconomic and cultural development. In recent years, the growing popularity of city breaks has opened many urban destinations to new markets and segments, increasing the number of visitors, mainly in Europe. With the growing demand for urban tourism, it becomes crucial to guarantee the quality of tourists’ experiences, while at the same time reflecting on key issues such as sustainability, accessibility, connectivity, and infrastructure, as well as dispersing tourism.

The conference will be attended by representatives from cities such as Graz (Austria), Lisbon (Portugal), Turin (Italy) and Seville (Spain), and will serve as a platform for exchanging experiences and perspectives on the positioning of urban destinations, as well as learning how to manage emerging challenges.

The event will take place in Valladolid, a well-known urban destination in Spain that is firmly committed to a tourism strategy that prominently features adventure, wine and cultural tourism, among other segments.

Madrid, Spain, 14 September 2018 – The tourism sector’s shift in focus towards innovation and experiences, and traveller demand for diverse and immediate experiences in cities, will underpin the discussions of the UNWTO Conference on City Breaks: Creating Innovative Experiences (15-16 October 2018) in Valladolid, Spain. Development of city breaks can enhance tourism’s benefits on societies and the economy, which is at the core of UNWTO’s mission.

The report examines how to manage tourism in urban destinations to the benefit of visitors and residents alike. It proposes eleven strategies and 68 measures to help understand and manage visitor growth. The report is the result of collaboration between UNWTO, the Centre of Expertise Leisure, Tourism & Hospitality (CELTH), Breda University of Applied Sciencesm and the European Tourism Futures Institute (ETFI) of NHL Stenden University of Applied sciences.

The recent growth of urban tourism requires the sector to ensure sustainable policies and practices that minimize adverse effects of tourism on the use of natural resources, infrastructure, mobility and congestion, as well as its socio-cultural impact. Increased reports of negative attitudes among local populations towards visitors, due to perceived overcrowding, noise and other issues, have led to the spread of terms such as ‘overtourism’ and ‘tourismphobia’ in the media.

“Governance is key. Addressing the challenges facing urban tourism today is a much more complex issue than is commonly recognized. We need to set a sustainable roadmap for urban tourism and place tourism in the wider urban agenda,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. “We must also ensure local communities see and benefit from the positive aspects of tourism”, he added.

To better understand visitor management challenges in urban contexts, particularly the relationship between residents and visitors, the report includes an analysis of residents’ perceptions towards tourism in eight European cities – Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Copenhagen, Lisbon, Munich, Salzburg and Tallinn.

“There is no one-size-fits-all solution to deal with overtourism. Instead tourism needs to be part of a city-wide strategy for sustainable development”, Dr. Ko Koens of the Centre of Expertise Leisure, Tourism & Hospitality (CELTH) and Breda University of Applied Sciences concludes. The report recommends a common strategic vision among all stakeholders involved, bringing residents and visitors together and adopting careful planning which respects the limits of capacity and the specificities of each destination. “The involvement and support of local residents is key in achieving sustainable tourism”, Professor Albert Postma of CELTH and NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences explains. “Building shared responsibility amongst stakeholders directly or indirectly involved in tourism development is a key for ensuring long-term sustainability”, involved researcher Bernadett Papp concludes.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization annual conference is coming up in Nassau, the Bahamas in two weeks. Elections for the allied CTO Board of Directors for the 2018-2020 will be on the agenda.

Here are the candidates:

• DAVID BAHLMAN: Vice President, Tourism & Hospitality Division  ADARA

  I have successfully driven hotel revenue as a Director of Hotel Sales and Marketing in Washington, DC, was appointed Deputy Director and Acting Director by Governor Bob Ehrlich for the State of Maryland, led the tourism and Hotel/ Airline partnership team as the Global Director of Destination Marketing at Orbitz Worldwide, and am currently the Vice President, Tourism and Hospitality Division at ADARA.

• BARRY BROWN: Executive Director/ Caribbean & Latin America AFAR Media

  Barry Brown is an advertising and publishing professional who has been connected to the Region and the islands of the Atlantic/Caribbean for over 25 years.

  Barry joined AFAR Media in 2010 – the experiential luxury brand that explores destinations and travel through the insights of locals. AFAR is a long-time partner of many destinations and partners across the Region and is proud to drive increasing amounts of business to the Caribbean.

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• CASEY DAVY: Consultant, co founder, VO Sales and Marketing CAPP Busy Rooms Ltd.

  Casey Davy has spent the last 15 years positioning, transforming and progressing companies in Travel, Media and Marketing as both a consultant and in senior commercial/marketing roles. This has included, profitably delivering loyalty programs for IHG and driving growth in EMEA for eRevMax, one of the first channel managers.

