Opinion – Page 144 – Worldtourism Wire

Zimbabwe moving to secure the next UNWTO Secretary General position

Written by George Taylor, March 24, 2016

Zimbabwe’s minister of Tourism H.E. Walter Mzembi is trying to secure his move to become the next Secretary General of the UNWTO (United Nation World Tourism Organization) The 7th meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) of ministers responsible for Tourism was held in Gaborone, Botswana next week, March 14-15, 2016. The Council endorsed…

Security, Open Borders and Travelism – Time for a Reality Check!

Written by George Taylor, March 23, 2016

Brussels- Sitting at my desk, watching continuous news bulletins on the bombs at our airport and on our metro, makes me focus a little more on what has happened at an increasing number of destinations since 5 aircraft were hijacked at the same time in 1970 and how as a young man, I worked with…

Appeal for ministers of tourism not to be by-standers in assault on travel industry

Written by George Taylor, March 22, 2016

The Belgium terrorist attack brings Presidents and Heads of States together as they send messages of condolence to the Kingdom of Belgium Another sad day for the Community of Nations as the world hears of more bomb blasts now labeled Acts of Terror. Below is a message sent by President James Michel of the Seychelles to…

2050 No-Carbon-Aviation “Moon-shot” for Green Growth

Written by George Taylor, March 21, 2016

Brussels / Hawaii / Seychelles – In a Keynote address to the CAPA Aviation Summit, Professor Geoffrey Lipman,President of ICTP (International Coalition of Tourism Partners), focused on what he called “the new Global Sustainability Agenda”, the existential nature of Climate Change and a long-term vision of no-carbon aviation. He referenced connected 2015 Heads of State Summits on Development…

Tourism and Security – the situation needs our leaders attention

Written by George Taylor, March 20, 2016

Seychelles Minister of Tourism Alain St.Ange added this commentary. “ In Madrid as FITUR 2016 got underway a Tourism Ministerial meeting was called by Tabel Rifai, the Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) to discuss tourism and security. The idea for the Ministers of Tourism to stop being bye-standers anymore when…

UNWTO on child exploitation: Nothing more than lip service?

Written by George Taylor, March 5, 2016

Tourism leaders around the world are pledging support to this initiative, and many voices of support have been heard over several years by a large contingency of world leaders and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Alain St.Ange, the outspoken Seychelles Minister of Tourism and Culture, talked with UNWTO Wire on behalf of the…

UNWTO Taleb Rifai says no to another term – who will be the next Secretary General?

Written by George Taylor, February 23, 2016

Secretary General Taleb Rifai has been a dependable fixture with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for nearly a decade. When you hear the title of UNWTO Secretary General, his name and face automatically comes to mind. Taleb became the Secretary General in March 2009, serving before that as the Deputy Secretary General of…