All quiet at UNWTO: Uruguays tourism minister has a suggestion on Child Protection
It remains all quiet at the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in Madrid. So quiet, that reaching out to media relations at the agency has become a challenge and is met with silence when it comes to eTN. Is it all about speaking out on UNWTO last minute missing outreach at ITB Berlin on child protection?
After UNWTO unexpectedly canceled the traditional yearly meeting of the Executive Task Group for Child Protection, this wire reached out to members of this group. The overall response was a disappointment by many of the participants and UNWTO member countries, but there was also hope.
The good news is, protecting children that are abused and trafficked through tourism remains a priority in many countries and for many organizations. This was also an assurance mentioned by UNWTO in the letter to the executive task group member when canceling the ITB Berlin meeting.
In a letter received by this wire from Uruguay by Dr. Magdalena Montero, Mr. Jorge Morandeira, leaders of the Regional Action Group of the Americas (GARA), echoed the regret all members of this group had about the unknown cancellation of their yearly ITB meeting.
The message said : “But we must indicate that although face-to-face meetings are essential to promote the prevention of these crimes, the new technologies allow the interconnection through video conferences in different supports, which in some measure supplement the face-to-face meetings and are a measure of savings for our economies, always so in need of funds. In our region, we hold monthly video conferences, we believe it would be a good measure that could be imitated at the level of these meetings held in Berlin.”
“This is an excellent point,” said Juergen Steinmetz, publisher of this wire and UNWTO Child Protection Executive Task Group member. “I will ask UNWTO to facilitate such video meetings. Hopefully, this would be worth a response.”
The Uruguay Minister told this wire: “We would like to inform you that on the occasion of a meeting of Minister Kechichian with the Secretary-General of the UNWTO, Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili, within the framework of FITUR in Madrid, the issue of prevention was discussed, and it was agreed that it will be one of the topics to be discussed at the next meeting of the UNWTO Commission of America, the 63rd meeting, which will be held in Asunción Paraguay on April 12 and 13. For this, we are working with the National Secretary of Tourism Senator of Paraguay and with the UNWTO. And it will be one of the topics that will be discussed in the international seminar.”
So far, however, the members of the UNWTO task group were not invited or informed about such plans.
As confirmed to this wire by ECPAT, the ECPAT World Summit set for the month of June in Colombia will be another global platform to discuss this issue.
Dr. Magdalena Montero and Mr. Jorge Morandeira representing the Regional Action Group of the Americas (GARA) in Uruguay acknowledged: “The protection of children is an issue that challenges us all, and for prevention, we are working from our respective responsibilities. Best regards, and we are at your service from the Executive Secretary of GARA.”
Steinmetz said: “The idea of a frequent video or phone meetings is something I would support. It remains that canceling public outreach at a global travel industry event at the upcoming ITBnext month sends the wrong message to our global travel and tourism communities, and the wrong message to the traveling public. It leaves those that wanted to share their yearly activities and showcase their initiatives and challenges to the ITB audience in the dark.”
“As a SKAL member, I applaud the initiative by SKAL Germany to include the signing of The Code at the ITB gettogether.”
“Protecting children remains very much alive in the travel and tourism world, and every responsible member of the global travel and tourism industry should make child protection a priority. UNWTO is supposed to be the leader in our industry, and I remain hopeful they will come around and show this leadership and set a positive example and guidance for our industry”, said Steinmetz.” As a UNWTO member state, the minister of tourism in Uruguay is setting this example today.”
European Tourism 2017: Fantastic Results
BRUSSELS, February 13, 2018 —
Europe welcomed 671 million international tourist arrivals in 2017, an outstanding 8% growth compared to 2016 (+2%). Europe has consolidated, for the eight consecutive year, its position as the leading destination worldwide.
According to the latest European Travel Commission’s “European Tourism 2017-Trends & Prospects”, regional expansion was supported by the economic growth in major source markets and the recovery of destinations previously affected by security concerns. Almost all monitored destinations saw increases in tourist arrivals with more than a half growing in excess of 10%.
“The upturn in the global economy paves the way to reorient European and national policy to support the drivers of tourism growth, promote long-term sustainable development and be a more effective catalyst for job creation in Europe,” said Eduardo Santander, Executive Director of ETC.
