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UNWTO Emphasises | More Sustainable Future For Tourism

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BERLIN: The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) stressed that sustainability was high on the agenda, leading efforts to ensure the sector lives up to its responsibilities for the planet as well as people, at ITB Berlin, a global tourism fair.

As the United Nations specialized agency leads the restart of global tourism following the unprecedented crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, three virtual events brought together voices from across the sector at the leading trade fair.

Against a backdrop of ongoing uncertainty, UNWTO outlined a positive narrative for tourism, stressing its historic ability to lead from the front and adapt to new challenges.

“Eliminate. Innovate. Circulate: Strategies from the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative”, hosted jointly by UNWTO, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, featured key insights from both public and private sectors. The event showcased how addressing plastic waste and pollution within tourism can support the sustainable recovery of the sector in the aftermath of the pandemic, noting both the progress that has been made and the challenges still to face.

Alongside UNWTO’s commitment to greater sustainability, a commitment to gender equality is a key priority. On the second day of ITB Berlin, and against the backdrop of Women’s History Month, UNWTO hosted a special panel on “Gamechangers” and female entrepreneurs within tourism. The event featured presentations by the five female winners of the UNWTO SDGs Startup Competition, outlining how their enterprises can contribute to addressing key issues such as gender equality, poverty alleviation, and providing decent work for all.

Also at ITB Berlin, UNWTO looked ahead to tourism’s restart, bringing together leading voices from across the media to explore the need for a new narrative to fit the rethink and restart of tourism with sustainability as the driving goal.

Alongside hosting events, UNWTO also contributed expert insights to a discussion on Tourism for Sustainable Development. The event was organized by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the German Corporation for International Development (GIZ).

Tightened Travel Restrictions | A third of Destinations Are Shut To Tourism UNWTO

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MADRID: One in three destinations worldwide is now completely closed to international tourism. According to the latest data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the emergence of new variants of the COVID-19 virus has prompted many governments to reverse efforts to ease restrictions on travel, with total closures to tourists most prevalent in Asia and the Pacific and Europe.

The UNWTO Travel Restrictions Report provides a comprehensive overview of the regulations in place in 217 destinations worldwide. While previous editions had shown a movement towards easing or lifting restrictions on travel, the latest report shows that the persistent seriousness of the epidemiological situation has caused governments to adopt a more cautious approach.

As of the beginning of February, 32% of all destinations worldwide (69 in total) are completely closed for international tourism. Of these, around just over half (38 destinations) have been closed for at least 40 weeks.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Polilikashvili says: “Travel restrictions have been widely used to restrict the spread of the virus. Now, as we work to restart tourism, we must recognize that restrictions are just one part of the solution. Their use must be based on the latest data and analysis and consistently reviewed so as to allow for the safe and responsible restart of a sector upon which many millions of businesses and jobs depend.”

The ninth edition of the UNWTO Travel Restrictions Report shows that regional differences with regards to travel restrictions remain. Of the 69 destinations where borders are completely closed to tourists, 30 are in Asia and the Pacific, 15 are in Europe, 11 are in Africa, 10 are in the Americas and three are in the Middle East.

At the same time, the UNWTO research also indicates a trend towards adopting a more nuanced, evidence and risk-based approach to implementing travel restrictions. Growing numbers of destinations worldwide now require international tourists to present a negative PCR or antigen test upon arrival and also provide contact details for tracing purposes. Indeed, 32% of all worldwide destinations now have the presence of such tests as their main requirement for international arrivals often combined with quarantine, while the same amount has made tests a secondary or tertiary measure.

IATA ASKs UK PM | Include Air Transport in UK Economic Restart Plans

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The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called on the UK government to include a vision for lifting border restrictions and restarting air transport in its recovery plans for the UK economy, due to be outlined on 22 February by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The COVID-19 shutdown of the UK economy has resulted in the biggest one-year decline in GDP since 1709. Air passenger numbers fell by 76% in 2020. London lost its position as the world’s most connected city. Around 860,000 aviation, travel and tourism jobs were lost or sustained only due to government furlough schemes. If current border restrictions remain in place, there is no prospect of a recovery in air transport and these negative impacts will continue, damaging the UK economy for a generation or more.

Prior to COVID-19, the UK aviation industry supported around 960,000 jobs and GBP 57 billion in GDP (direct, indirect or induced impacts). A further 465,000 jobs were supported through aviation-related travel and tourism. It is therefore vital that the air transport industry is included in the government’s plan for rolling back lockdown restrictions.

“We recognize that the government has a difficult balancing act between unlocking the economy and safeguarding public health. We are not demanding a date for border restrictions to be lifted. But Prime Minister Johnson must set out a vision for how international travel can and will be restarted as the pandemic ends. That vision would include explaining how a phased reduction of restrictions would work, and the levels to which infections or hospitalizations would need to fall to trigger those reductions. With this science-based approach locked in, the industry and the public will have the certainty to plan for take-off,” said Rafael Schvartzman, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Europe.

UNWTO Election | Shaika Mai Challenges Zurab Pololikashvili

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MANAMA: Shaika Mai Al-Khalifa from the kingdom of Bahrain will challenge the incumbent, Zurab Pololikashvili, for the role of Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

Pololikashvili was appointed to the role in 2017 and will seek a second three-year mandate during an executive council meeting of the body in Madrid this month.