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• RICHARD CUTTING-MILLER: Executive VP Resonance Consultancy LLLP

  Richard Cutting-Miller is a senior Travel & Tourism industry consultant with more than 30 years of international experience, focused on Travel & Tourism strategy, policy and planning, economic and travel trend research, policy analysis, lobbying and advocacy. He has worked in more than 65 countries and 350 destinations around the world.

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• JULE GUAGLARDI : Partner ZLMN

  I have spent much of the past 25 years of my career working toward the betterment of Caribbean Tourism through my efforts as a member of the press – writing and photographing features for 12 different magazine publications and newspapers, through marketing – representing various Caribbean based entities to the US market.

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• JACQUELINE JOHNSON: CEO Global Bridal Group

  Jacqueline Johnson, CTC holds the distinction of being a pioneer in the publishing industry as the only minority to head up her own Media Company. A Media Company (Global Bridal Group) that provides comprehensive Bridal & Honeymoon guidance through interactive-target marketing.,

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• SOLOMON LUKE: Founder & CEO Strategia Solutions, LLC

  As the Founder & CEO of Strategia Solutions, LLC, Solomon Luke is responsible for the strategy, vision and direction of the firm. Solomon has over 17 years of information technology experience and is known for the development and implementation of his firm’s IT strategy, the judicious use of resources for his clients, and the ability to tailor pragmatic resolutions. Solomon is currently on contract as an Information Technology Specialist at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) where he manages FEMA’s most complex core financial systems.

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• BARBARA MAGRO: Director of Business Development Florida & Caribbean: Questex Travel Group

  Barbara Magro was born and raised in the suburbs of New York City. A graduate of the University of Colorado in Boulder with a BA in English, she began her career as a media professional in Los Angeles, California. She has worked in advertising sales for premier food and travel magazines in the United States and Australia.

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• JENNIFER NUGENT-HILL:Director Government & Community Affairs Tropical Shipping

  Jennifer Nugent-hill began her career in shipping and trading at tropical shipping in 1995 on St. Croix US Virgin Islands. Prior to her joining tropical shipping she served the people of the US Virgin Islands thru the post-recovery period from the devastation of category 5 hurricane Hugo as the first female Commissioner of Housing, Sports, Parks and Recreation. She received unanimous confirmation by the Virgin Islands legislature who supported her appointment by Governor Alexander Farrell and served with him thru the end of his tenure as governor in 1994.

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• CHERYL RICOSSA, CHME: Regional Director Elite Traveler

  Cheryl Ricossa is a 25+ year hospitality industry professional with a concentration in travel marketing/advertising.  She is currently employed by Elite Traveler. Graduated from University of Tennessee, Summa Cum Laude with BS in Hotel and Tourism Management. Cheryl earned the Certified Hospitality Marketing Executive (CHME) designation through Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association Int’l.

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• RACHEL SANDERS: Senior Integrated Partner Strategist, BlueGroup Media

  Now in my 6th year with Blue Group Media proudly representing Travel + Leisure, FOOD & WINE, and many more National brands within the Meredith portfolio, I manage the lion’s share of the advertising relationships in the Caribbean, from my base in Miami.

  Travel and destination promotion are at the core of my profession and my being. I’ve visited 47 countries and counting to date. There are plenty in the Caribbean that fuel my wanderlust to discover much more in our region!

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• JOHN LAWRENCE SPEERS: Strategy and Client Service Director The Concept Farm

  John moved to New York 2 years ago after a 17-year run in Sydney developing tourism strategy for clients including Tourism Tasmania, Hayman Island, Australian Capital Tourism, Hayman Island, Norfolk Island and Flinders Island. John develops strategic marketing plans, communication strategy and digital innovation across creative, technology, eCRM, social media, content and influencer channels.

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• JUERGEN T STEINMETZ: President & Publisher, eTN Corporation, publisher of eTurboNews, eTN, TravelWireNews, Meetings, Aviation, WorldTourismWire, Wines, and Gaytourism.

  Juergen Thomas Steinmetz has continuously worked in the travel and tourism industry since he was a teenager in Germany (1979), beginning as a travel agent up through today as a publisher of eTurboNews (eTN), one of the world’s most influential and most-read travel and tourism publications. He is also Chairman of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP), and founder of the African Tourism Board.

• More than 3000 projects from 132 countries were presented
• It constitutes an initial mapping of entrepreneurial and pioneering talent on disruptive innovation for sustainable tourism businesses
• The 20 semi-finalists will present their projects at the official celebration of World Tourism Day to potential investors and partners

Madrid, Spain, 13 September 2018 – The first edition of the UNWTO Tourism Startup Competition, organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in partnership with Globalia, the leading tourism group in Spain and Latin America, is the world’s first and largest initiative devoted to identifying new companies that will lead the transformation of the tourism sector and fostering innovation ecosystems through tourism. The semi-finalists have been invited to present their projects in the framework of the official celebration of World Tourism Day in the presence of global leaders in the sector (27 September 27, Budapest, Hungary). The finalist projects will be presented at the next edition of the International Tourism Fair of Madrid (Fitur), in January 2019.

