ILO highlights tourism's role in economic development

On Nov 22nd, the International Labor Organization (ILO) asserted travel and tourism industry is becoming the biggest and most dynamic sector of global economy. And tourism sector also plays an increasing important role in helping global economy to grow and over come social-economic crises.
At the global dialogue forum in Geneva (Switzerland) on new challenges and happenings in tourism and hospitality, General Director of ILO, Mr Juan Somavia emphasized that tourism is becoming an important sector offering many jobs after economic crisis.
Social dialogues between governments, employees and employers ensure tourism sector will provide many jobs of high quality. Meanwhile, tourists' demand on service quality will be the stimulation to train a dynamic and talented workforce.
Dispite of the recent global economic crisis, number of jobs in tourism sector increased by 1% from 2008 to 2009, in which the jobs in the Pacific-Asia region increased by 4,6%.
The sustainable development of tourism could be a key answer to developing issues which was raised at the G-20 Summit held in Seoul, Korea recently, Mr. Somavia said
According to the ILO, the travel and tourism sector generates 9% of global GDP and creates more than 235 milion jobs in 2010, equivalent to 8% of total global workforce.
International tourism can still be affected by social and economic crises, but it will develop rapidly in the coming decade. It is forecasted that tourism industry will provide 296 million jobs by 2019.
Translated by Thanh Pham-TITC