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Stronger confidence in the tourism marketplace – UNWTO General Assembly, Astana, Kazakhstan 2009

Tourism leaders from one hundred and forty two countries met to endorse a roadmap for recovery in a bid to boost global travel. This comes as the industry faces the worst slump in modern history.

The initiative from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is being launched, as seven hundred people gather for the 18th session of the global tourism body’s General Assembly in Astana, Kazakhstan.
At the event fifty three tourism ministers or representatives endorsed the roadmap for recovery. The initiative calls on world leaders to prioritize tourism in the economic agenda and use it as a vehicle to create and sustain jobs. There is also a push to capitalize on the growing green economy.

UNWTO data shows some moderation in declining international arrivals for the first half of this year. In addition, the tourism body’s panel of experts is seeing stronger confidence in the marketplace.
International arrivals declined by four per cent in July this year, a relative improvement when compared to decreases of ten per cent in May and seven per cent in June.

To date, over seventy countries have already implemented measures to stimulate tourism, now the UNWTO is calling on world leaders to prioritize tourism and embrace its roadmap for recovery.

Tourism provides more than seventy five million jobs globally; thirty percent of the world’s exports, which is equivalent to one trillion dollars a year and accounts for up to forty five percent of the total exports of services in developing countries.

A sharp reduction in business activity, disposable income and a rise in unemployment, particularly in key source markets have hit tourism hard this year.

"Tourism is among the major socio-economic phenomena of our times, and rightly occupies an important place on the United Nations agenda," said UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon in a message presented to the assembly.

"Efforts to make tourism more sustainable can help the world address climate change, achieve the Millennium Development Goals and build a greener economy." While global earnings from the sector has been suffering slightly more than arrivals, as consumers trade down, stay closer to home and travel for shorter periods.

Recommendations made by the UNWTO such as travel facilitation, tax rebates or credits have already been employed by many countries.

"This sector ensures a significant inflow of foreign investment, creates work, and helps economic revival in many countries and regions of the world," said the president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev at the official opening at the Palace of Peace and Concord in Astana.

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Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.

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