The African Union-endorsed candidate for the post of Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation –  UNWTO –  Dr Walter Mzembi, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Tourism and the Hospitality Industry, and the current Chairperson of the UNWTO Regional Commission for Africa, is set to formally launch his candidature at a landmark reception event to be held in Madrid, Spain on 19 January, 2017.

The UNWTO has its Headquarters in Madrid. Invited guests include representatives of all UNWTO Member States, the Secretary-General of the UNWTO and all Executive Directors of the Organisation, as well as senior representatives of the Spanish Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Tourism.

The reception will take place at the prestigious Torre de Cristal, in the Four Towers central business district of downtown Madrid.

Unanimously endorsed by African Heads of State and Government at the AU Summit held in Kigali, Rwanda in July, 2016, Dr Mzembi thus assumed the mantle of Africa’s candidate for the top UNWTO post –  a position which has never before been held by an African.

In its confirmatory letter of endorsement, addressed to the Secretary-General of the UNWTO, the African Union Commission stated that:

“ It is the firm conviction of African Heads of State and Government  –  as evidenced by their unanimous endorsement of Dr Mzembi’s candidature – that he has the qualifications, skills and competence, the vision and, equally as important, the drive and passion to successfully build on the remarkable legacy bequeathed to global tourism by His Excellency Dr Rifai, and to lead the Organisation and global tourism to new heights of relevance, recognition and results  –  tourism being an effective vehicle for sustainable development, the building of deeper understanding between peoples and cultures and for the reinforcement of the quest for greater global harmony and peace”.

Dr. Mzembi has served as Zimbabwe’s Minister of Tourism and the Hospitality Industry since 2009.  Prior to that, he held various positions in both the public and private sectors in Zimbabwe and internationally  –  including heading the Zimbabwe delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly for three consecutive years.

He has represented his country on the UNWTO Executive Council and is currently serving his second consecutive term as Chairperson of the UNWTO’s Regional Commission for Africa.

Dr. Mzembi has a long-standing, deep and abiding passion for tourism in all its many facets, as well as a well-defined and clearly articulated vision for the future development of the global tourism industry under the umbrella of the UNWTO.

The launch event in Madrid will provide an appropriate opportunity and platform for Dr Mzembi to outline his vision and to provide an overview of how, if elected Secretary General, he intends to lead the UNWTO to those “new heights of relevance, recognition and results”.

For more information on Dr. Mzembi also see: http://www.waltermzembi.org/

Worldtourism Wire readers and media interested to attend please email: [email protected]

Following the approval by the Seychelles National Assembly Ambassador Maurice Loustau-Lalanne is scheduled to be sworn in Friday morning as the new minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports & Marine by President Danny Faure. The president expressed his appreciation for the support of the Members of the National Assembly.

President Faure said that Minister Loustau-Lalanne would hold the portfolio for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports & Marine.

Former Minister Alain St.Ange surprisingly announced his resignation yesterday  to open his schedule and continue his campaign to become the new Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

In March of  2011 Seychelles President, Mr. James Michel had appointed Ambassador Maurice Loustau-Lalanne has the Acting Executive Chairman of Air Seychelles for a three-month period, following the resignation of Captain David Savy.

In 2008 he was the CEO and chairman of the Seychelles Tourist Board (STB). In 2015  Ambassador Maurice Loustau-Lalanne was the Principle Secretary for Foreign Affairs.

In June of 2015  he was appointed Secretary of State.

The outspoken and most active and out of the box thinking ministers of tourism resigned. The Seychelles Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports & Marine presented his letter of resignation to the Seychelles President Danny Faure.

His reason: He wants to enter the ever bigger getting race to become the UNWTO Secretary General. He will be the second African minister entering the race.

St. Ange joined the Government of Seychelles in early 2009 as Director of Marketing at the Seychelles Tourism Board and a year later, in June 2010, he was promoted to the position of CEO of the Tourism Board falling under the Office of the President. On the 14th March 2012, Mr St.Ange was appointed as Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture, a position he held until the recent Cabinet of Minister reshuffle of 2016, when he was given more responsibility as head of the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine.

