Fostering Tourism for Development

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2 Tourism is increasingly recognized as a tool to promote economic growth, job creation and inclusive development. Tourism has also a key role to play in fostering a better future for our planet; in fighting climate change and promoting conservation. The capacity of tourism to contribute to more sustainable societies has been reflected in the new 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and its 17 universal Sustainable Development Goals. Tourism is included in three of these Goals (Goals 8, 12 and 14) for its contribution to economic growth and jobs, sustainable production and consumption and marine conservation. Yet, tourism s cross-cutting nature and multiplier effect on many other sectors positions it as a perfect fit to advance all the 17 Goals. As a Specialised Agency of the United Nations, UNWTO is committed to work with its Members States to advance tourism s contribution to this ambitious agenda. Much of this work is reflected in supporting directly our Members States through technical cooperation. I am thus very pleased to present you the first edition of the UNWTO Technical Cooperation Newsletter which presents a bird s eye view of UNWTO s work in this area, which is only possible due to the increasing number of partners and donors joining our efforts. I trust that this Newsletter will prove useful in providing our Members with an overview of the different types of technical cooperation UNWTO provides. I would also like to take this opportunity to reiterate to our Members that we are here to serve you and that we shall do our utmost to meet your requests for technical cooperation and work hand in hand with you in making tourism an effective tool in your development goals. In closing, I would like to show our appreciation to the Government of the People s Republic of China for hosting with UNWTO the First World Conference on Tourism for Development, to be held in Beijing from May The event will bring together leaders from across the global tourism and development community for the purpose of engaging in insightful, innovative and collaborative dialogue with a view to advancing the contribution of tourism to the Sustainable Development Goals. Taleb Rifai Secretary-General 2

3 Technical Cooperation is at the very heart of UNWTO s work. UNWTO s Technical Cooperation provides support to Member States covering a range of needs, from general tourism development planning and relevant components such as tourism statistics, hotel classification, marketing and promotion, human resource development, and tourism legislation, to specific forms of tourism development such as ecotourism or rural tourism. For the past ten years, the UNWTO s Technical Cooperation Programme has implemented over 210 missions and projects in more than 75 countries, ranging from national level tourism master planning projects, capacity-building within the sector, and implementation of marketing policies and strategies, among others, to development projects at the micro-level, focusing on developing tourism as a means of sustainable livelihood at local community level in least developed countries. This biannual newsletter aims to share with you all the work UNWTO does, in collaboration with the international community and the valuable cooperation of its Members States and partners, to promote an effective and sustainable model of socio-economic development through tourism. I trust that this Newsletter will prove useful to you in understanding the various ways in which the Organization assists its Members and the tourism sector worldwide. I would also like to thank the many partners that support UNWTO Technical Cooperation work without whom our work would not be possible. Shanzhong Zhu Executive Director Technical Cooperation and Services 3

4 Working with our Partners on Tourism and Poverty Alleviation Thanks to the generous contribution from the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), UNWTO launched eight new projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ghana, Lebanon, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe during the first semester of Africa Ghana Tunisia Uganda Zambia / Zimbabwe Nzulezu Project To improve visitor facilities and services in the Nzulezu stilt village, conserve the natural and cultural heritage of the site, and build capacities of local people providing goods and services to tourists with a view to attracting more visitors and creating job and income opportunities for the local people. Image Campaign for Tourism Recovery To support Tunisia s tourism recovery and thus employment in the sector, in particular for poorer groups of the society, by strengthening the image of the country as a preferred tourism destination through an innovative international image campaign. Kisiizi Falls project To develop accommodation facilities, a local museum and excursions at the Kisizi falls with a view to enhance opportunities for local people from tourism development. UNWTO General Assembly Legacy Project To build recreation and tourism resource facilities in the cities of Livingstone in Zambia and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, commemorating the UNWTO General Assembly held in August Asia Pacific Timor Leste Marketing of Community-based Ecotourism in Timor-Leste To strengthen the marketing of community-based ecotourism (CBET) initiatives in Timor-Leste with a view to attracting more visitors to community-based ecotourism enterprises in the country and increasing the revenue of the local enterprises. Europe Bosnia & Herzegovina Adventure Park for Children in Nature To develop new tourism attractions and activities, including an adventure park, in the Olympic Centre of Jahorina in order to create the right conditions for further tourism development and increase of employment and income, particularly for the non-winter periods. Middle East Lebanon Conserving Heritage and Increasing Economic Opportunities on the Lebanon Mountain Trail To develop and expand the guesthouses network along the Lebanon Mountain Trail, and improve conservation, mapping and accessibility of the trail and the cultural heritage sites along the trail. 4

