WTTC statement following Hurricane Matthew devastation in Haiti
David Scowsill, President & CEO, World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), said: ?Our thoughts are with the people of Haiti, who once again find themselves victim of a natural disaster, this time in the form of Hurricane Matthew. Many people have died or been injured. Our hearts go out to the families of those affected.
It is particularly distressing to see that Haiti has been hit again, just as the country was finally recovering from the devastation caused by the earthquake in 2010.
Haiti is a beautiful country with enormous future potential. On behalf of the entire Travel & Tourism sector we stand by Haiti, as it comes to terms with this latest terrible disaster.?
UNWTO Secretary-General congratulates Zambia’s new Minister of Tourism and Arts
UNWTO Secretary-General Dr Taleb Rifai has congratulated the newly appointed Minister of Tourism and Arts Hon. Charles Romel Banda MP.
In his personal congratulatory letter dated 05th October, 2016 and made available to Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the UNWTO H.E Amb. Humphrey Chilu Chibanda. Dr Rifai conveyed his sincere congratulations and wished the Hon. Minister every success and personal satisfaction in his new and important portfolio.
The UNWTO Chief retaliated the fact that Zambia is a highly active member of the Organisation, which successfully co-hosted the twentieth General Assembly in Victoria Falls in August 2013.
The Secretary General has stated that he is confident that the tourism industry of Zambia will further develop and grow for the benefit of the local population under the minister’s leadership. Dr Rifai noted that Zambia boasts of a vast and diverse landscape along with a rich culture and hospitality of its people, and he believes that the excellent relationship between Zambia and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) will continue to strengthen.
Furthermore, Dr Rifai has observed that given that Zambia is a member of Executive Council, he looks forward to personally meeting with the Hon. Minister at the forthcoming coming 104th Executive Council Session to take place in Luxor, Egypt from the 30 October-1 November 2016.
Dr Rifai has assured the new Minister of his and the secretariat’s assistance towards Zambia and was looking forward to welcoming the Minister at the UNWTO Headquarters at for a familiarization visit at his earliest and convenient time.
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Armenia hosts the 38th Plenary Session of the UNWTO Affiliate Members
The 38th Plenary Session of the UNWTO Affiliate Members took place in Yerevan, Armenia between 1 and 4 October. The meeting discussed the latest tourism trends, public-private collaboration and promoting good practices in the sector. The event was held in parallel with the 43rd UNWTO Affiliate Members Board meeting, which adopted the Affiliate Members 2017 Action Plan.
This year’s session comprised debates on the key issues shaping the 2017 Action Plan: the future of tourism, cultural tourism, city tourism and the 2017 International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.
“It is an honour to host the 38th Affiliate Members Plenary Session and to welcome all participants to Armenia. Armenia boasts an incredibly rich history and varied traditions and it is with great pride that we share them with visitors. The key to a peaceful future are these kinds of intercultural exchanges and dialogue, promoting understanding and friendship as well as public and private partnerships” underlined Mr. Garegin Melkonyan, First Deputy Minister of Economy of Armenia.
During the meeting, Affiliate Members shared information on their role, goals, new projects, challenges and expectations in the context of public-private collaboration and global tourism.
“This meeting is very significant as it is held at a crucial time in the development of tourism. The sector is dealing with numerous exogenous shocks, including seismic economic changes and terror, which have heightened uncertainty and invite serious consideration on possible solutions. Tourism has a pivotal role to play in tackling these global problems as one of the most inclusive and resilient sectors in the world,” said Edmund Bartlett, Chairman of the Board of the Affiliate Members, Representative of Consolidated Tourism and Investment Consultants Limited (CTICO).
“We are very pleased to be meeting in Armenia. Armenia is one of many examples of great potential in tourism; it holds extraordinary natural assets and unique cultural diversity and traditions, and this immense potential has started to translate into strong tourism results,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai.
The event also featured three inspirational lectures by recognized experts:
– The Future of Tourism, by Professor Eduardo Fallos-Solá, Ulysses Foundation
– Marketing Innovation in Tourism, by Professor Luiz Moutinho, DCU Business School, Dublin City University, Ireland
– New Niches in Cultural Tourism: the Archaeoastronimical Context, by Dr. Clive Ruggles, University of Leicester, United Kingdom
The 500 UNWTO Affiliate Members represents the private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations and local tourism authorities.