In his letter of resignation Minister Alain St.Ange writes:- “As part of the Government I have been able to serve my Country and the People of Seychelles in a way that made a positive difference to the lives of so many as I also did my part for the economy of our Country. During the time when I was part of the Government, I know that I worked tirelessly for our country’s tourism industry and the results today speak for themselves. The Ministry initiated a lot and, with the support of the private sector, we delivered for Seychelles”.

Over a year ago the name of Minister Alain St.Ange was mentioned as a possible candidate for a position at an International Organisation. “The time to formally put my name forward as a candidate has arrived and I will need to be undertaking some travel from very early in January for this coming election. The extended absence from the office and from the country will not be conducive to my existing position” Minister St.Ange said asking the President to accept his resignation.

“I take this opportunity to thank the Government and People of Seychelles for my time as Minister and I wish Seychelles continued success,” Minister Alain St.Ange said.

A Press Release from the Office of the President of Seychelles confirmed Minister Alain St.Ange had written to President Danny Faure expressing his intention to apply for the post of the Secretary-General of the Untied Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

In accepting the resignation, President Faure thanked Minister St.Ange for the enormous contribution he had made to the promotion and development of tourism and culture in Seychelles, and for his support and advice on many matters discussed in Cabinet.

President Faure had also written to the Speaker of the National Assembly, seeking the Assembly’s approval for the appointment of Ambassador Maurice Loustau-Lalanne as Minister.

Zimbabwe and Zambia relaunched their Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA) Univisa on 21 st of December 2016 at a dazzling ceremony hosted by the Ministers of Home Affairs from both countries in Livingstone, Zambia. The countries’ Ministers of Tourism Hon Dr Walter Mzembi, the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry of Zimbabwe, the current UNWTO Regional Commission for African Chairperson and the

African Union (AU) candidate for the UNWTO Secretary General post for the elections to be held in 2017, and his Zambian counterpart, Minister of Tourism and Arts of Zambia, Hon Banda (MP) who is also the Vice Chairperson of the UNWTO Executive Council, also put their signatures on the Agreement, sealing its implementation that kicked off immediately after the signing ceremony on the same day.

The event, which was punctuated by worldclass artistic performances from both countries, marked the resumption of a common Univisa between Zimbabwe and Zambia which will soon be expanded to Angola, Botswana and Namibia in the second phase, and later on incorporate Mozambique, South Africa and Swaziland. Eventually, it will cover the entire SADC region which is a sub-regional economic bloc of fifteen countries. Tourism Industry players from both countries were in attendance.

The KAZA Univisa, which is a legacy project initiated by the two countries during the 20 th Session of theUNWTO General Assembly is a huge milestone in the history of travel in which the UNWTO General Assemblyhas left permanent footprint. The 20 th Session General Assembly held by Zimbabwe and Zambia wasdescribed by the UNWTO Secretary General Dr Taleb Rifai as “the best ever General Assembly in the historyof General Assemblies” during the opening ceremony in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe in 2013, and credit goes to

Minister Mzembi and his Zambian counterpart for working hard and demonstrating that the Ministers have thecapacity to organize and host global events.

It is not by coincidence that the African Union has put forward Hon Dr Walter Mzembi as its sole candidate forthe post of UNWTO Secretary General that falls vacant in 2017 with election expected to be held in Spain inMay, 2017. It is interesting to note that in the history of the UNWTO, African has not had an opportunity toprovide a Secretary General while Europe has held the post on three occasions, the Americas once and thecurrent one, Dr Taleb Rifai is from Jordan in the Middle East. It is therefore imperative that in the next electionin May, the world is highly expected to show magnanimity recognizing an unofficial principle of rotation so thatit allows other regions to provide a candidate to the organization going forward. Dr Walter Mzembi that the

African Union have endorsed, is a pragmatic man who comes with his craft competences and his commitmentis undoubted. Over the years, he has demonstrated humility, willingness to learn from the current Secretarygeneral and indeed, has reached out to all the Six UNWTO Regional Commissions that has given him deepinsight of the critical issues that need redress across the globe to make tourism work for everyone. The is an adage that says, charity begins at home and he has shown clear vision and taken practical steps in championing the creation of a common visa in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region by being the fulcrum anchoring the debate and call for seamless travel as a way of facilitating tourism, trade and investment as he says “all things start with travel in the Travel-Travel- Invest matrix.” Over and above that he is an ardent advocate of the “open skies policies” as he is fully aware that 54% of international arrivals realized in 2015, reached their destination by air hence it is critical to prioritize and allow destination accessibility and seamless movement of people as quickly as is possible. His philosophy in opening up not only in Africa, but across the globe is a sound pragmatic proposition that resonates with his vision which ultimately facilitate regional growth of tourism with equity. The Univisa that Dr Mzembi signed allows visitors from 65 countries to travel between Zimbabwe and Zambia using the same document, and the announcement and signing of the agreement was welcomed by the tourism fraternity.