Turkey (+28%) experienced an impressive rebound in visitor arrivals with growth largely driven by Russian outbound flows (+465.2%). Iceland (+24%), the fastest growing destination since 2012, showed robust results while its government considers measures to address “over tourism”.
Destinations in Southern/Mediterranean Europe Montenegro (+19%), Serbia (+18%) Malta (+16%), Slovenia and Cyprus (both +15%) also boosted growth and have proved their success in overcoming seasonality. Finland (+14%) enjoyed a solid increase fuelled by Chinese and Indian arrivals. Established summer destinations Croatia (+14%), Portugal (+12%) and Spain (+9%) also saw healthy growth. In Spain political tensions in Catalonia seem not have weighed down tourism demand while improved air connectivity continues to underpin Portugal’s strong performance.
Strengthening Economic Conditions in Key Source Markets Boost European Tourism Demand
Growth from the UK largely continued despite a weakened Pound with several destinations posting double-digit increases. France and Germany continued to be a source of notable arrivals growth for several European destinations aided by encouraging economic conditions that support private consumption.
Russian outbound travel has picked up following years of declines. All but one reporting destinations enjoyed a strong rebound in arrivals from this market. Despite some recent softening, a stronger US dollar and competitive air fares contributed to growth in tourist arrivals from the US, up +12% in 2017 compared to 2016. In China improved air connectivity and its expanding middle class continue to drive travel demand. In 2017, Europe saw a remarkable 16% increase from China, compared to the flat growth in 2016.
Fernando Hierro, new UNWTO Ambassador for Responsible Tourism
International football star Fernando Hierro has been named Ambassador for Responsible Tourism in a meeting held today at the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), with its Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili.
“As tourists, each of us can change the world if we act responsibly with regard to the places, the people and the cultures we visit. I feel part of this team and I support the World Tourism Organization in its efforts to ensure that tourism benefits everyone,” said Hierro upon accepting the distinction from UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili.
Fernando Hierro’s legacy is closely associated with Real Madrid, a team with which he played more than 600 matches. Over his career, he won five Spanish La Liga titles, five Spanish Super Cups, the Copa del Rey, three UEFA Champions League titles and two Intercontinental Cups, among others. As part of the national team of Spain, he played 89 matches and participated in the World Cup in 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002 and in the UEFA European Championship in 1996 and 2000. He is currently the sports director of the Royal Spanish Football Federation.
“Fernando is an exceptional athlete and an example of personal integrity, and as a friend of the UNWTO, he will help us promote the positive values and real benefits that tourism can represent,” said Zurab Pololikashvili.
Fernando Hierro thus joins Vicente del Bosque, the legendary Spanish football coach, who was named Ambassador for Responsible Tourism last 17 January during the annual UNWTO Awards for Tourism Innovation.
UNWTO’s decision for ITB is not without victims: Children abused through tourism
The activities of the World Tourism Network on Child Protection are co-ordinated by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretariat and monitored by an Executive Committee established in November 2000. At least members of this executive commettee thought this was the case.
The World Tourism Network on Child Protection is an open-ended network featuring the multi-stakeholder participation of a range of tourism stakeholders, from governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to tourism industry groups and media associations. Originally formed in 1997, since 2007 its mandate has been to prevent all forms of youth exploitation in the tourism sector (i.e. sexual exploitation, child labor and child trafficking).
This executive committee was not consulted when on February 6, 2018 Marina Diotallevi, head of Ethics and Social Responsibility of UNWTO informed the same members in a letter saying, the Secretariat is currently immersed in the process of revising the approach and strategy given to UNWTO World Tourism Network on Child Protection in order to reinforce its effectiveness and scope.
This is all a good approach, but the next sentence in the letter saying: ”For this reason, we are envisaging a new formula for this activity, it has been decided not to carry out the meeting of the UNWTO World Tourism Network on Child Protection, or its Executive Committee, in March 2018 at ITB Berlin as customary.
