REPORT - LONDON - WTM 2007: World Travel Market is hosting a major UNWTO Ministers’ Summit on Tourism and Climate Change on Tuesday 13 November. More than 100 Ministers will be asked to consider and ratify a Declaration recommended by environmental experts at the UNWTO’s Summit on Climate Change in Davos, Switzerland in October.

 

The Ministerial Declaration will be put to the UNWTO’s General Assembly at the end of November and will be a major aspect of the organization’s submission to the United Nations Bali Climate Summit in December 2007. The Summit at ExCeL London, between 9.00 -14.00hrs, will be broadcast to World Travel Market delegates in the Central Boulevard as well as to a dedicated media room in the International Press Centre.

Fiona Jeffery, Chairman of World Travel Market said: “World Travel Market introduced its Ministers’ Programme three years ago because we felt that it was critically important to recognise the valuable contribution of Ministers in global travel and tourism. It’s the strategies, investment and supreme influence of Ministers and their Governments that assists and expands an industry that is never out of the international spotlight and, let us never forget, is a major driver of world economies. We are also delighted that this year the World Travel Market Ministers’ Programme is hosting this extremely important meeting.”

UNWTO Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli said “The world community has charged the United Nations with framing a strategic response to the challenge of climate change, coherent with the Millennium Development Goals. Tourism is a central part of our society, our economic progress and our contribution to the war on poverty. This meeting will put a Ministerial seal on the Davos Declaration - our commitment that Tourism will be at the leading edge of the global response to climate change.”