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Global Tourism Forum Andorra calls for collective action for a more competitive and responsible tourism
Tourism’s sustained growth and its capacity to
tackle global challenges – from economic crises and persistent unemployment to
environmental pressures and the poverty imperative – can only be achieved
through collective action. This was the central message coming out of the Global
Tourism Forum Andorra 2011 (GTF) (Andorra la Vella, Andorra, 6-7 March).
The GTF has concluded in Andorra with calls for the international tourism
community to move the tourism agenda forward sustainably and in full
coordination and collaboration.
“During this Forum I trust you will determine how to set tourism development on
a path that will always be both competitive and responsible, taking into
consideration new challenges,” said the Prime Minister of Andorra, Jaume
Bartumeu, as he officially opened the GTF.
The GTF is envisaged as a “truly global and open platform for debate and
exchange” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, addressing over 200
representatives from the public and private sector, United Nations agencies,
regional and international organizations such as the World Travel and Tourism
Council (WTTC), the World Economic Forum (WEF), the Pacific Asia Travel
Association (PATA) and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), academia and
civil society; brought together to chart new pathways for tourism growth.
“The tourism sector is a huge employer, creator of economic security and
contributor to society,” said Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute,
addressing the Forum. “It is essential to development and can champion the
attainment of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals”.
The Forum centered on the challenges and opportunities of competitiveness and
responsibility for the tourism sector. Ministers of Tourism, industry leaders
and heads of travel organizations outlined the necessary steps for a more
competitive tourism sector, such as strengthening private-public partnerships
and addressing taxation on travel through concerted action. The Secretary of
Tourism of Mexico, Gloria Guevara, pointed to a common agenda between the
private and public sector as a central condition for competitive growth. Issues
of local community involvement in tourism development, best practices and the
three pillars of sustainability – economic, environmental and social – were
central to discussions on responsibility.
Side events throughout the day addressed further tourism issues, including the
increasing relevance of mega events for tourism, organized by Visa, at which the
Minister of Tourism of South Africa, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, shared his
experience of the economic and social legacy resulting from the 2010 FIFA World
Cup. The WEF launched its Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2011 and the
contribution of traditional and new media to communicating tourism’s importance
was debated during an event organized by UNWTO global media partner CNN.
The GTF was preceded by a High Level Retreat, at which tourism leaders from
across the sector met to share insights and expertise on how to further
mainstream tourism in the global agenda and its role in sustainable development.
Source: UNWTO |
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