Change of the system is long overdue and good. Juergen Steinmetz, publisher of this newswire and chairman of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) has been a decade-long member of the committee and many times openly voiced his criticism and concern. Today he said: “ This move by the new UNWTO leadership is very surprising and disrespectful to the dedicated members of our executive committee. It would have been great to use the time everyone had planned for this important annual meeting in Berlin to discuss a new approach going forward. It would have been even better if the new Secretary General could have shown some personal interest and attend such a meeting. Instead of attending he canceled this meeting altogether.”
“Dictating a cancellation of this meeting without the input of the very same executive committee that is in charge of monitoring Child Protection activities at UNWTO is outrageous. Every year we show good practices at our public event at ITB. Not giving this exposure and this chance for those that had prepared all year to speak at the event at ITB is more than disappointing. Not given countries, organizations meeting in Berlin from around the globe to engage and discuss this widespread problem of child abuse in tourism is scandalous. “
When Steinmetz asked Dorothy Rozga, Executive Director of ECPAT International the response was.: “ I am trying to understand what is behind the decision. There may be more to this than meets the eye.” ECPAT is an essential member of the UNWTO Executive committee and an authority in the world when it comes to child protection.
A scene of the past?
ECPAT’s 102 members in 93 countries have one common mission: To eliminate the sexual exploitation of children. ECPAT was recently honored by INTERPOL for fighting sexual exploitation of children.
Dorothy Rozga was a speaker at the UNWTO General Assembly in September 2017, conducted in Chengdu, China. This was organized by former UNWTO Secretary General Dr. Taleb Rifai.
Dr. Rifai had said: There is a bright and black side to tourism; we need to recognize the black side exists and address it with no shame. We need zero tolerance to any form of child exploitation. We cannot allow the tourism infrastructure to be used for this and shouldn’t have any issues in exposing such situations.”
As of January 1, 2018, a new person is running the UNWTO as secretary general. This person is Zurab Pololikashvili, the former Georgian Ambassador to Spain.
From the minute Mr. Pololikasvili took over communication with UNWTO became a challenge for this publication and most likely for many others, including for some in the UNWTO leadership like the members of the Executive committee for child protection.
A tourism minister who talked to eTN without wanting to be named thought this could be a move to eliminate critical media like eTurboNews or WorldTourismWire to be part of the UNWTO machinery. “I bet there will be no further meetings of the same executive committee.”
Several requests to UNWTO public relations to get an explanation why the ITB meeting was canceled without input by the committee remain unresponded to.
It’s not the only mystery these days at UNWTO in Madrid. Decisions on who is actually leading the organization are remaining a secret and announcements are circulated after weeks of a delay.
The Child Protection Network’s meetings were held annually at the ITB trade and travel show in Berlin. The 3-hour event always served as a platform for key actors to exchange experiences and best practices, present awareness-raising materials, and capacity building tools, and promote the adoption of professional codes of conduct or other responsible practices in line with the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism.
Carol Bellamy, Chair of the (UNWTO) World Network on Child Protection explained in a 2013 interview:
Here is what happened last year in March 2017.
The 2017 meeting was chaired by Carol Bellamy
Attending:
Governments
H.E. Najib Balala, Minister of Tourism of Kenya
Widad Sherman, Chief of Staff, Ministry of Tourism, Kenya
Tokiaritefy Rabeson, General Director of Tourism Development, Ministry of Tourism, Madagascar
Khin Than Win, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, Myanmar
Zeyar Myo Aung, Director, Tourism Promotion, Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, Myanmar
Magdalena Montero, Adviser to the Minister of Tourism of Uruguay and Representative of the Regional Task Force for the Protection of Children in Travel and Tourism of the Americas (GARA)
Law Enforcement
Mohamed Basheer, Chief Inspector, Head of Family and Child Protection Department, Maldives Police Service
Private sector
Arnaud Herrmann, VP Sustainable Development, Accor Hotels
Andreas Mueseler, Chairman of the Sustainability Committee, German Travel Association (DRV)
Nikki White, Head of Destinations and Sustainability, ABTA
Elise Allart, Manager of Sustainable Development, TUI Benelux & TUI Group 2
Civil Society/NGOs
Joanna Rubinstein, President & CEO, World Childhood Foundation USA
Dorothy Rozga, Executive Director, ECPAT International
Rosa Martha Brown, President and Founder of Infantia Foundation & International Federation of Executive Women in Travel (FIASEET), Mexico
Media
Juergen Steinmetz, Publisher and President, eTurboNews