5 Europamundo Foundation is another important partner for UNWTO. Within this collaboration, UNWTO has recently completed the Kartong ecotourism project in the the Islamic Republic of the Gambia. The project focuses on the development of new and sustainable community-based tourism activities and SME development to create employment opportunities. As part of the project, the Kartong Tesito Camp was renovated, with proper waste disposal arrangements, and new activities were created, such as Gambian cookery classes with the village women and youths. The renovated Kartong Tesito Camp was inaugurated on 13 February 2016 with the presence of representatives of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture of the Gambia, the Gambia Tourism Board, the village Head, and representatives of Women and Youth Associations, as well as other partners involved in this project. Read more about this project: In addition to the Kartong ecotourism project, UNWTO has also partnered with Europamundo on a new project in the Thala Barivat district in northeastern Cambodia. The project will focus on promoting environmental conservation and community-based ecotourism in the villages of Borey Osvay and Preah Rumkel, both within the Thala Barivat District. It will include capacity-building for community members, particularly women, to enable them to improve and manage community-based ecotourism initiatives. Ecotourism facilities in the area will be renovated and mechanisms for the protection of natural resources, especially for forests and river dolphins, will be improved. Technical Cooperation Activities in 2015* EUROPE (3) Missions: Belarus (2) Romania ASIA (6) Projects: India, Mongolia, Timor Leste Missions: China, India (2) MIDDLE EAST (3) AMERICAS (4) Projects: Aruba, Haiti Missions: Guatemala, Haiti Projects: Oman, Qatar Missions: United Arab Emirates AFRICA (19) Projects: Burundi (2), Cameroon, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Morocco, Mozambique (2), Namibia, Republic of Congo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe Missions: Gambia, Republic of Congo, Seychelles * In 2015, 23 Technical Assistance Projects, and 12 Technical Assistance Missions were completed or, are currently under implementation in 27 countries 5

6 Supporting Haiti s National Statistics System and the Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) New Classification System for Tourism Accommodation Establishments in Morocco Interview with Philippe Stephenson Operational Coordinator, Regional Integrated Programme for Tourism Development of the South Coast (RIAT SOUTH) Ministry of Tourism and Creative Industries of Haiti Why has the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) focused on Tourism in Haiti? The Strategic Development Plan for Haiti (PSDH) adopted in 2012 establishes tourism as a pillar of the economic recovery for the country, targeting the development of the sector as a means to generate wealth and create jobs. PSDH called for investments in sectors that contributed to competitiveness such as tourism and manufacturing, by deploying resources on a regional approach. Tourism offers alternatives for employment and income generation from the sustainable use of different natural resources of Haiti and its cultural heritage distributed throughout Haiti s km of coast. Why supporting the development of the tourism satellite account? In 2014, the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) granted a donation of US$ 36 million to the Haitian Government for an Integrated Area Development Program in the South, designed by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Industries (MTIC), to support the development of a region of the country while strengthening governance linked to this development. The concept of a satellite account was developed by the United Nations to measure the size of economic sectors that are not defined as industries in the national accounts. Tourism, for example, is an amalgam of various industries such as transportation, accommodation, restaurants (food & beverage), recreation and entertainment and travel agencies. It was during the development of programme guidelines that the MTIC inevitably considered the need to establish a Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) and called upon the UNWTO to do so. Why working with the UNWTO? In a country like Haiti where it is currently difficult to obtain statistics, to implement such a programme suggested by UNWTO could become an example to be followed in all sectors. Interview with Mr. Lahcen Zelmat President of the National Federation of Hotel Industry (FNIH) What does this new classification system bring in terms of innovation to Morocco as a tourist destination? The reform of the hotel classification system has been designed to offer a sustainable competitive advantage to Morocco as a tourist destination. It provides continuous product adjustment to changing demands in the market in terms of quality, security, hygiene and sustainable development, the diversification of the hotel industry while improving quality through the implementation of a monitoring scheme based on customer reviews and a hotel classification scheme which converts technical and structural criteria into quality standards. What are other benefits of the new hotel classification system for the FNIH and its members? The reform of our hotel classification system is a central part of Morocco s Tourism Strategy Vision 2020 which aims to consolidate and increase the competitiveness of the hotel industry by adapting it to the increasing international demand for quality throughout the entire value chain of the tourism sector. This project will certainly have a positive impact on our hotel industry, by adopting a more readable and simple classification approach to implement during the phases of achievement and operation of accommodation units through: Integration of the provisional and technical classification in the process of assigning construction permits; Differentiation of hygiene and security issues; Introduction of a provisional classification system before the opening of tourism accommodation establishments, to be delivered with the operational permit; Introduction of audit or mystery guest visits; and Adoption of a rating system by classification criteria. What do you think about the project? In addition to the expertise that -UNWTO puts at our disposal to achieve this important project, we appreciate the established consultation and transparency that characterizes our collaboration. 6