In his remarks, Dr Mzembi said “I am delighted for this privilege to make history. All of us are here because ofour commitment to see a definitive seamless travel between the two countries and indeed, the whole Kavangogreat Vision by the leaders of the two countries to have seamless travel because the Agreement had takentime to be concluded. He said, this will not happen again in the future. He reminded other Ministers presentthat the world is fast becoming a more open global village in terms of travel openness, and key among the enablers is visa liberalization globally and open skies.

According to the Africa Visa Openness Report published by the Africa Development Bank (AfDB) in 2016, Southern Africa was lagging behind in the visa openness index. The same report notes that 75% of countries in the top 20 most visa-open countries are in West Africa and East Africa. It is not by coincidence that the East

Africa Common Tourist Visa involving Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya has seen 25% growth in tourist arrivals in the past year. The three East African countries have popularized their destinations as a collective at Travel Shows, and one good example was at the World Travel Market-2016 held in London. Currently, Rwanda’s leading economic pillar is tourism owing to its visa openness. With Zimbabwe and Zambia back in the fold of increasing their visa openness, the index of the two countries on travel facilitation is likely to improve.

Hon Dr Mzembi reminded people and colleague Ministers present that there was no magic in tourism than opening up the destination. He cited the Christian Bible Isiah 60:11 “Keep thy Gates open, do not close them during the day, do not close them during the night so you may enjoy the wealth of the Gentiles with their Kings in triumphal procession” as the philosophical foundation guiding tourism destinations so that they may enjoy the wealth of other countries. He further reminded delegates of the triumphal processions from 1 Kings 10 (1 -3), and quoted the Queen of Sheba when visiting King Solomon “Arriving at Jerusalem with a very great caravan (convoy) – with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold and precious stones”.

“This is the wealth referred to by Isiah, which many of the tourists who visit destinations carry, arriving with money that they spend in destinations. But, what is key is that the Queen of Sheba went on to endorse the destination reminiscing about her experiences, and she says “The report I heard in my own country about your own achievements and your wisdom is true” said Dr Mzembi.

Manifest to this, is the testimony of the 20 th Session of the UNWTO General Assembly hosted by the two countries, which bid Dr Mzembi together with Zambia were at the forefront and won to host the event in Livingstone and Victoria Falls in 2013 where delegates were surprised and charmed by the Hospitality, the Peace, Security, pristine flora and fauna of the destinations, which today remain a huge competitive edge as far as tourism in the sub-region is concerned. By signing the KAZA Univisa Agreement for a permanent common visa, the two countries have taken giant steps to deliberately open up to boost tourism arrivals.

In Africa, Ghana, has completely opened up to African nationals who receive visas on arrival following thefootsteps of Rwanda that did the same in 2014. The African Union also launched the African Passport in July 2016, Kigali, Rwanda at the 27 th African Union Summit Heads of State and Government Summit, which, at that level, also endorsed Hon Dr Walter Mzembi as its UNWTO Candidate for the post of Secretary General. Thus,visa openness and the move towards a common passport are key milestones that should give Africa hope to integrate. The idea of an Africa with seamless borders is the way to go. Africa is endowed with vast natural resources including wildlife, unrivalled tourism products, minerals and rich soils, but its performance has been fluctuating at a paltry 3-5% according to the UNWTO. If Africa can combine its strengths, it has huge potential to unlock value of the tourism for revenue generation since tourism is a low hanging fruit, and some of the structural reforms needed is destination openness that Hon Dr Mzembi is championing.

During the same meeting, Hon Mzembis said “If we have set our minds on leveraging tourism for rebuildingand recovery of our economies, we must do so unabated. Tourism is the lowest hanging fruit ready for picking.