International Organizations
Beth Verhey, Senior Advisor, Children’s Rights and Business, UNICEF
Simon Steyne, Senior Adviser of the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, ILO
UNWTO Secretariat
Márcio Favilla L. de Paula, Executive Director
Marina Diotallevi, Head, Ethics and Social Responsibility Programme
Igor Stefanovic, Senior Programme Assistant, Ethics and Social Responsibility
Observer
Ms. Alice Akunga, Country Representative, UNICEF Maldives
After welcoming remarks by Márcio Favilla L. de Paula, Executive Director, UNWTO, discussed was the upcoming special session at ITB 2017 entitled; Governments as champions of child protection in tourism
Uruguay presented best practices on Tourism and prevention of sexual exploitation of children in the Americas
The Modern Slavery Act and its implications for tourism industry stakeholders was introduced by ABTA. The Approach of the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) had an interesting program among its members
Further discussed: Best practices by ExCom participants: Putting child protection in the context of the Int’l Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development / implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Advancing youth empowerment through travel and tourism: UNWTO/Amadeus/Government of Kenya pilot project in Nairobi
ECPAT-USA and Marriott International Announce New Partnership to Protect Children from Trafficking
Action by Leading International Hotel Chain Highlights National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month
ECPAT-USA, the country’s leading anti-child trafficking policy organization, announced a new partnership with global hospitality company Marriott International to combat and prevent human trafficking and exploitation in all forms. Marking National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, Marriott International signed ECPAT-USA’s Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct (The Code), an industry-driven responsible tourism initiative with a mission to provide awareness, tools, and support to the travel and hospitality industry in order to prevent the sexual exploitation of children.
“Everyone has a role in fighting human trafficking and preventing child sexual exploitation,” said David Rodriguez, Executive Vice President and Global Chief Human Resources Officer, Marriott International. “At Marriott International, we are training all of our associates on how to identify the indicators of human trafficking and partnering with ECPAT-USA and the broader industry to stop this crime from landing at our front doors and in our communities.”
“We are honored to partner with Marriott International to fight child sex trafficking and exploitation in all forms,” said Carol Smolenski, Executive Director of ECPAT-USA. “With ECPAT-USA’s policies and training in place, Marriott’s associates will be able to identify and report potential cases of trafficking and bring protection to victims. As an iconic brand, Marriott International’s deep commitment to human rights and social responsibility will generate public awareness and support for the growing movement to end child sex trafficking.”
The signing represents the latest development in ECPAT-USA’s collaboration with Marriott. In 2011, ECPAT-USA partnered with Marriott to co-develop training to help hotel employees recognize the indicators for human trafficking, including the commercial sexual exploitation of children. More recently, they partnered with the American Hotel and Lodging Association to make comprehensive human trafficking training available to the hotel industry more broadly. In January 2017, Marriott adopted a mandatory human trafficking training requirement for its on-property workforce across more than 6,500 properties in 127 countries and territories. The company has so far trained more than 225,000 people who wear a Marriott badge. Now, the global hotel company is taking its commitment a step further by signing The Code and establishing ECPAT-USA as a strategic partner in raising awareness of trafficking across its portfolio of 30 leading hotel brands including The Ritz-Carlton, W Hotels, Westin Hotels & Resorts, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, Aloft Hotels, and more.
The hotel industry is a crucial partner in the fight to end child sex trafficking because traffickers are known to use travel infrastructure to conduct their crimes and abuse victims. With proper protocols and training, hotel associates are uniquely positioned to identify, report and bring protection to victims.
For more than 25 years, ECPAT-USA has been fighting to protect every child’s basic human right to grow up free from the threat of sexual exploitation and trafficking. One of the organization’s most critical initiatives to protect children is engagement with the tourism and hospitality industry.
ECPAT partners with travel industry leaders to sign The Code, a set of guidelines to protect children from exploitation. Marriott International is the latest to join a family of notable U.S. airlines, hotels, travel management companies, and other brands partnering with ECPAT-USA to lead the private sector response to trafficking. Together, these industry leaders reduce the channels in which traffickers operate.
