UNWTODaily

www.unwto.org Thursday, October 8, 2009

Дневник ЮНВТО
ЮНВТО – на службе туризма и Целей развития тысячелетия

Committed to Tourism, Travel and the Millennium Development Goals The 18th Session of the UNWTO General Assembly will
bring together tourism ministers and senior officials
THE DAILY OF THE 18th SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY - Дневник Генеральной Ассамблеи from national tourism organizations, as well as public,
private and academic Affiliate Members
Astana, Kazakhstan, 5 – 8 October 2009

Preparing the way Affiliate Members enter SMOOTHING THE WAY

for t20 era of reform ALONG THE SILK ROAD South Korea to host next
New Knowledge Exchange Regional Reactions
General Assembly
PAGE 3 GA makes news PAGE 5 PAGE 6
South Korea has been chosen as the venue for the 19th session of
the UNWTO General Assembly in 2011.

“We consider this a chance for South Korea to prove itself as a country
of top tourism policies," the South Korean Culture Ministry said in a
statement.

Korean authorities expect the event to generate some 15 billion-won

(13 million US$) worth of revenue, the Ministry added.

Южная Корея станет местом проведения

следующей Генеральной Ассамблеи.

Южная Корея была выбрана местом проведения 19 сессии Генеральной

Ассамблеи ЮНВТО на 2011 год.

Мы считаем, что это отличный шанс для Южной Кореи утвердить себя
как страну с высшей политикой туризма, - отметил Министр Культуры
Южной Кореи во время своего выступления.

Министр также добавил, что власти Кореи ожидают от предстоящего

события около 15 биллионов вон (13 миллионов долларов) дохода.

World Tourism Organization

Calle Capitan Haya 42
28020 Madrid (Spain)
+34915678100 - Fax: +34915713733
comm@unwto.org

Astana marks a changing point in UNWTO history with the election of a new Secretary-General Taleb Rifai - pictured above with Kazakhstan’s
Minister of Tourism and Sport Temirkhan Dosmukhambetov - and the introduction of his new plans for the Organization

Astana Assembly sets the Scene for New Direction

Against the impressive backdrop of Astana, the
state of the art capital of Kazakhstan, the 18th
session of the UNWTO General Assembly has
made significant steps forward to better prepare
the organization for current and future challenges.
The world is changing and both leaders and
society have to adapt to the rapidly changing
conditions, be they technological and cultural
shifts or natural or man-made crises.
By the same token, UNWTO will now be undergoing
key changes to keep fulfilling its twofold mission,
providing leadership to the tourism sector and
supporting and servicing its members – in the
understanding that it is the Country Members that
are at the heart of UNWTO.
The generosity and efficiency of the Kazakhstan
hosts has ensured a smooth and productive
gathering of world tourism leaders, including
both the four-day General Assembly and previous
meetings held in Astana.
The relevance of holding the event in Astana at
this particular time has been underscored by the
context of the economic crisis which has had a big
effect on the travel and tourism sector.
While the Roadmap for Recovery represents the
framework for future action, Members have also
supported the call from UNWTO to ensure that
the industry’s responses are coherent with climate
change response and poverty alleviation efforts.
The third highlight of the General Assembly was
the endorsement of Secretary-General ad interim
Taleb Rifai and his promise to launch a new era in
the history of UNWTO.
His election to the post of Secretary-General for the
term starting 2010, and the previous endorsement by
the Executive Council of his management strategy,
both pave the way to align the operations of UNWTO
with principles ranging from Members’ ‘ownership’ of
the Organization to UN integration.
Mr Rifai is also calling for greater transparency
and accountability, and for the Organization to
become more results oriented, as reflected in the
Management Strategy document he presented to
the Assembly.
He sees the modernization of the UNWTO
Secretariat and a more programme-based
structure as being in line with the changes in the
world the organization is facing up to.
“Impending reforms pose a challenge to the Orga­
nization and its Secretariat”, said Mr. Rifai. “Postpo­
ning or failing to address them would only increase
the need for deeper reform at a later stage.”
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www.unwto.org
News UNWTO Daily - General Assembly 2009 . 3