What is more dangerous? 20-30 people shot in a city every weekend, or one tourist murdered in an entire country? Both are sad cases in our modern world, but the answer here is surprising.

The city is Chicago in the U.S. State Illinois. Travel and tourism and specifically conventions are big business there.

The country is Jordan. A Middle East nation sandwiched in between trouble spots: Palestine, Israel, Syria and Iraq, but in general extremely safe and welcoming to visitors,

In Chicago, 20-30 people get shot every weekend in different incidents. There are no travel warnings against the City or the United States as a country, except a recent watch issued by the Turkish government.

There is Jordan. An economy very much dependent on travel and tourism. A country recognized for its hospitality and excellent tourism infrastructure. A kingdom that is located in a hotspot of the world but managed to remain safe.  A travel destination showcasing thousands of years of history. Tourism is everyone’s  business in a country like Jordan. It’s a lifeline and it has been given priority.

Just before Christmas The United States of America warned it’s citizens, including citizens living in Chicago to travel to Jordan and Egypt. The reason: The Islamic State claimed responsibility on Tuesday for a series of shootings on police and tourists in Jordan over the previous weekend that killed ten people, including a Canadian woman.

Jordan has been an example in a troubled world when it comes to staying out of trouble, specifically when it comes to travel and tourism. This had not changed even after last week’s incident.

Realistically, the chance a tourist would get caught in an incident has about the same odds a tourist gets hit by lightning twice.

The same is true in other countries. A terror attack on tourism last week targeting a Christmas market in Berlin, Germany was terrible, but the chance for a tourist to be caught in a terror attack in Germany is like winning the lottery twice. Days after the attack  Germany look like a destination of widespread terror in the world’s public opinion. This is wrong and it multiplies the desired outcome a terror organization can only hope for.

Tourism is a major foreign currency earner in Jordan and a major part of the economy in the Kingdom. Jordan has an excellent tourism infrastructure, it has trained and educated experts ready to show tourists thousands of years of history. Tourists taste some of the best food in the world and enjoy exploring the many shopping options, the beach in Aqaba or the Dead Sea. Hearing the silence of the desert is what the Beduin guide wants a tourist to “hear” It’s a wonderful experience.

It would be in the interest of countries including the United States to assist the travel and tourism industry in Jordan to function and to expand. Travel warnings should be analyzed and explained by an independent source. Naturally, countries have an obligation towards its citizens, but an international organization like the UNWTO could analyze a warning from a global perspective and come up with an independent and recognized version for the world. UNWTO should take a lead finding a solution within its own system or within its partner network.

The travel and tourism industry creates and maintains jobs for a young generation of Jordanians with great challenges. No one wants Islamic State to recruit frustrated young jobless people in Jordan with no outlook to a better future.

Jordanians are highly trained and motivated and tourism is not only considered a job but a lifestyle and an industry to belong to. Tourism is Peace, and Jordanians know this. His Majesty the King of Jordan has personally supported the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism.

In the United States a young generation often unable to identify where they should belong to join racist motivated gangs, get involved in shootings and violence or become drug addicts. In Jordan, the danger to fall for Islamic extremist is a real danger. It’s in everyone’s interest to keep tourism flourishing and send a message of hope – and a travel warning may have a devastating effect.

Jordanians are protective to tourism and travelers. It makes this country safe and welcoming.

Travel warnings are a bigger threat to the Kingdom than terrorism. Terrorism is present, but it’s even more present in Paris, Nice, Brussels, Berlin or Istanbul. It’s present in a different form in the United States- and it kills more people. In Chicago, dozens of people get shot every weekend, but it’s not called terrorism.

The world needs to work together and find a way to explain the truth and fine print in travel warnings for a concerned traveler.

This article reflects the opinion by Juergen Steinmetz, chairman of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners. Steinmetz participated in a recent UNWTO conference in Jordan, that created the Petra Declaration.

Georgia wants to become the new leader of the United Nations World Tourism Organization. The current UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai will resign in 2017 and so far two candidates came forward wanting to take over the top post he had held for 8 years.