As a member of The Code and its efforts to end child sex trafficking, Marriott International will implement the following six criteria:
Establish a corporate policy and procedures against sexual exploitation of children
Train employees in children’s rights, the prevention of sexual exploitation and how to report suspected cases
Include a clause in further partner contracts stating a common repudiation and zero tolerance policy of sexual exploitation of children
Provide information to travelers on children’s rights, the prevention of sexual exploitation of children and how to report suspected cases
Support, collaborate and engage stakeholders in the prevention of sexual exploitation of children
Report annually on the company’s implementation of Code-related activities
Uber Partners with ECPAT-USA to Help Combat Human Trafficking
All US Driver Partners to Receive In-App Resources to Help Identify and Report Suspected Cases
Pledging its commitment to help end human trafficking, Uber has partnered with ECPAT-USA and other leading organizations to provide education and awareness to ALL driver-partners across the United States.
Human trafficking often affects the most vulnerable in our communities, whether adults, teens, or children. It is a problem that impacts all cities and all forms of transportation. For National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, Uber will provide information on trafficking to U.S. drivers via an in-app message. The message includes tips on how to spot potential human trafficking and ways to report it. Additional educational information developed with partners like ECPAT-USA will be made available to drivers on Uber’s website.
“Uber connects millions of people daily all around the globe, and drivers are uniquely positioned to help identify and ultimately prevent human trafficking,” said Tracey Breeden, Uber Safety Communications. “Working together with our national partners, we will utilize our innovation and technology along with the scope and scale of our global community to commit to helping prevent and raise awareness and empower community heroes. Together we can help disrupt and end human trafficking in the cities we serve.”
“As soon as Uber’s Safety team learned about the role they could play in protecting children, they took action,” said Carol Smolenski, Executive Director of ECPAT-USA. “We applaud their commitment to preventing human trafficking of any kind on the platform and sharing educational materials that help prepare drivers to recognize the signs associated with the sexual exploitation of children.”
Since 2016, Uber has worked with ECPAT-USA to develop resources for drivers to help identify and report human trafficking. Uber is the first and only company in the on-demand space to sign The Code, ECPAT-USA’s responsible business initiative to protect children from trafficking. Now, Uber will be proactively providing a way for driver-partners to be aware of and feel comfortable reaching out to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
In December 2016, a Sacramento area driver helped a girl, 16, escape from a human trafficking operation. He noticed suspicious behavior during a trip and reported it to police. From Phoenix to Philadelphia, drivers have been credited with helping break up operations and aiding victims of human trafficking.
Visit Uber’s human trafficking driver resource page.
Meet Keith, the Uber driver-partner whose awareness and quick thinking helped him save a 16-year-old girl from trafficking.
Murdering a tourism minister, an UNWTO Event and a witch hunt: Bizarre!
Chilling details have emerged targeting a long time international public servant, and one of the longest-serving tourism ministers to be murdered. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), and a new UNWTO event planned in Zimbabwe under the leadership of secretary general Zurab Pololikashvili, is all part of a broader internal mess this southern African country Zimbabwe is currently in.
In addition, a witch hunt taking place in Zimbabwe that can be initiated by anyone who wanted to blow a whistle, and triggers the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission to get active and put people in handcuffs. It’s an ideal platform for settling scores on behalf of politicians having a conflict with other politicians.
One prominent person arrested last month was Dr. Walter Mzembi, former foreign minister and minister of tourism and hospitality industries, who is accused of a crime. The crime is a donation by his ministry after the World Cup 2010. The donation done without treasury concurrence were some public area viewing screens. They went to churches and a university to help promote religious tourism.
Yesterday Zimbabwe media headlines made this story even more bizarre and now it includes a murder for hire and the target was no other than Dr. Walter Mzembi.
The Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission works on tips and some say it’s abusing its questionable arresting powers before thorough investigations are made.
Its megaphone policy has recently come under severe criticism by the new Government itself, which accuses it of running public trials of its suspects using Zimbabwe’s public media and hyperactive social media. President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba has criticised the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC)’s way of tackling corruption. Speaking on ZiFM Stereo during an interview, Charamba criticised ZACC for not following due process and warned the anti-graft body that even criminals deserve justice.