Preparing the way for T20 –

a UNWTO member-driven initiative
Travel and tourism should be given more mainstreaming
in global economic decision-making – this is at the centre
of the initiative led by South Africa which is looking for
direct support from the G20 countries.
Fifteen of these twenty Tourism Ministerial representatives
met for a working breakfast on Wednesday to discuss the
valuable contribution travel and tourism can make to the
economic stimuli required for the recovery of the global
economy.
The message that emerged from the meeting is that
the industry represents an important pillar of efforts to
enhance economic growth, infrastructure development,
trade promotion, poverty eradication and job creation.
The informal meeting expressed a need to further
explore the synergies between strengthened economic
cooperation in the G20 on one hand, and the tourism
sector’s efforts to build up resilience, stimulate new
growth and support the shift to a greener economy on
the other.
“As a member of the G20, South Africa believes that travel
and tourism must play an important role in economic
recovery and find a place in stimulus packages. Over
time our sector can be an important component in the
transformation to the Green Economy”, said South
African Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk.
He added that “this initiative is not only South African but
of Members as a whole. We are pleased to have received
the support from other G20 members”.
South Africa has offered to host the first meeting of
the so called T20 (Tourism Ministers of the G20) from
22 to 24 February 2010, from which it is envisaged a
Communique will be transmitted to the following G20
Summit in Canada.
UNWTO Secretary-General ad interim Taleb Rifai said
the Secretariat supported the initiative as the G20 is fast
becoming the mechanism for world decision making and
stimulus packages still need to recognize fully just what
tourism means and what it can do.
Korea said the group had to look at how to link the G20
with developing countries. They said they would like to
play a role in this process, but that it was also important
to seek US support for the T20 initiative.
Australia agreed that the message of tourism’s role
needs to be more heavily promoted and that now is the
right time to do it. They also want to make sure tourism
remains on the agenda once the crisis is over.
Assistant Secretary-General and Spokesperson Geoffrey
Lipman said the idea of T20 is a natural evolution and
comes at an appropriate moment, once the emergency
financial issues have been tackled.
First meeting scheduled for February
The first T20 meeting is scheduled to precede a UNWTO-
South Africa Summit on Tourism, Sport and Mega Events
scheduled for 24 to 26 February 2010 in Sandton,
Johannesburg, and the annual Meetings Africa business
exhibition hosted by SA Tourism.
The International Summit on Tourism, Sport and Mega
Events will provide a forum that considers the economic,
social and environmental impacts of such events from a
tourism perspective.
It comes at an appropriate moment as South Africa
prepares to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Register at
www.meetingsafrica.co.za/summit

General Assembly makes the news

The Assembly has received coverage in the international press, including both mainstream
media and the travel trade press. The appointment of Taleb Rifai as UNWTO Secretary-
General for the period from 2010 to 2013 has been the most widely covered topic, followed
by the UNWTO Roadmap for Recovery, the current state of tourism worldwide, and the
impact that the 2016 Olympic Games is likely to have on Brazil’s tourism economy.

Генеральная Ассамблея в новостях

Ассамблея получила освещение в международной прессе, включая как общие СМИ, так и
прессу, специализирующуюся на туризме. Наибольшее освещение получила тема назначения
Талеб Рифай Генеральным Секретарем ЮНВТО на период с 2010 до 2013. Также, освещение
получили «Дорожная карта к восстановлению» ЮНВТО, текущее состояние туризма в мире и
возможное влияние Олимпийских игр 2016 года на экономику туризма в Бразилии.
4 . UNWTO Daily - General Assembly 2009
P oster Competition www.unwto.org