7 Supporting UNWTO Members States Tourism Planning Implementation of the New Tourism Strategy and Action Plan in Qatar Since 2013, UNWTO and the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) have been collaborating closely in assisting the QTA in the implementation of key activities outlined in their Tourism Strategy, particularly in the areas of legislation and regulations, product development, marketing and promotion, investment promotion, statistical strengthening, visa facilitation, formulation of a guide training programme and delivering capacity building programmes for tourism stakeholders implemented through the UNWTO- Themis Foundation. To date, the following have been achieved: Regulations and By-Laws on Desert Safari Camps and Desert Safaris, Tour Guides, Travel Agents and Tourism Operators, Events, Conferences and Exhibitions, Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours for Outbound Travel Agents Assessment Report on the current state of national tourism statistics Capacity building in product development Report on Visa Facilitation UNWTO-Themis capacity building courses on Tourism Strategy, Cultural Tourism Product Development, and Tourism Project Development successfully conducted in 2014, and, courses on Human Capital Development: a factor for quality service, and, Executive Training Workshop on e-marketing in Tourism Formulation of a long-term Tour Guide Policy and Strategy for Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) Specific thematic tour guide training modules on a variety of types of tourism products (culture, nature, history and archaeology, human-made attractions) and types of tours (walking tours, tours on a moving vehicle, language training, etc.) In 2016, UNWTO will complete activities on investment promotion and marketing. Sustainable Tourism Development Plan in the Republic of Congo In 2015, UNWTO, in collaboration with UNDP, prepared a Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy and Master Plan for the Government of the Republic of Congo. In addition to the Master Plan, UNWTO also prepared the National Tourism Policy. The project was implemented in two phases: a first phase, conducted between April to June 2015, where a team of 18 international and national experts undertook a detailed situation analysis of the current factors impacting on tourism development in the country and identifying the main areas for opportunity and growth. A national seminar was held on 8 July 2015 to present the situation analysis and main areas of focus of the proposed Policy, Strategy and Master Plan to public and private sector stakeholders. Phase II was conducted between August to November 2015 through which the Policy, Strategy and Master Plan were formulated. These were presented to stakeholders at a national conference held on 18 November 2015, presided by H.E. the Minister of Tourism and Environment, Josue Rodrigue Ngouonimba. The Tourism Policy, Strategy and Master Plan have been approved. As a result of the excellent collaboration between UNDP and UNWTO, and in response to a priority need identified in the Master Plan, UNDP and UNWTO are currently in discussions for the launch of a new project on hotel classification for the Republic of Congo. Also, in response to the awareness raised of the importance of tourism to the diversification of the country s economic sector, the World Bank, through its PADE programme (Projet d Appui a la Diversification de l Economie), has also requested UNWTO s support in developing a skills development programme for hotel employees. Both new projects will be launched in Aerial view of rural beach in Haiti 7

8 Preparing a new Tourism Development Master Plan for Shandong Province, China Building on the successful implementation of the Shandong Province Tourism Development Master Plan , and the Shandong Coastal Tourism Development Plan , both formulated by UNWTO and executed by the Shandong Tourism Development Administration (SDTA), UNWTO has been requested by the Shandong Development and Reform Committee (SDRC) and SDTA to provide technical assistance to develop a new tourism master plan for Shandong Province. In October 2015, UNWTO fielded a formulation mission to Shandong to prepare the project document for the development of the new provincial tourism master plan, and in February 2016, an agreement was signed between SDRC and UNWTO for the development of the new Master Plan. Subsequently, UNWTO deployed a team of experts to assist in the next stage of tourism development in Shandong Province. From March to July 2016, the experts will work together with officials from SDRC and SDTA to prepare the Shandong Tourism Development Master Plan The team will first assess the current situation of the tourism sector in the province, and identify the issues that are impeding or slowing down its development. Based on this, it will provide vision, goals and objectives to attain over the next ten years, taking into consideration the sector s potential, China s new National Tourism Strategy, named the 515 Strategy, which places tourism at the forefront of the Chinese economy, and the evolution of tourism around the world, as well as propose strategies to achieve the objectives. The broad objectives of the project are to build on the solid foundation of the tourism industry in Shandong engendered by the two previous master plans, upgrade the tourism sector to develop it as a pillar of the Shandong economy, leverage the role of tourism as a propeller and platform for the growth of other sectors, increase expenditure by tourists in Shandong by developing new products and multiplying opportunities to consume and spend, and apply the latest marketing techniques, in particular using technology to improve the condition and distribution of products and explore the new channels available through the Internet to reach and engage potential markets. The plan will be guided by the national concepts of Tourism Plus and Internet Plus. In the second half of 2016, UNWTO will assist Shandong Province to prepare specific marketing strategies for the European, Japanese and Korean market, which will build on the proposed product development and marketing recommendation of the new Provincial Tourism Master Plan. The Executive Director of UNWTO Technical Cooperation, Mr. Zhu Shanzhong (left), and the Director General of the Shandong Development and Reform Commission, Mr. Wang Zhonglin (right), sign the cooperation agreement for the Shandong Tourism Master Plan project. Contact Us World Tourism Organization Technical Cooperation and Services techcoop@unwto.org Follow us: 8