Charamba said:” I don’t think newspapers and radio stations are the best media for delivering processes of justice. Yes, justice must be seen to be done but at times it is done before it is actually done and that creates a certain sense of victimization which does not in any way edify processes which must, in fact, inspire public confidence. So whoever is involved in investigations around errant behavior must always be mindful that the whole world is watching, two those people have rights, three there is due process which must be followed, four there’s nothing called a public trial.”
Global tourism events are important for a country like Zimbabwe. As the new Zimbabwe Tourism Minister Priscah Mupfumira told reporters at the recently concluded FITUR trade show in Madrid this month: “Tourism is a key contributor to the economy. So for me, the first thing is about brand Zimbabwe, marketing the brand, making sure that we attract as many tourists as possible and grow the sector’s contribution to Government revenue.” After meeting with UNWTO in Madrid the new Zimbabwe minister expressed gratitude for the opportunity to host another major event.
The UNWTO General Assembly in Zambia and Zimbabwe in 2013 was one of the most successful events in UNWTO history but did not start without problems. If it wasn’t for Zimbabwe’s former minister of tourism and hospitality Dr. Walter Mzembi, the event may not have gotten the standing it did.
Yesterdays news-coverage making headlines in the Zimbabwe news media about a failed assassination attempt against the popular former Minister Mzembi puts this attempt by the current administration to secure a new UNWTO conference in another view.
Last week a self-confessed hitman had testified to Zimbabwe police alleging a senior government official issued him an assassination order to take out former Foreign Affairs minister Dr. Walter Mzembi.
Curiously enough, Dr. Sylvester Maunganidze who the assassin accused to have hired him to eliminate Dr. Walter Mzembi is the same man who served as Dr. Mzembi’ s permanent secretary during the time when Mzembi was Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industries, and Maunganidze was fired by Mzembi’s ministry and reassigned a few months before the UNWTO General Assembly was held successfully in Victoria Falls in 2013.
The alleged hitman Munyaradzi Mupazviripo filed a report at Borrowdale Police Station in Harare on January 24, 2018 at 19:49 hours, providing granular details of how the government official allegedly gave him instructions in May 2015 to carry out the extra-judicial killing.
The 44-year-old assassin claimed Mzembi’s former permanent secretary told him he would receive a $50.000 cash payment for executing Mzembi. The docket was recorded by a constable J Mapfumo, force number 063184. The case is recorded in RRB number 0242860061 and CR 345/01/18.
The assassin by the name of Mupazviripo, who was in hiding said he has now (years later) been targeted for disobeying the order and was living in fear of being murdered. In his raw account in the docket, he said his refusal to carry out the assignment means he was as good as dead.
“In November 2017 Dr. Sylvester Maunganidze phoned me and started insulting me, threatening that I was going to jail and I am a G40 cabal,” Mupazviripo said in his police report. “Dr. Sylvester Maunganidze is always calling me on the phone threatening that I will go to jail this year without fail.”
After yesterdays media coverage on eTurboNews and other publications yesterday Mupazviripo was arrested on some unrelated charges today.
Mzembi declined to comment on the plot, referring questions to his lawyer Job Sikhala, who said Mupazviripo approached his client at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts last week where the former Foreign minister Mzembi is being charged with “criminal abuse of office”. Mzembi denies any wrongdoing.
Sikhala said: “I didn’t wait to hear what he was telling him. Mzembi caught up with me by the car park and briefed me about what he was told by the hired assassin who pulled him aside that he was hired some time ago to kill him by one man named Dr. Sylvester Maunganidze whom I don’t even know.”
“I digressed over the issue and requested to meet with Mupazviripo and hear his story. We met him and he gave us the narration of how, where and when he was hired and the purpose of the mission and many other stories.
In a statement, police spokesperson senior assistant commissioner Charity Charamba said the content of the report “is false”.
In an interview with the Zimbabwe Daily News, the assassin said he had conducted many covert operations, notably in the areas of propaganda and psychological warfare.
He said in his last mission, he was assigned as an agent to infiltrate and monitor the State broadcaster, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.
This assassin accused Dr. Sylvester Maunganidze who was the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry before the UNWTO General Assembly in 2013 , that he wanted Dr. Walter Mzembi dead.
On October 6, 2009 eTurboNews reported about former Zimbabwe President Mugabe had appointed Dr. Sylvester Maunganidze as the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry.