One candidate is from Georgia. He is H.E. Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili, Ambassador of Georgia to the Kingdom of Spain, Permanent Representative of Georgia to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). He laid out his plan for the future of UNWTO under his proposed leadership.

Statement of Intent and Management

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has become an efficient platform providing leadership, guidance and support to the tourism sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide.

Tourism has become the stepping-stone of nations’ economies and has turned into an effective mechanism to fight poverty around the globe. The sector has transformed cultural differences into alliances and has opened opportunities, assumed to have been gone forever.

With the rapid development of the tourism industry, it is of utmost importance for member states, associate and affiliate members, and the UNWTO overall, to maintain a commitment to sustainability and competitiveness. Looking to the future, we have to understand that the choices our nations make today will undoubtedly affect future generations. This is a responsibility that the UNWTO has proudly upheld for numerous years, and will continue to pursue.

Considering the aforementioned and building on the tremendous success of the organization, it is time to usher in a new era of applied initiatives. The UNWTO will put emphasis on concrete projects with tangible outcomes to further support its members in an era of innovation, knowledge-sharing, and entrepreneurship.

FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES AND STRATEGIC CHANGES

The UNWTO has become a staple of success in the tourism sector; the organization has paved the way for achievements of numerous nations, organizations and consequently people. The success stories of the organization have raised its visibility and importance throughout the world as well as increased awareness of its actions, while higher demand for support from the organization has led to increased functions.

Looking ahead, it should be our priority to pursue result-oriented changes and innovations and ensure that the UNWTO further rises to the challenges that countries face on national, regional and global levels.

The tourism sector is changing dynamically; today we are faced with social and cultural phenomena, which are re-shaping the industry, and it is important that we further understand and adapt to these changes. New challenges require new approaches and the UNWTO has to adjust to the upcoming encounters.

In this light, strategic changes need to be implemented on four fronts of the organization:

• Internal
• External
• Socio-economic
• Sustainability.

The aforementioned four undertakings will bring the UNWTO and the tourism industry to new heights of progress, achievement, and visibility.

INTERNAL SHIFTS

Considering that the UNWTO will be moving into a new era of more flexible and pragmatic implementation of projects, the internal workings of the organization will need to focus on the same goals.

The organization will adopt a new dynamic approach to implementing projects and supporting nations on a practical level. With this, the internal staff, alongside their existing tasks, will follow the new goal of helping member states, associate, and affiliate members to learn and take advantage of the offering that the UNWTO presents.

With this, the agenda and work-flow of the UNWTO will also be expanded to further support the aforementioned mission.

EXTERNAL ADJUSTMENTS

The UNWTO will be undertaking a new feat of supporting countries not just on the national and regional level, but will become more approachable to provide guidelines on management and marketing for different types of tourism destinations in order to ensure further growth and competitiveness.

The organization will consequently become a reference point for destination marketing and management organizations, both on national as well as local level.

With this, the UNWTO will continue to support the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, the prime principles to encourage tourism’s socio-economic contribution and manage possible impacts, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

SOCIAL PERSUASION AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS

Within the most recent years, it has become abundantly clear that apart from its direct economic benefits, the tourism sector can serve as an applied and effective mechanism in the fight against poverty worldwide; it has the capability and potential to empower communities and restore hope to those most in need.

In this light, it is our inherent and unwavering priority to continue on this path, to raise social awareness about tourism, persuade communities about the potential of the sector and assist their empowerment.

SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability and protection of the environment have long been at the center of the work of the UNWTO. We have had success with reshaping the 10-Year Framework Program activities to support sustainable policies, actions and practices. Now that we have the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) approved, it marks another substantial step forward.

Although we have had considerable achievements, the issue of sustainable development remains a concern. We have to achieve a higher level of understanding of sustainability and have to exemplify that development is not hindered by sustainable practices or policies and that without sustainability at its core, no development is worth the tradeoff.

In order to achieve the aforementioned strategic objectives, I have identified seven priority issues which will become the focal points of my vision for the next four years.

1. Benefits for the member states, associate and affiliate members

Within the past decade the UNWTO has grown both in popularity and in members. Today, the organization unites 157 countries, 6 associate members and over 500 affiliate members. These members represent the diversity of ideas, resources, challenges and successes of the organization.