...and The
winners are
... и победители

The winners of the Poster

Competition held traditionally
during the General Assembly, were
the Bahamas, Bhutan, Ghana,
Malaysia, South Africa, and Turkey.
Four of them are pictured here.
www.unwto.org
Affiliate Members enter era of reform
The UNWTO private, public and academic
Affiliate Members must integrate their structure
“in a more and more meaningful way”, said
UNWTO Secretary-General a.i. at the opening
of their meeting on Tuesday.
Mr. Rifai expressed the need to reform and
to move forward with a “fresh and new
approach” in order to achieve objectives such
as assessing how the existing three councils
around business, destinations and education
can better work together and with UNWTO.
He also suggested that the Affiliate Members
should focus more on their regional presence
Learning about new knowledge exchange platform
Details of UNWTO’s new technological platform
for the exchange and distribution of knowledge
produced by Affiliate Members were presented
at the AM General Meeting on Tuesday.
The Online Technological Platform for Tourism
Intelligence and Innovation (PLATMA) was
launched in July when a Memorandum of
Understanding was signed between UNWTO
and the Spanish State Company for Tourism
Technology and Innovation Management
(SEGITTUR).
“The aim is to contribute towards improving
competitiveness and quality in the tourism
sector at international level,” said Affiliates’
Executive Director Javier Blanco.
Agenda &
Press programme 8 October 2009
Thursday 8
9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Resilience Committee
2 p.m. – 5 p.m. 7th session:item 24 + Adoption of draft resolutions
5.30 p.m. – 7.30 p.m. Silk Road Meeting
Affiliates
Taleb, Rifai, EUlogio Bordas and Javier Blanco (from left to right)
as a means to further expand the membership
number but also increasingly integrating their
activities in the Programme of Work of the
organization.
“We need to ensure not to lose the momentum
and to implement over the next two years, until
the next General Assembly, the necessary plans
to move into the right direction”, he said.
A concrete strategy should be discussed at the
upcoming Affiliate Member meetings during
World Travel Market (London, UK, November
2009) and Fitur (Madrid, Spain, January 2010).
The platform will help create a virtual tourism
community, focusing on and contrasting
knowledge from major universities, commercial
enterprises and destinations.
Information generated by its members, work
groups and specialized forums will also
benefit The International Network on Regional
Economics, Mobility and Tourism (InRoute),
a project launched the same month led
by the UNWTO Department for Statistics
in conjunction with the Affiliate Members
Secretariat.
In his presentation Mr Blanco pointed out that
history had shown companies which continue
to invest in innovation in tough times are those
that fare the best when growth returns.
Timetable for
Social Events
Thursday 8
7.00 p.m Official reception hosted by the Mayor of the
City of Astana.
Bagration Restaurant.
Buses will run from the Palace of Independence
UNWTO Daily - General Assembly 2009
Measured by the clear increase in their
membership, the relevance of the Affiliate
Members of UNWTO seems to be growing.
This General Assembly witnessed the approval
of 88 new members. The total number now
surpasses 400, a historical high.
Mr. Eulogio Bordas, of THR International
Tourism Consultants (Barcelona, Spain), was
confirmed as Affiliate Members President for
the next two-year-term and will be responsible
to implement the changes expected by the
UNWTO alongside Affiliate Member Executive
Director, Javier Blanco.
PLATMA will respond to the Affiliates’ demand
for more online communication and distribution
of market intelligence; facilitate knowledge
transfer between UNWTO and the Affiliates
and between the Affiliates themselves; and
encourage participation and creativity from all
Affiliates while reducing costs for both sides,
he said.
Mr Blanco also presented details of a new
publication ‘The Best of UNWTO’ which will
look at the main themes addressed by the
Organization over the past 35 years.
With contributions from leading