On August 1, 2012 the African review reported: Dr. Sylvester Maunganidze has paid the price for revealing that the country was ill prepared to host next year’s world tourism summit, as he was relieved of his duties and moved to a less fashionable post.
Dr. Sylvester Maunganidze however, denies involvement in the alleged murder-for-hire plot against Mzembi.
Many think Maunganidze is accused of being responsible for Mzembi’s incarceration in a web of conspiracy with the new administration and some of its officials, a typical vengeance and retribution mission. Perhaps, Maunganidze is pulling the strings from behind the scenes as a whistleblower on the old administration which he hated for demoting him. This is a high probability. All the cases against Mzembi have Maunganidze at the center as the then Permanent Secretary.
When Maunganidze was permanent secretary to Dr. Mzembi, Maunganidze was accused of making disparaging remarks about Zambia just before Zambia was to co-host the summit with Zimbabwe, triggering a diplomatic row between the two countries.
Zambia Reports published this article on Augst 3, 2012: A top government official in African dictator Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe leadership is fired for comments on Zambia as both countries prepare to host the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) 20th general assembly next year.
At that time Karikoga Kaseke, who was heading the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, told a press conference back in 2012, “There is nothing fictitious in that bid and the Permanent Secretary thinks by lying it can turn against Dr. Mzembi, our minister,”
The new Zimbabwe Government by its own admission has criticised the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission (ZACC) for its public trials of suspects but the damage for high profile international figures like Mzembi has been done with impunity.
Quoting Shakespeare as he had famously said: “He who steals my good name steals all I have”, Mzembi ‘s good name built on years of dedicated work for his country including a run on behalf of Africa for the world ‘s top tourism job has been “stolen” by his own Government in a reckless retribution mission.
WTTC: Travel & Tourism to generate 2.4 million new jobs in Indonesia
The Travel & Tourism sector is set to generate 2.4 million new jobs in Indonesia. This is according to new data from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). Travel & Tourism contributed 6.2% of Indonesia’s GDP, a total of 770 trillion rupiah. Jakarta itself contributes 41% of Indonesia’s Travel & Tourism.
Speaking at the Panorama Mega Conference in Jakarta, Gloria Guevara, President & CEO of WTTC said, “Travel & Tourism is an important contributor to Indonesia’s economy, accounting for over 6% of GDP. In addition, with foreign visitor spend contributing 220 trillion rupiah to the economy, Travel & Tourism accounted for over 55% of Indonesia’s service sector exports. I congratulate the government of President Widodo, in particular Minister of Tourism Arief Yahya, on their prioritisation of and commitment to our industry. Thanks to their support for the Travel & Tourism sector, 2.4m new jobs will be created.”
President Widodo has set an ambitious target to attract 20 million visitors in 2019, nearly double that of 2016. He also called for $20 billion in investment in the sector to support this rapid growth. In 2016 Indonesia granted visa free access to nationals of 169 countries, opening up the country to more foreign visitors.
Ms Guevara continued, “Indonesia is a prime example of a government which is taking the right approach to tourism development with strategic investment to support sustainable growth and policies which facilitate travel. There is work still to be done, and partnership between the public-sector authorities and private sector enterprises is vital for the ambitious target. WTTC is delighted to support Indonesia’s travel sector in this endeavour.”
Prior to the Conference, Ms Guevara held a private meeting with Minister Yahya, to discuss opportunities and priorities for Indonesia’s Travel & Tourism sector. She also commended the Minister on the government’s handling of the recent volcanic eruptions from Mount Agung in Bali.
Pemuteran Bay Coral Protection Foundation in Bali has been shortlisted for the WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Innovation Award, which will be presented at the upcoming 18th WTTC Global Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 18-19 April 2018.
New initiative to enhance Child Protection within the Bali tourism industry
Jakarta, Thursday 1st February 2018 – The ChildSafe Movement, an award-winning
global movement protecting children from all forms of abuse, launches in Bali with the
support of renowned travel organization Buffalo Tours Indonesia. Together they seek to
improve child protection and sustainable tourism on the “Island of the Gods”.
Travel Bali, Be ChildSafe. Follow the 7 Tips & protect children on your journey.