Focusing on member states, it is particularly important to understand that nations at various levels of development with regards to the tourism industry are sometimes faced with similar challenges.

Even in cases when challenges posed might be similar or relevant to a group of nations, the solutions presented in each country might be fundamentally different. To this point, the UNWTO needs to dive deeper and identify not only similar challenges; but cases where similar challenges have been resolved in similar environments; thus, presenting nations with the guidelines of practical steps to be undertaken to overcome their barriers.

In order to achieve this goal, alongside the UNWTO, affiliated members of the organization will play a key role thanks to their knowledge, research and practices.

By emphasizing the pragmatic benefits of UNWTO membership, the organization will be able to continue its growth in terms of members and uphold its key role as the frontrunner for tourism.

2. Continued integration with the United Nations

We have seen continued integration of the UNWTO with the agenda of the United Nations; this is a tremendously important process, as it provides the opportunity to present the key concerns, vision and sustainability initiatives on the world platform.

With this, the celebration of 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development has to be viewed as one of the key successes for the industry and the UNWTO. It truly outlines the scope of the sector and will further raise awareness about possibilities and advancements, within the UNWTO, member states, and associate and affiliate members.

With this, we have to consider the unfortunate fact that in today’s world tourists need to be more wary of their travel environment. This is the reason why the UNWTO needs to continue its work to promote safe and seamless travel, and especially elevate its efforts with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). This will further support the integration of tourism into the emergency and security mechanisms; supporting safer and more secure travel practices across the globe. The UNWTO also need to continue supporting initiatives such as the joint campaign “Your Actions Count – Be a Responsible Traveler” launched in 2014, which supported the fight against illegal trafficking in its various forms and relevant issues.

Alongside other undertakings, we have to once again focus on pragmatic projects, and I truly believe that the declaration of 2018 as the European Year of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, and similar initiatives that involve concrete benefits, value and support, are the types of activities that will bring forward new successes for the UNWTO.

3. Enhancements in technology and its effects on tourism

We have to take into account continuous and dynamic development of technology in tourism. This process will only accelerate in the future, and as social behavior follows new trends, we will be faced with a new playfield. I strongly believe that cooperation and knowledge sharing is the only way we will have an opportunity to better understand the future travel behaviors and patterns.

The technology of today is already driving masses to new destinations, sometimes to places rarely explored by travelers, thus we have to seize this opportunity and create new destination management and marketing models to take advantage of these new platforms and support competitiveness, rather than dismissing their impact.

4. New dimension of support on local level

We are more aware of tourism’s effects and relations to other sectors than we have ever been before. We understand the delicate cohesion between local level destination marketing and management to the overall success and development of the tourism industry in nations. We are aware of the particularities and challenges of various destinations, and at the same time, we understand the reasoning behind successes and “best practices” of other destinations.

Considering the aforementioned, we need to enter a new phase of analyzing local level destination marketing and management practices. The UNWTO will not only focus on nations’ competitiveness regionally and globally, but will also have to place emphasis on local-level development. The UNWTO’s key role in this regard will be to analyze similar local level destination cases, not only in terms of successful practices, but also by identifying success stories in similar economic, social, environmental and tourism development level cases.

Juergen T. Steinmetz, chairman of the International Coalition of Tourism Partner issued the following statement:

“Yesterday we were all Jordanians, today we’re all Berliners.”

On behalf of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners, I would like to extend our sympathy and condolences to the victims and their loved ones involved in yesterday’s criminal attack in Jordan, and today in Berlin. Both incidents were senseless acts by disguised criminals aimed to disable the world’s largest industry: Travel and Tourism.

It took heroes like Jordanian law enforcement to prevent more harm, and it will take all of us, our community of travel and tourism professionals, to take leadership and encourage our clients and the public to consider traveling to amazing places including Berlin, Jordan, Egypt, Istanbul, Brussels, Nice, Paris, Kenya, Tunisia, and New York.

You may not see this in the headlines, but everything possible is being done in these great destinations and most other parts of the world to keep travelers safe.

Terror attacks make headlines, but we should not forget the proportion of criminal incidents a tourist could fall victim to, compared to a billion people traveling each year. The world, including those places that had been randomly hit by widely-publicized headlines, are safe and will remain safe.