international experts, it will include
worldwide best practices, a quick
reference guide to other specific
ONLINE: www.UNWTO.org/ga
. 5
Для стран участниц
началась эра реформ
«Частным, как и государственным
присоединившимся членам ЮНВТО
рекомендуется более активно адапти-
ровать свою структуру», - подчеркнул
Генеральный секретарь ЮНВТО на
встрече во вторник.
Г-н Рифай указал на необходимость
реформирования для достижения
поставленных целей и продвижения
вперед с «новым и свежим подходом».
Это включает оценку трех существу-
ющих аспектов: бизнес, направления
и образование. Эти три аспекта так-
же будут способствовать укреплению
ЮНВТО
Он также предложил присоединив-
шимся членам сосредоточиться на
региональном присутствии, что будет
способствовать увеличению числа
участников и большей интеграции их
деятельности в Программе работы.
«Нам необходимо не упустить момент
и реализовать все необходимые планы
относительно продвижения в правиль-
ном направлении в предстоящие два
года, до следующей встречи Генераль-
ной Ассамблеи», - сказал он.
Детальная стратегия присоединив-
шихся членов будет обсуждаться на
следующей встрече «Мирового рынка
путешествий», которая состоится в
Лондоне в ноябре этого года, а также
на выставке «Фитур» в Мадриде, в ян-
варе 2010 года.
Используя растущее число участни-
ков как индикатор, можно говорить об
пропорционально увеличивающемся
количестве присоединившихся членов
в соответствии с требованиям рынка.
Генеральная ассамблея утвердило
членство 89 новых участников, что
позволило общему числу достичь ре-
кордной цифры – 409 участников.
Г-н Юлоджио Бордас, представитель
THR, консультанты по международно-
му туризму (Барселона, Испания), был
утвержден президентом присоединив-
шихся членов на следующие два года.
Он будет ответственен за реализацию
новых планов в ЮНВТО вместе с Ис-
полнительным директором присоеди-
нившихся членов - Хавьером Бланко.
UNWTO publications, and provide a guide to
Affiliates working in similar areas.
The book will respond to Affiliates’ demand
for examples of best practices in tourism
management, for a clear guide to the
Organization’s doctrine and activities, and
help reinforce UNWTO’s position as a global
reference point in tourism development for
public and private sectors and the general
public, he said.
6 . UNWTO Daily - General Assembly 2009
SMOOTHING THE WAY ALONG
THE SILK ROAD
Delegates will be looking to give new impetus
to the Silk Road project at a meeting being
held today (Thursday).
Fifteen years after the initiative was launched
in neighbouring Uzbekistan, the aim will be
to take stock of what has been done so far,
but more importantly to look at how to further
optimise the potential of this historic trade
route that links Europe and Asia.
High on the agenda will be ways to improve
tourism infrastructure and accessibility
and cross-border connections between
countries.
UNWTO sees regional cooperation as
being essential to the future expansion of
the project, with countries needing to work
together on marketing and promotion to
create a ‘single product’ to attract tourists
rather than trying to do things alone.
Reports will be presented to the meeting on
current impediments facing foreign travellers
and further initiatives that have been
introduced to help promote tourism such as
the Silk Road Mayors’ Forum.
The concept of the Mayors’ Forum has been
introduced to involve local authorities in the
overall development and promotion of the
Silk Road since cities are major points of
entry for foreign tourists.
Four of these forums have already been
Reactions from around the regions
Eduardo Fayos-Solá and Cordula Wohlmuther
(Regional Representation for Europe)
UNWTO Regional Representatives have given
their views on what their regions have most
been talking about at this year’s General
Assembly.
The general mood in Asia and the Pacific
remains very much upbeat despite the crisis
says Regional Representative Xu Jing. .“In
quite a few niche markets, such as cruises, it
has been business as usual.”
Domestic holidaymakers have helped to “patch
over” overall losses in international arrivals ,
and although long-haul traffic has been hit
short haul and intra-regional traffic have largely
been maintained.