#BaliChildSafeParadise
With the support of Buffalo Tours, acclaimed social enterprise Friends-International are
delighted to announce the launch of the ChildSafe Movement in Bali. Together with Yayasan
Teman Baik, their local Indonesian program helping marginalized children, youth and their
families, the ChildSafe Movement raises awareness of child protection among all tourism
industry stakeholders, including promoting tourist behaviors and actions that will prevent risk
to children and effectively protect them. ChildSafe activities will include international media
and grassroots campaigning, educating tourists, as well as training and certifying businesses.
The result is a unique local and international network empowered to stand up against the
exploitation of vulnerable children in the tourism industry.
ChildSafe’s Traveler Tips and campaigns provide practical advice to tourists on better ways
to help protect children. Large-scale awareness raising campaigns and initiatives increase the
global response to child rights violations and further protect children from harm. These
campaigns, including “Children Are Not Tourist Attractions”, aimed at addressing the
alarming growth of orphanage and school tourism, have already reached millions of
individuals across the world and are supported and promoted by UNICEF and the United
Nations World Tourism Organization.
Through following ChildSafe Certification process, Buffalo Tours are at the forefront of the
growing international recognition of the importance of implementing child protection within the
tourism industry. Buffalo Tours have offered their assistance in the form of facilities and logistic
support, to help ChildSafe implement their campaign in Bali. They have also mobilized their
staff, Destination Ambassadors and suppliers to further enhance their commitment to child
protection.
Buffalo Tours now join the hundreds of other ChildSafe Alliance Partners, Supporters and
Certified Businesses around the world, all easily identified by their use of the characteristic
‘thumbs up’ logo! They are also listed on the ChildSafe website, a comprehensive resource
and source of information for all to ensure a global approach to child protection which
includes the important ‘7 Tips for Travelers’.
Minister of Tourism announces new Director of Tourism to Jamaica Tourist Board
KINGSTON, JAMAICA; January 29, 2018: Mr. Donovan White has been selected to fill the position of Director of Tourism of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), after an extensive local and international search. His appointment has been announced by Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Edmund Bartlett.
Mr. White, a Jamaican national, whose term as head of the country’s tourism marketing agency, will commence officially on February 15, 2018, brings with him many years of marketing and business development experience. He served recently as Vice President of Cable & Wireless Business, Jamaica, where he was responsible for year over year revenue growth of 29 percent and 12 percent in 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 respectively.
Prior to that, Mr. White served as Vice President, Marketing, Sales & Media Services at Columbus Communications Jamaica Limited (FLOW), leading commercial teams to deliver revenue growth in 2013 and 2014. During that period, he was responsible for delivering a 25 percent year over year growth in sales from trade.
Mr. White has also held the positions of General Manager of Caledonia Outdoor Advertising Limited, where he helped to reduce the cost of operations by 25 percent and grow revenues by 15 percent and Digicel Group Limited, working as Marketing Director for Jamaica, Guyana and the Northern OECS, managing the execution of some of the largest and most successful brand and tactical campaigns.
He also served as Vice President, Sales & Marketing, CVM Communications Group Limited, growing sales output for four consecutive years between 1998 and 2001.
With a solid background in marketing, digital media and business development, the Director-designate is expected to build upon the past successes of the Jamaica Tourist Board, help the JTB expand its global reach and continue to forge a strong partnership with the private sector.
“We are pleased with Mr. White’s appointment,” said the Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism. “He brings a solid business acumen and marketing savvy to the Jamaica Tourist Board, having developed, managed and executed vertically integrated marketing and branding strategies for a range of industry sectors including media, telecoms, advertising and technology. As a member of Jamaica’s tourism team, I am confident that Mr. White’s experience will assist the JTB to continue on its current path of delivering increased tourism results through innovative public and private sector partnerships.”
In commenting on Mr. White’s appointment, Mr. John Lynch, Chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board noted, “Donovan brings the right experience and the respect of the marketing and business sectors to this important position. In his capacity as Director of Tourism, he will lead the JTB as Jamaica’s tourist industry continues to grow in a highly globalized and technology driven world.”
Mr. Donnie Dawson currently serving as Interim Director will continue in that role until Mr. White assumes office.