In other places, criminal acts are becoming routine. Dozens are getting killed in Chicago every week by gunshots, and yet tourism, meetings, and conventions in the Windy City are booming.

Don’t let a handful of fanatics and criminals alter our way of life. Travel and Tourism is a contributor to peace and understanding. Travel and Tourism translate to jobs and prosperity for 10% of the world’s population. This makes our industry one of the largest economic players. Travel and Tourism must and will remain resilient.

Berlin is a great city, and Germany will remain a welcoming country and a model for this troubled world. Islam is a peaceful religion. The same counts for Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism. Not believing in a particular God, doesn’t mean believing in doing harm.

However, if you think hate and corporal punishment and randomly killing children, tourists, and old people attending a Christmas Market will get you to Heaven or Nirvana or the like, you will be in for a terrible reality. The reality is you are simply a criminal, and disrespectful of human life.

President Kennedy once said: “We are all Berliners!” And this becomes a true statement once again today.

The International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) is a grassroots Travel & Tourism coalition of destinations and stakeholders.

Green Growth + Quality = Business

For more information on ICTP and how to join members in 131 countries without any cost, please visit ictp.travel

The competition to become the new Secretary General of UNWTO is on. In the ring is the Hon. Walter Mzembi from Zimbabwe and the Hon. Zurab Pololikashvili from Georgia.

The outspoken Zimbabwe Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Walter Mzembi has been on a global campaign traveling the world back and forth. He has been doing this for many months seeking support for his candidacy.  He got the endorsement of the African Union and was promised support from countries in many different regions of the globe.

Mzembi has been promoting a fresh new and global vision for UNWTO talking to heads of state, to ambassadors and ministers wherever he finds an opportunity. The Georgian candidate shows a more local vision putting economic opportunities for his country in the foreground.

The Georgian candidate shows a more local vision putting economic opportunities for his country in the foreground. He has not responded to interview requests by eTN.  Mzembi leaves no opportunity out to talk to media everywhere and has his PR team working hard on his case.

Mzembi leaves no opportunity out to talk to media  and has his PR team working hard to get press coverage as a global leader.

The new and latest candidate to compete for the highest global post in travel and tourism is the Georgian Ambassador to Madrid, Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili. An event was held in Madrid this week.  The event was attended by Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze and the current Secretary General of the UNWTO  Taleb Rifai. 

It was the first public lobbying by the Georgian candidate, and he put up a more national and regional approach compared to Mzembi who has been lobbying tireless for many months on a truly global platform to become Secretary Genera for UNWTO.

At the Georgian event in Madrid, the current UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai addresses the audience. The audience included high-level members of the diplomatic corps representing their countries in the Spanish capital.

UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai said:

“I think it’s very important, because this is the first of the events to open the opportunity for people to present themselves for candidature, and I think the presence of the Foreign Minister from Georgia who is here with us today and also the number of people who are here today, the variety of ambassadors that are represented in this room, it is very significant, and it is a very important sign.

Today’s event also is excellent in the sense that it gave an opportunity for Georgia’s Ambassador Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili  to present some of his thoughts and some of his ideas.

I have been Secretary-General of this organization for the last 7 or 8 years, and it’s coming to an end. My only hope is that this position would be continued by a good candidate and a candidate that can take this organization to an even higher level than it is now. That’s why I’m very particularly happy to be here tonight witnessing the introduction of a new candidate.”

Mikhail Janelidze – The Minister of foreign Affairs of Georgia said:

Georgia is given the chance to bit for this high position in the UN and in UNWTO, a specialized agency.

We see the tourism sector as a very important industry and an opportunity for Georgia. Our country has been actively involved in UNWTO organized projects in Georgia.

For Georgia to be able to nominate a candidate to lead the UNWTO shows our commitment and priority we put on tourism in our country.

With UNWTO based in Madrid, Madrid is considered the capital of tourism. Therefore today we invited high – ranking guests representing UNWTO member countries in Spain to our event here.

Exactly this is the kind of vision Zurab Pololikashvili has as a candidate for this important position.”

