I am a fugitive, but I’m touched: Zimbabwe Foreign Minister Walter Mzembi speaks to eTN
Dr. Walter Mzembi, Foreign Minister of Zimbabwe is a fugitive. In response and within hours the Global Tourism Family is coming together today after a military intervention in Zimbabwe caused confusion, arrests, and uncertainty.
The current foreign minister for Zimbabwe had the post of the Tourism Ministry for many years.
From an undisclosed location Minister Mzembi told eTN publisher Juergen Steinmetz:
“I just got a surprise solidarity call from UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai and Hon Charles Banda of Zambia. I am touched by the expression of empathy and sympathy for my well-being and that of my family under these difficult circumstances. It really got to the bottom of my heart that a country I carried the cross for most recently in the UNWTO elections could be seeking to create a fugitive out of me! I trust that wisdom will prevail in the name of diplomacy to amicably end this crisis to the satisfaction of all.”
In the meantime the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) calls for support for the Hon. Dr Walter Mzembi, Foreign Minister of Zimbabwe.
ICTP is a non-political organization promoting Green Growth and Quality equals business.
eTN President Professor Geoffrey Lipman said: “We are watching current events in Zimbabwe, independently and objectively, with no partisan interest.
However, we do know those strange things happen in uncertain times and we want to go on record for the well being of Walter Mzembi – until recently a very active Tourism Minister and latterly Foreign Minister of Zimbabwe.
We have known and admired Dr. Mzembi for years and have watched as he has traveled the globe representing his country with skill, dignity, and pride, most recently in an honorable quest for Secretary General of UNWTO.
We call on the global travel community to join us in our best wishes and support for our friend Walter and his family.”
The founder and president of the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism, Mr. Louis D’Amore also related his concern and wishes for the Mzembi family.
Mzembi responded: “I am really touched.”
World Travel & Tourism Council: Top 10 fastest growing tourism cities are all in Asia
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has launched the new city tourism impact data, which shows that the world’s top ten fastest growing tourism cities are all in Asia. Asia Pacific City Travel & Tourism Impact is one of a series of reports by WTTC, which looks at the contribution of Travel & Tourism to city economies and job creation. The study covers 65 cities, 21 of which are in Asia Pacific. The data shows that Asian cities are at the forefront of tourism growth over the next ten years.
Chongqing (14% growth per year) heads the table, followed by Guangzhou (13.1%), Shanghai (12.8%) and Beijing (12%). The other cities on the top ten list are Chengdu (11.2%), Manila (10.9%), Delhi (10.8%), Shenzhen (10.7%), Kuala Lumpur (10.1%) and Jakarta (10%). With the world average growth rate at 4% per year, and Asia Pacific at 5.8%, these cities are significantly outpacing both the regional and global average. Asia Pacific also includes some of the world’s largest Travel & Tourism cities. Shanghai, with an annual tourism GDP contribution of US$30 billion is the largest in the world; followed by Beijing (US$29 billion). Tokyo (US$20 billion) is ranked 6th in the world.
Shanghai and Beijing together account for 21% of China’s Travel & Tourism economic impact (GDP), whereas Tokyo alone accounts for 18% of Japan’s total. The dominance of the Chinese market is clear, both in terms of future growth and overall size and as a main source market for destinations in the wider Asia Pacific region. The success of Chinese cities is largely driven by domestic business (as high as 94.5% of spend in Chongqing is domestic), and the Chinese outbound market is key for neighboring cities such as Tokyo (24% of spend is Chinese, the largest market) and Bangkok (38%).
Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC said “The power of Asian cities when it comes to driving the Travel & Tourism sector is clear to see in this new data. However, not only do these cities contribute significantly to their country’s tourism sector, tourism is an important generator of economic growth and jobs within the cities themselves. With this level of forecast growth, the importance of investment in long term planning, infrastructure and sustainable public policies cannot be underestimated. It is vital that city authorities understand the economic impact of Travel & Tourism, GDP and employment contribution, and not just visitor arrivals, as they seek to develop new products and opportunities to increase traveler spend and sustainable growth.
WTTC has invested in this new research and data to support them in this ambition. Other highlights from the report include: Singapore’s Travel & Tourism has doubled in the past ten years, to a total of US$12.4 billion in 2016 and supporting 164,000 jobs. Tourism in Bangkok generates US$18.2 billion for the city each year, representing 10% of the city’s economy and 50% of Thailand’s Travel & Tourism. Delhi and Mumbai together generate over 1 million tourism jobs, 10% of India’s total tourism employment. Macau is the most tourism intensive city in Asia Pacific with 27% of its economy a direct result of tourism spend. Eight cities in the study contribute more than 25% of their country’s Travel & Tourism economy: Auckland, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Seoul and Sydney.
Jamaica conference to address the role of tourism in employment creation and inclusive growth
UNWTO, the Government of Jamaica, the World Bank Group and the Inter-American Development Bank will co-host a Conference on Jobs and Inclusive Growth on 27-29 November in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Under the theme ‘Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism’, the event will assess and discuss the future of the sector in the Caribbean, particularly in view of the impacts of natural disasters such as the recent hurricane Irma.
The summit aims at identifying successful models and future initiatives of public-private partnerships (PPPs) that will contribute to sustainable tourism development globally. It will also serve as a platform for leaders from the tourism sector, along with governments, donors and development and finance organizations, to put in place an international road map to promote inclusive economic and social development through tourism.
The Conference will commence with an introductory session on the future of tourism in the Caribbean region.
“Tourism has the potential to contribute to all 17 Sustainable Development Goals, yet we can only achieve our common objectives if we build strong partnerships. The Jamaica Conference will be a milestone in setting a new framework for collaboration in the promotion of sustainable tourism and an important legacy of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017” said UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai.
Over 100 speakers will share their experience and knowledge during the three-day event.
The first day will cover themes such as:
– Tourism and Sustainability – Threats, Risks, Opportunities and Challenges
– Current Trends in Indigenous Tourism
– Talent Development and Human Capital Trends
– Community Tourism
– Tourism Networks: Creating Linkages, Reducing Leakages
– Science, Technology and Innovation in Tourism and
– Caribbean Tourism
On the second day, plenary sessions will guide the discussions. The first will focus on ‘Collaborating for Success – Public/Private Engagement Mechanisms for Tourism Development and Growth’, where ministers and CEOs will share their experiences on the keys, pitfalls and myths to successful collaboration between the public and private sector on tourism development. Collaboration and partnership models in such areas as infrastructure, development finance, large-scale asset management and service delivery will be addressed extensively.
The second round table will serve to facilitate exchanges by sector leaders on the emerging trends and predicted key drivers of destination development over the next ten years. Emphasis will be placed on how sustainable tourism partnerships can contribute to job creation, connectivity and inclusive growth.
The last day of the conference will look into the issues of:
– Technical Assistance and Financing,
– Donor Funded Programs that Balance Scale, Sustainability and Inclusion,
– Successful Models of Destination Management;
– Education, Training & Innovation and
– Cozumel – Partnerships in Action.
The Conference is organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Ministry of Tourism of Jamaica, the World Bank Group and the Inter-American Development Bank, in collaboration with the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Chemonics International and the George Washington University.