Shaika Mai is currently in the Spanish capital for the event, presenting her candidacy for the role.

During her stay, she has met with a wide range of representatives from member states to set out her vision for the future of the tourism sector.

Last year was a hugely challenging one for tourism, with international arrivals falling by 72 per cent over the first ten months of 2020.

The sector was hit by restrictions on travel, low consumer confidence and a global struggle to contain the Covid-19 virus, all of which contributed to the worst year on record in the history of tourism.

According to the latest tourism data from the UNWTO, destinations welcomed 900 million fewer international tourists between January and October when compared with the same period of 2019.

This translates into a loss of US$935 billion in export revenues from international tourism, more than ten times the loss in 2009 under the impact of the global economic crisis.

Ahead of the meeting, Shaika Mai said: “I am enjoying the beautiful city of Madrid, and my visit so far has been very successful.

“I am confidently approaching a winning majority based upon the commitments of those who believe that it is time for a paradigm shift for the tourism sector.”  

Shaika Mai  Al-Khalifa promised a dynamic and transparent leadership of UNWTO.

In her vision statement, she states that within the first twelve months of her term she will have listened to every member state of the organisation and drafted a strategy based on what the members need.

She also pledges to work tirelessly to secure the resources required to realize those aspirations.

Shaika Mai added: “I am confident that the tourism sector will recover from this crisis as it has recovered from many previous crises.

“I believe that we need to work closely on the issue of travel protocols, in addition to working with governments on fiscal support schemes.

“It has been extremely difficult due to travel restrictions to travel to the member states and meet the national tourism organisations in person; but I have done the most I could do given the limitation of time and the circumstances of the pandemic.

“I am grateful to the commitment I received from so many countries and look forward to starting a new era.

“We are now confident we have a winning majority to deliver on this mandate.”

The Arab Tourism Ministers’ Council earlier unanimously approved the nomination of Shaika Mai for the role.

She is currently president of the Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities (BACA)

Fundació Mallorca Turisme Receives | Award of ‘UNWTO. Quest Certification’

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MADID: The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has awarded its UNWTO.QUEST Certification to Fundació Mallorca Turisme. The award further advances UNWTO’s work to promote and recognize excellence and quality in destination management for the benefit of the whole of the sector. At the same time, it boosts competitiveness in Mallorca, one of Europe’s top destinations, and emphasizes the importance of placing sustainability at the heart of future growth.

Fundació Mallorca Turisme, a UNWTO Affiliate Member, becomes the fourth DMO (Destination Management Organization) in the world and the first in Europe to receive the UNWTO.QUEST Certification. The international benchmark was created to enhance and recognize excellence and quality in the three key performance areas at the DMO level: strategic leadership, effective execution and efficient governance

Fundació Mallorca Turisme ranked particularly highly in the fields of promotion and communication and in fostering large events. The DMO was also recognized as an inspiring example in the advancement in competitiveness and for working with other public institutions and relevant partners, including academia.

Welcoming the news, Catalina Cladera, President of the Consell Insular de Mallorca, said: “Mallorca is proud to have obtained the UNWTO.QUEST Certification, a distinction that positions us as one of the leading tourism destinations for efficient governance, strategic leadership and effective execution of plans and actions. Our island has demonstrated, through this comprehensive examination, that the strategy and formulas for tourism management are in line with the principles promoted by UNWTO.”

UNWTO.QUEST Certification, which is valid for four years, with possibility of renewal, is an example of the UNWTO’s leading work in the field of tourism standards. The initiative highlights the importance and success of public-private-community partnerships as well as horizontal and vertical cooperation in institutional governance. UNWTO.QUEST aims to strengthen internal and institutional capacities to face pressing challenges, among them reviving their reputation and brand, restoring tourists’ confidence and boosting demand.

‘Land Of The Rising Sun’ | Japan Wins ITB Book Award 2021

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BERLIN: Every year, the annual ITB Book Awards recognise the most original publications, mainly in German, but also in German translation.

In the run-up to ITB Berlin NOW 2021, which due to the pandemic will be an entirely virtual event, the large-format wall calendar ‘Japan 2021 – Land of the Rising Sun ‘(Weingarten/Athesia Kalenderverlag) was picked for the Travel Calendar Award.” This magnificent calendar features unique picture-postcard views, with examples of impressive landscape photography and historical cultural attractions. They include natural attractions such as Japan’s Mount Fuji, along with the Churei-to pagoda in Fujiyoshida, photographed by Michele Falzone. Also featured are the famous Meoto-Iwa wedded rocks, photographed by Gavin Hellier. Joined together by a rope symbolising marriage, they are situated in the Pacific on the Shima Peninsula near the Ise-Shima National Park. The months of February and March as well as August to November evoke the magic of the former ancient imperial capital city, inspiring viewers to visit Kyoto and explore Japan’s cultural soul “, was how the judges commented their choice.

The aim of the ITB Book Awards is to focus attention beyond national borders on the broad spectrum of important travel and tourism publications. ITB Berlin is partnering with Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels. The ITB Book Awards do not confer prize money.