UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai will resign in 2017 and so far two candidates came forward wanting to take over the top post in the United Nations World Tourism Organization. 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 revealed his plan for the future of UNWTO under his proposed leadership. Statement of Intent and Management The World...
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...
The GDP impact of the world’s Muslim tourism sector exceeded US$138 billion in 2015. The industry generated 4.3 million jobs and contributed more than $18 billion in tax revenue. These are the topline findings of the inaugural Global Economic Impact of Muslim Tourism Report 2015 by Salam Standard, a leading authority on one of the Islamic Economy’s fastest-growing sectors – travel and tourism. “To put this into perspective, a GDP impact of $138 billion is larger than the entire economy of...
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has signed a landmark agreement with the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) that is designed to enhance the promotion and development of sustainable tourism across a broad range of Pacific island destinations. A core element of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is tourism associated data that embraces accurate figures for international arrivals to each member nation of the SPTO. PATA has granted the South Pacific Tourism Organisation special...
The Blue Community Observatory hosted by the USF Patel College of Global Sustainability (PCGs) of the University of South Florida, USA, has become the latest member of the UNWTO International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories. This Observatory monitors the impact of tourism in parts of the Pinella and Manatee Counties, two popular tourist destinations in Florida. The observatory is the first sustainable tourism observatory in the United States and will be working with a total of 16...
UNWTO is deeply shocked by the tragic attack perpetrated last night in Istanbul, Turkey. On the behalf of the international tourism community, UNWTO expresses its heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the victims and to the Turkish people in this difficult moment. “On the behalf of the international tourism community, UNWTO conveys its heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the victims and expresses its full solidarity with the people and the Government of...
Journalist members of the National Press Club elected Jeff Ballou as their 110th president on Friday, December 9. Ballou, a news editor at Al Jazeera Media Network and the Club’s current vice-president will be the first African-American male to be president in the Club’s 108-year history. Ballou will take office on Jan. 13, 2017 and will be inaugurated at the “Club of Champions” inaugural gala on Jan. 14, 2017. “I am deeply humbled, honored and privileged to step...
Mr Eric Hallin General Manager of the Rembrandt was recently elected President of SKÅL International Bangkok. The travel and tourism association’s Bangkok Club recently held an election in light of key changes to the managing executive committee. This year marks the 60th Anniversary of Skal International Bangkok, which was inaugurated on the 28th September 1956. The new executive committee Nov 2016-Nov 2018: 1. President Eric Hallin 2. Vice President ...
The European Travel Commission (ETC), the association representing the 32 European National Tourism Organizations, and the European Destinations of Excellence Network (EDEN Network), the network uniting the sustainable tourism destinations in Europe, announce the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding on the occasion of the European Tourism Day, the annual event organized by the European Commission in Brussels, in the presence of Elżbieta Bieńkowska, Commissioner for Internal Market...
Brand USA, the destination-marketing organization for the United States, has announced the appointment of two new board members and the reappointment of two existing members. The new board appointees join a group of tourism industry leaders each with designated expertise in specific sectors of the travel industry including: hotel accommodations; restaurants; small business or retail or in associations representing that sector; travel distribution; attractions or recreations; state-level tourism...
Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site is to host a major new exhibition in 2017 celebrating the cavalry regiments that once guarded this famous North West frontier of the mighty Roman Empire Taking place from Saturday 8 April to Sunday 10 September 2017, Hadrian’s Cavalry explores the role and daily life of the Roman army’s cavalry forces in a unique wall-wide exhibition that stretches the full 150 miles of the Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site area – from Maryport in the west to South Shields in...
Dr. Mario Hardy, the CEO of PATA is in the Seychelles as Guest of Honour for the island’s first edition of its Ocean Festival. On Saturday morning the 3rd March Dr Hardy and Minister Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine met at the Ministry’s ESPACE Offices in Victoria and together they explored cooperation possibilities. The Seychelles Ocean Festival is replacing the former SUBIOS Festival that concentrated primarily on the...
The Gleaner has awarded hotel Riu Palace Jamaica in Montego Bay with the Best All-Inclusive under 300 rooms accolade.
Information received from Victoria Falls, where AFRAA, the African Airlines Association is holding their Annual General Assembly, has confirmed that Mr. John Mirenge, CEO of RwandAir, has been elected as the next AFRAA President. He will hold the rotating presidency for one year and RwandAir will be host airline for the 2017 AFRAA AGA49 to be held in Kigali. For both RwandAir and for John Mirenge is his election and the choice of Rwanda as the host country for next year’s event a glowing...
Dusit International has signed a management agreement with Phuket-based property developer Layana Development Co., Ltd. to operate the dusitD2 Phuket Aria hotel in Surin Beach.