Giorgi Chogovadze – the Head of Georgian National Tourism Administration added: “Let me remind you that tourism is not only important in Georgia but is important also all over the world is an important economic sector. If our Georgian candidate will win, he will not only support the Georgian tourism sector but all other sectors of our country, and the world.
The candidate Hon. Zurab Pololikashvili – Ambassador of Georgia to Spain finally added in promoting his candidacy:  “Today was a very important day for me. Today is the official launch event for my candidacy to become the next Secretary General of UNWO. I invited the diplomatic corp in the Spanish capital and key members of the diplomatic circle tonight.  I am very grateful to our Foreign minister.  I feel his huge support every day.

I also feel the support of our entire government.  We had a similar event several weeks ago in Tbilisi, Georgia. It was attended by our Prime Minister, and we showed the audience what we are planning and what our vision is for the future. I think this is a step forward. My victory would not only be a big achievement for me but also for the entire region. It would be a victory for our neighbors, as well as for Eastern Europe. To think even further we believe that I’ll be a good European candidate. For me, it is a great honor, an honor for our region and the entire European continent.”

The competition could get interesting. While Mzembi leaves out no opportunity to lay out his vision to the global media, Pololikashvili has been more reserved to talk to the press.

The 2015 Paris Accords set in train, a 3-decade, low carbon transformation, based on widespread recognition that “Climate Change is existential”. This is the reason for the creation of SUN – the Strong Universal Network – as an essential movement of increasingly engaged industry, government and civil society partners – focussed on climate resilience as a priority. We are creating a platform for tracking, focussing and sharing climate response innovation as it intersects with travel.

To introduce SUN to the Travel & Tourism sector, we are proud to present “Green Santa” – a Climate Change primer in the form of a comic book. Co-authored by Felix Dodds, one of the founders of SUN and issued under the auspices of the UN Secretary General this 24-page fun document is designed to appeal to adults as well as kids. It explains the reasons why Climate Change is existential and the steps we need to take now in response.

Copies can be downloaded from www.thesunprogram.com where you can also find more background on SUN, our goals and how to engage.

Supported by:

London, 7 December 2016

Paris is the primary attraction in the principal destination in Europe. The publicity associated with the events of 2015 and 2016 have led to a softening of its appeal in such long haul origin markets as the US, Japan and China. Many visitors who would normally have come have chosen not to do so: amidst a decline of 8% of international arrivals in Paris, the Chinese and Japanese have seen shortfalls as high as 25%[1].

This has a significance beyond France. “Our members sell Europe as a destination all over the world,” said Mario Bodini, Chairman of ETOA. “Paris is a central element of any European tourist offer: if there is a “best seller” on the long-haul markets, it is a joint package of London and Paris. That Paris has suffered a decline in bookings in 2016 has impacted demand throughout Europe.”

According to Paul Wagner, Director of Travel Plaza (JTB), “Paris is the main gateway to Europe for a large number of long-haul markets. It is through France that our clients visit the UK, Benelux, Germany, Italy and Spain. The magic of Paris itself is the major asset of many European programs and earlier these markets return to Paris in their usual number, the faster the whole of Western Europe will rebound from the lull of 2016. Paris is the principal jewel for the European sector of our group.” 

The industry is making real efforts to turn this situation around. “France has always been a top destination for Kuoni” said Dalila Belouchat, the Senior Contracts Manager “so we have redoubled our efforts offering exclusive new products to our sales offices around the world. All the contract managers in Asia have met directly with the Asian agents to boost this business. I spent a week in Japan to make a presentation about France to our vendors and to meet our Japanese tour operators. I am sure the business will return to France in 2017: we already have series bookings. This is a strong and positive signal.”

There are positive signs that similar initiatives are working. Helping this has been a real willingness in France to work with the trade. Andrew Guthrie, Director of Purchasing and Operations at JacTravel, notes that “despite the latest setbacks, the level of group requests and confirmed groups for France is up by 20% in 2017 on 2016. This is largely due to the excellent cooperation we receive from our main French suppliers today.”

Tom Jenkins, CEO of ETOA, added “We have been here before. Much of the damage caused by terrorists lies in the response to them, and how we handle that reaction. Confidence always returns, particularly for a destination as appealing as Paris.  It was to assert this and to recognise the  connectivity of European tourism, that we were delighted to welcome the Moulin Rouge to our annual dinner in London this year. “