The World Tourism Organization (WTO) expressed a warm welcome back to Australia on Friday …
The World Tourism Organization (WTO) expressed a warm welcome back to Australia on Friday as the country`s Federal Executive Council gave the final approval to rejoining the leading
worldwide intergovernmental body in the field of tourism.
Australia`s Minister for Small Business and Tourism, Joe Hockey, said that rejoining WTO was an integral element of the government`s AUS$ 235 million Tourism White Paper. Speaking in Townsville, where he was accompanied by
the WTO Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli, he said: Membership will allow Australia to play an important and influential role in shaping the
WTO`s policy directions and programmes. It will provide greater access to international tourism research and statistics – allowing our (Australian) tourism industry to monitor changing global patterns and trends in consumer demand, and to develop innovative and sustainable tourism products.
WTO membership will also expand Australia`s network of
government-to-government relationships, and will build upon our knowledge of key international tourism developments and our capacity to respond to global events impacting on tourism. The government`s White Paper laid the foundations for sustainable tourism, and will further reinforce this important step for Australia in international tourism, he added.
We warmly welcome back Australia as a key player and one of the leading countries in Asia-Pacific – the fastest growing tourism region in the world, said WTO Secretary-General. As a member of WTO, Australia will be able to influence international thinking and policy-making and contribute to the sustainable development of tourism in fields where it has demonstrated leading-edge knowledge and experience
Congratulating Australia and its government, led by Prime Minister John Howard, Mr Frangialli said the decision confirms Australia`s commitment to raising the capacity and performance of its already successful tourism industry, and its recognition of the growing importance of tourism as a leading force in the service sector that is set to drive the world economy over the next few decades.
Australia`s membership will come into effect as soon as the instrument of ratification is deposited with the Spanish Foreign Ministry, in accordance to the Article 5 of the WTO Statutes.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