The total number of deaths caused by terrorism decreased by 10% to 29,376 in 2015, according to the Global Terrorism Index 2016, reversing a four-year upward trend. The military interventions against ISIL and Boko Haram have resulted in a 32% reduction in deaths in Iraq and Nigeria, which contributed to an overall reduction in the global figure. However, while ISIL and Boko Haram were weakened at home, these organisations spread to other countries, increasing the impact of terrorism in the rest...
14th November, 2016- The President of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Zhang Xinsheng, visited the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR) to attend the UAE IUCN National committee meeting. Mr. Xinsheng was welcomed by Greg Simkins, Conservation Manager – DDCR, and was joined by Fadi Shraideh, Regional Director, IUCN West Asia Regional Office and IUCN members in UAE: the Emirates Environment Group, Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, Emirates Wildlife Society and...
The 2016 World Travel Market (WTM) Conference closed this week with an inspirational panel presentation in honor of the 30th anniversary of the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) entitled, “Building a Sustainable and Peaceful World through Tourism – In Support of the UN International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.” A line up of tourism celebrities addressed the session. This session highlighted the progress made in tourism as a driver of...
Ministers of Tourism from nearly 60 countries and industry leaders gathered at the Ministers’ Summit organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and World Travel Market in London to discuss how to grow cooperation in safe, secure and seamless travel. The inclusion of tourism in crisis and emergency structures, travel advisories, perception and coordination were pointed as main issues to be addressed. Participants agreed that economic and national security can and should be a common...
The president of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) Professior Geoffrey Lipman yesterday issued a statement published by eTN predicting Hillary Clinton to be the next US President. 24 hours ago I wrote an editorial saying there were three reasons why i hoped and believed that Hilary Clinton would be the next President of the United States. Today the ICTP president said this after learning about Donald Trump to be the president elect in the United States. He wrote: I was...
Hillary Clinton just called President Elect Donald Trump to congratulate him on being elected as the 45th President of the United States. A world is in disbelief, and times of uncertainty will overshadow also the world tourism industry. It was the hottest ticket in London on election night to be invited to CNN’s “Election Night at World Travel Market (WTM): Trump or Clinton?” Tourism leaders from every corner of the world are currently in London attending WTM. A tourism world...
22 tourists were injured, 4 passengers dead after a South Korean Tour bus flipped with members of a mountaineering club on a holiday trip to enjoy Korean Outdoors. Click here to read the article
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has launched a new report that explores recent trends in sustainable tourism, as reflected by the finalists and winners of its Tourism for Tomorrow Awards programme. Analysis of the WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Awards’ 156 finalists and 52 category winners over the past 13 years, identifies seven trends: Addressing climate change is now a must for any credible sustainable tourism programme There is an emerging prioritisation of sustainable tourism by...
Zambia’s Tourism and arts minister, Honourable Charles Rommel Banda has pledged government commitment towards making the tourism sector a key contributor to the country’s economy, poverty alleviation and job creation. Hon. Banda disclosed this during a high level meeting with United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Secretary General Dr. Taleb Rifai in the resort city of Luxor in Egypt on Sunday. The Hon. Minister is in Egypt attending UNWTO 104th Executive Council meeting...
The magic at UNWTO continues. After a successful and truly impressive conference in Petra, Jordan, the capital of world tourism moved to Luxor in Egypt this week. The 104th session of the Executive Council for the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is meeting at a critical time for Egypt in the next 3 days. “This is no accident, that we meet in Egypt”, UNWTO secretary General Taleb Rifai told the audience. Hosted at the Sonesta St. George Hotel in Luxor facing the...
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) today opened its regional conference in Petra, Jordan, under the patronage of HE Dr. Hani Mulki, Prime Minister of Jordan. The conference is organized in cooperation with the Jordan Ministry of Tourism & Antiques and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Opened by H.E. Tourism Minister Lina Annab, the first keynote speaker was Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of the UNWTO. Mr. Rifai was the minister of tourism for Jordan...
Association of Southeast Asian Nations' campaign announces strategic partners
Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya to bring new level of luxury to the heart of downtown Kuwait City
A province in Lao PDR and the city of Meishan in China are the winners of the US$1 million PATA CEO Challenge 2016. Southern Laos receives the Top Destination Award in the category of ‘Regions/States/Provinces’. The People’s Government of Meishan, Sichuan, China is granted the Top Destination Award in the category of ‘Second and Third Tier Cities’. The two winning entries will work with PATA CEO Challenge 2016 partner TripAdvisor to develop and create digital marketing campaigns to showcase...
Skal has selected the Kingdom of Bahrain as the venue for the Skal Asian Area Congress in 2017. The Congress will take place on 12 – 15 May 2017 and is being organized by the Skal Club of Bahrain. Mohamed Buzizi, President of the Skal Club of Bahrain, is negotiating with hotels to secure the best rates for delegates. However, he confirmed to delegates attending the 2016 Asian Skal Area Congress in Singapore that the pricing would be set at US$800 for five star accommodation and US$600...