The countries that have been the “real winners”
are those making “timely readjustments,” like
Malaysia. Traditionally dependent on European
and a few Asian markets, it has now opened
up new markets in the Middle East.
Another big boost to the region has been the
continuing growth of the Chinese outbound
market, he adds.
The Americas Regional Representative Carlos
Vogeler emphasized the euphoria surrounding
Brazil’s successful bid to stage the 2016
Olympic Games.
Assembly News
held successfully while a fifth one has
been scheduled for Rizhao City in China’s
Shandong Province in January 2010, at
which the scheme for a new UN Silk Road
Award will be finalised.
According to Dr. Harsh Varma, UNWTO’s
Director of Development Assistance, the
Awards scheme has been introduced to not
only reward cities which are good examples
of sustainable development but also to
motivate them to improve their natural and
cultural environments and standards of
tourist services and facilities.
In collaboration with UNDP and UNCTAD, a
Silk Road Initiative (SRI) has been launched
which focuses on trade, investment and
tourism. UNWTO is responsible for the
implementation of the tourism component
which includes seeking more investments for
tourism-related projects and marketing and
promotion.
The meeting is expected to involve two
working groups, one looking specifically
at easing frontier formalities and the other
geared to attracting financing and developing
joint marketing programmes.
The General Assembly will also be asked
to give its backing to a Silk Road Astana
Declaration that will call for greater co-
ordination between Members and highlight
UNWTO’s central role in expanding the
project.
Xu Jing, Regional Representative for Asia (left) and Ousmane
Ndiaye, Regional Representative for Africa (right)
“It’s very good news in that Members firmly
believe it will have a definite knock-on effect,”
he says. “Brazil itself is interested in working
with the other countries,” as they pointed out
in their presentation for the Games.
The general feeling in the Americas is that
they are “resisting the crisis quite well”.
Central America has shown particular
resilience, although there are fears the
situation in Honduras could have an effect
on its neighbours as they market themselves
together.
Mexico has been praised for the professional
way it has dealt with the flu crisis since it began
there. “They suffered early in the year but there
has been some excellent recovery work.” In
the past two months tourism to the country
had been “almost back to normal”.
With the Middle East region generally being
heavily affected by the economic downturn,
Members are very appreciative of UNWTO’s
Roadmap for Recovery initiative at this time
says Regional Representative Amr Abdel-
Ghaffar.
They also support the changes within the
Organization being proposed by the Secretary-
General ad interim.
Делегаты планируют возобновить работу
по проекту «Шелковый Путь» на встрече в
четверг (8 Октября).
Пятнадцать лет назад Узбекистан проявил
инициативу, и сегодня цель состоит в изучении
уже полученных результатов. Однако более
важно, рассмотреть пути дальнейшей
оптимизации исторического торгового пути,
который связывает Европу и Азию.
Главными вопросами повестки дня будут
способы улучшения инфраструктуры,
доступность туризма, а также международные
связи между странами.
ЮНВТО считает региональное сотрудничество
довольно важным для будущего развития
проекта. Вместе со странами, которым
необходима поддержка можно сотрудничать
в сфере маркетинга и продвижения и создать
«общий продукт» для привлечения туристов.
В докладах текущей встречи будут рассмотрены
различные трудности, возникающие у туристов.
Кроме того, будут представлены дальнейшие
инициативы по продвижению туризма, такие как
«Форум Акимов по вопросам Шелкового пути».
Города - это главные пункты посещения
иностранных туристов. Таким образом, понятие
«Форум Акимов » было введено, чтобы вовлечь
Following the election of Lebanon for Chairman
and Syria and Saudi Arabia as Vice-Chairmen
for the Middle East Commission, it was agreed
that a comprehensive proposal should be
submitted for enhancing the role of these
posts.
The Commission wants them to play a greater