The competition was focused on the search for innovative startups capable of transforming the way people travel and experience tourism, while adhering closely to the principles of sustainability (economic, social, environmental). The projects addressed areas such as the future of travel (33%), the tourism experience (32%), community development (29%) and environmental impact (6%).

“Today, innovation is one of the main drivers of sustainability, and tourism must continue to be at the vanguard as one of the leading sectors in new business models and relationships between people, and also as a steadfast and successful ally in promoting sustainable development throughout the world,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili.

Each solution’s uniqueness, viability, potential impact, business model and scalability, along with the profile of the team, were the criteria for selecting the 20 semi-finalists.

“The large number of companies that have presented their innovative proposals and projects reflects a true revolution in the way we travel and enjoy tourism,” said Globalia CEO Javier Hidalgo. “As a global tourism group, we are delighted to lead and spearhead this initiative together with the World Tourism Organization and we want to work together to lead the transformation of the tourism sector and become a benchmark.”

This group is notable for embodying entrepreneurial talent that offers pioneering proposals in the implementation of emerging and disruptive technologies that generate new sustainable business models.

Therefore, among the semi-finalists we find innovative projects that redefine the how trips are planned and how tourism is experienced, projects that promote sustainability and community involvement, as well as projects that use technology to revolutionize business models and the management of companies in the sector.

Those selected for the next stages will gain access to the leading actors in world tourism,
providing visibility and networking opportunities, as well as opening up financing and business development possibilities.

Where Africa becomes one destination. This is the tagline for the newly found African Tourism Board (ATB), a public priate partnership initiative by the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP)
The African Tourism Board currently has 168 members in the following countries:

• Botswana
• Cameroon
• China
• Comoros
• Congo (Rep of the)
• Côte d’Ivoire
• Egypt
• Ethiopia
• Germany
• Ghana
• HongKong
• International
• Kenya
• Madagascar
• Mauritius
• Mayotte
• Morocco
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Reunion (France)
• Rwanda
• Seychelles
• Sierra Leone
• South Africa
• Spain
• Sudan
• Switzerland
• Tanzania
• Uganda
• UK
• USA
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

The African Tourism Board has a board of dedicated leaders ready to work on a united African approach to make tourism a leading force in economic development, investments, promotions for Africa. Board members include ministers of tourism, private stakeholders in Africa and around the world.

The Association provides aligned advocacy, insightful research, and innovative events to its members.
In partnership with private and public sector members, African Tourism Board (ATB) enhances the sustainable growth, value, and quality of travel and tourism to-from-and-within Africa.

The Association provides leadership and counsel on an individual and collective basis to its member organizations.

The Association is expanding on opportunities for marketing, public relations, investments, branding, promoting and establishing niche markets.

Current activities include Tourism security and wellness summits in member countries, PR & Marketing, Media outreach,  Trade show participation. Road shows, Webinars,  MICE in Africa, building a network and partnerships. The African Tourism Board is seeking the support of leaders in the global travel and tourism world, both in the public and private field to participate in a steering committee.  To join the Steering Committee  click here

For more information on the African Tourism Board and to join go to www.africantourismboard.com

Travel & Tourism generated 18% of New Zealand’s GDP in 2017 Research published by the World Travel & Tourism Council has shown that in 2017, the total contribution of Travel & Tourism accounted for 17.9% (NZD$47.5bn) of New Zealand’s GDP. This figure is set to rise by 2.9% per annum and forecast to account for 20% of New Zealand GDP over the next decade.

Other highlights of the report show:

Travel & Tourism supported 212,000 jobs in 2017 (8.8% of total employment). By 2028, over 275,000 of jobs in New Zealand (10.9% of total employment) are forecast to be dependent on Travel & Tourism. The travel sector grew by 3.2% in 2017, faster than the economy as a whole which grew at 2.9% in the total wider economy. New Zealand is the 32nd largest travel economy in the world.

Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC, said “Travel & Tourism creates jobs, drives economic growth and helps build better societies. New Zealand is a prime example of this, as the country and its natural beauty is expected to attract over 2.7 million international tourist arrivals in 2018 alone. This represents a 3.9% economic increase from 2017 where visitor exports were responsible for generating NZD14.5bn (USD10bn).

Tourism has risen up the agenda in New Zealand over recent years and I commend the government on its support for the sector. Going forward it will be vital for public and private sectors to continue to work together, with the close involvement of communities, to ensure that tourism growth is sustainable, inclusive and benefits everyone.”