part in identifying priority policy issues, defining
specific objectives, setting co-operation
agendas, shaping initiatives and partnership
arrangements and monitoring and evaluating
their results, he said.
The Africa region has been looking at two
major upcoming events, says Regional
Representative Ousmane Ndiaye, the first
a meeting to discuss work on the regional
project for promoting ecotourism in national
parks and protected areas and the second an
investment forum.
The action plan for ecotourism development is
to be discussed in Madrid in November
The Spanish capital will also be the venue for
the investment forum on 21 January which will
tie in with leading Spanish travel fair FITUR.
The main subjects to be discussed there
will include a new study on the Spanish
www.unwto.org
«Разглаживание»
Шелкового Пути
местные власти в развитие и оптимизацию
Шелкового Пути.
Четыре подобных Форума были уже
успешно проведены. В январе 2010 года
планируется провести пятый Форум в г. Рижао,
в Шаньдунской Области Китая, во время
которого будет завершен новый проект ООН
«Вознаграждение Шелкового Пути».
По мнению Д-ра Хэрш Вармы, Директора
Поддержки развития ЮНВТО проект
Вознаграждений был введен не только для
поощрения городов, которые являются
хорошими примерами устойчивого развития.
Проект нацелен и на мотивирование городов
улучшать свою культурную и окружающую
среду, ну и, конечно, сервис туристических
услуг.
«Инициатива Шелкого пути» (ИШП),
нацеленная на торговлю, инвестиции и туризм
была проявлена в сотрудничестве с ПРООН
и ЮНКТАД. В рамках ИШП, ЮНВТО является
ответственным за компонент туризма, который
включает поиск инвестиций для связанных с
туризмом проектов, маркетинга и продвижения.
Встреча предусматривает две рабочие группы:
первая - для облегчения пограничных
формальностей, вторая - для поисков
финансирования и развития совместных
маркетинговых программ.
Генеральную Ассамблею также попросят
дать поддержку «Декларации Астаны по
Шелковому Пути», которая призовет к большей
координации Членов и выдвинет на первый
план центральную роль ЮНВТО в развитии
проекта.
Carlos Vogeler and Alejandro Varela, Regional
Representation for the Americas
consumers’ outgoing market to Africa and
another on different sources for raising money.
Another session at the forum will be aimed
at bringing together potential investors from
Spain and African partners.
Regional Representative for Europe, Eduardo
Fayos-Sola said that nearly all the 44 country
Members had participated in the Regional
Commission meeting with Slovenia being
elected as Chairman.
To meet the twin objectives of giving more
service to the Members and at the same time
getting them to participate more, the recent
restructuring into four sub regions will help
to prioritize those countries that need more
attention.
Work is scheduled to start immediately on the
new Programme of Work that involves three
main channels.
These are consolidating the framework
of tourism policy: and how to implement
tourism policy (governance); while paying
special attention to the particular needs of
the four sub-regions, with a special focus on
competitiveness and sustainability.
www.unwto.org
World Tourism Day UNWTO Daily - General Assembly 2009 . 7

Themes and
hosts picked
for next two
WTDs

The themes and hosts for the next

two World Tourism Days (WTD)
have been approved by the General
Assembly.

In keeping with the United Nations

Year of Biodiversity, WTD 2010 will
celebrate Tourism and Biodiversity
and be hosted by China.

And the UN’s Rapprochement of

Cultures in 2011 will be matched
by UNWTO with Tourism –linking
cultures, to be hosted by Yemen.
8 . UNWTO Daily - General Assembly 2009
Staff Photos www.unwto.org

FAREWELL FROM
THE STAFF

Some of these faces you may

know well, others not all. But
all of them are UNWTO staff or
consultants who have helped
in putting together and running
this 18th session of the UNWTO
General Assembly.
We hope you have enjoyed your
stay in Astana, wish you a safe
trip home, and look forward to
seeing you again in Korea in two
years’ time.
 10 . UNWTO Daily - General Assembly 2009
PhotoGallery www.unwto.org

Assembly Spotlight
Astana 2009
www.unwto.org
PhotoGallery UNWTO Daily - General Assembly 2009 . 11

Astana 2009