Historical decision: approval of the UNWTO Framework Convention on Tourism Ethics

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1 Historical decision: approval of the UNWTO Framework Convention on Tourism Ethics Interview with Pascal Lamy 2017 UNWTO Video Competition Interview with Richard Quest See you in Saint Petersburg in 2019! The Chairman of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics talks to GA Daily about the relevance of the approval of the UNWTO Framework Convention on Tourism Ethics UNWTO has unveiled the winners of the 2017 Video Competition - Tunisia, Chile, Indonesia, Greece, Egypt and Bhutan were the winners in the regional categories. Indonesia also won the People s Choice Award. Richard Quest, CNN International shares his views on the value of tourism and the relations between destinations and media See you in Saint Petersbug in The General Assembly has decided to hold its 23rd in Russia. READ MORE READ MORE READ MORE READ MORE

2 EDITORIAL See you in Saint Petersburg in 2019! Saint Petersburg has been selected to be the host of the 23rd session of the UNWTO General Assembly in The selection was made at the 22nd session, currently being conducted in Chengdu, China. Widely admired for its majestic architecture, cultural richness and historical significance, Saint Petersburg includes treasures within the art collections of the Hermitage and the Russian Museum, among other notable attractions. UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai stated: tourism in the Russian Federation is full of potential and to celebrate our next General Assembly in one of the most relevant cities of the entire world, Saint Petersburg, is a great opportunity to spotlight the progress made by the Russian Federation within the tourism sector. Director Sandra Carvão Chief, Communications and Publications UNWTO Content Rut Gómez Sobrino UNWTO Media Officer Design Alberto G. Uceda Head of Design UNWTO

3 ARTICLE Special Meeting on the impact of natural disasters in the Caribbean held on the sidelines of the UNWTO General Assembly A Special Meeting was organized on the occasion of GA to discuss how to support the destinations affected by hurricane Irma and the earthquake in the southern coast of Mexico. The impact of these natural disasters on infrastructure and natural resources has been significant. Tourism is the main pillar of the economies and lifeline of Caribbean destinations. The meeting identified three lines of action: UN Chief Executive Board which gathers the heads of the UN system. A working group was created to follow up on the meeting s discussions in close coordination with the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) and the recovery of affected destinations will take centre stage at the UNWTO/Government of Jamaica/ World Bank Conference taking place in Jamaica later this year. Supporting the recovery of the affected destinations through the private sector and aid agencies. Special attention should be given to SMEs due to their lack of means to rebuild and recover. Sharing experiences on resilience and crisis management Developing strong and coordinated communication The group also agreed to propose the General Assembly to adopt a special resolution expressing solidarity and support to the affected destinations and calling for the support of the international community. UNWTO Secretary-General will convey the concerns and needs of the tourism sector in the region to the coming meeting of the

4 ARTICLE Historical decision: approval of the UNWTO Framework Convention on Tourism Ethics The member States of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) approved today an historical document -the UNWTO Framework Convention on Tourism Ethics. The Convention, approved in its english version at the 22nd UNWTO General Assembly transforms the Code of Ethics for Tourism into an international convention, the first in the life of the Organization. The Convention covers the responsibilities of all stakeholders in sustainable tourism development, providing a framework that recommends an ethical and sustainable modus operandi, including the right to tourism, the freedom of movement for tourists and the rights of employees and professionals. In an interconnected world where the business volume of tourism equals or even surpasses that of oil exports, food products or automobiles, it is important to set out a legal framework to ensure that growth is dealt with responsibly and that it can be sustained over time: benefit of all, said the Chairman of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics (WCTE), Pascal Lamy. Appointed as Chairman of the WTCE in 2013, Pascal Lamy, together with his colleagues, has been instrumental in the process of presenting the Convention on Tourism Ethics to the 22nd UNWTO General Assembly. The conversion of the Code, which was adopted in 1999, into a proper Convention represents a significant step towards ensuring that tourism development is done with full respect for sustainable development, social issues, local community development, improves understanding between cultures and addresses labour issues. This is an historical moment for UNWTO, said the Secretary- General, Taleb Rifai. The approval of the Convention is a strong legacy of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development that we celebrate this year. It is also a strong sign that countries are committed to make tourism a force for a better future for all, it reinforces UNWTO institutional outreach in the UN system, he added. Additional information: About the Framework Convention UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism

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6 INTERVIEW TO RICHARD QUEST CNN INTERNATIONAL Long-standing relations with the media build bridges that both parties cross in the future. Foremost international business broadcaster Richard Quest is one of the best-known faces of the CNN team. Quest, who moderated the Assembly s high-level debate on tourism and the SDGs, shares his views on the prospects of the sector. Q- You have been reporting about the tourism sector for the last decade. How do you see the evolution of the sector in the coming years? A- One has to bear in mind that tourism is one of the fastestgrowing sectors in the world; its percentage of GDP is 10% and it represents 1 out of 10 jobs. It significance is not in doubt. The question is how to grow in a sustainable way. Can the benefits be enjoyed by all or do we end up with a race to the bottom? That is going to be the big challenge: to create a tourism industry that is meaningful, sustainable and profitable. Q- UNWTO works closely with the media and contributes to enhancing the capacities of journalists to report on tourism. What in your view is the role of the media community in supporting sustainable tourism? A- The role of the media is not about promoting one view or another. Sustainable tourism is a policy already developed in the context of the United Nations and more precisely in the World Tourism Organization, as part of the SDGs. Therefore we have to report about it, about the progress being made and whether it has sense or whether it goes off the rails. I think that one thing that the media can become obsessed The job of media is to report on what is happening ( ) and to point out the successes and those situations where more work needs to be done. But we are not in the business of promoting somebody else s agenda

7 RICHARD QUEST, CNN INTERNATIONAL TALKS TO GA DAILY AT THE SIDELINES OF THE 22ND UNWTO ASSEMBLY with is the question of if we are creating this framework, if the goals are being met, if UNWTO is doing the right thing or the wrong thing That is not our job. Our job is to report on what is happening, how it is being enforced and how is being monitored, and to point out the successes and those situations where more work needs to be done. But we are not in the business of promoting somebody else s agenda. It would be a great mistake for people to believe that this is the role of the media. Q- One of UNWTO s areas of work is to support tourism administrations You cannot engage with the media only when things are going well communication with the media. What would be your advice to destinations to improve their media relations? A- You cannot engage with the media only when things are going well. You cannot contact people like me and say I have a great story for you, come along or why do you not come and promote this? A good story is a good story, but the real relationships are those that are built over a long period of time, where the media grows to understand the good that is happening in your country, the difficulties there and what is being done to solve those. Tourism ministers who are in a regular dialogue with the media saying this is what we are doing about sustainable tourism, this is what we are doing about terrorism, this is what we are doing about security or by the way, we have an issue with overcapacity or overbuilding on the seafront, this is what we are doing These are the ministers who will have my ear when they have a good story or a challenging story. So my advice to any tourism minister or tourism bureau is that media relations cannot be turned on and off. It does not work that way. You will get burnt. Longstanding relations with the media build bridges that both parties cross in the future. >>

8 ARTICLE UNWTO and StudentMarketing join forces to underline the relevance of student travel Travel for study reasons is one of the segments that have resulted from the profound diversification of the tourism sector in the last years. With the aim of enforcing the uniqueness of this segment, the World Tourism Organization and StudentMarketing have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreement in the framework of the 22nd session of the UNWTO General Assembly. According to StudentMarketing, a UNWTO Affiliate Member, the student travel segment amounts to US$ 120 billion in annual spending (including tuition, accommodation and living costs). Research data from 2016 affirms that 1,000 international students generate 14.6 million in revenues and create 220 new jobs in a destination. This generates tax revenue, enhances talent pools and attracts further investment. By 2020, China is targeting 500,000 international students. By 2025, Australia targets 750,000 international students, France 470,000 and Germany 350,000. Travelling for purposes related to education and capacity building, consistent areas of work of UNWTO, has become an interesting market niche within the tourism sector. Through this MoU we trust that this unique segment will gain the consideration that it deserves, said Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Secretary-General, at the signing of the agreement. We are proud to be continuing our close relationship with UNWTO, not only as an Affiliate Member but also through our expertise in market intelligence and data, which will only further enhance how market participants such as destinations can adapt to the growing and economically important student travel segment, added Igor Skibickij, COO of StudentMarketing. The MoU undersigned by UNWTO and StudentMarketing recognizes the growing importance of this niche. The agreement acknowledges not only the relevance of further research and more in-depth knowledge of the sector, but also the importance of educating and assisting stakeholders. The partnership reached builds upon earlier collaboration, including the ITB Youth Travel Summit, ICEF Destinations Meet Student Travel and a number of other industry seminars and workshops for UNWTO members. It also includes the elaboration of the white paper Education Tourism & Student Travel, produced in

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10 INTERVIEW WITH PASCAL LAMY, CHAIRMAN WORLD COMMITTEE ON TOURISM ETHICS Pascal Lamy, Chairman of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics: The approval of the Convention on Tourism Ethics is a major highlight of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. Appointed as Chairman of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics in 2013, Pascal Lamy has been instrumental in the process of presenting the Convention on Tourism Ethics to the 22nd UNWTO General Assembly. Q. The exponential growth of the tourism sector should translate into higher ethical responsibility. What, in your opinion, are the main challenges that the sector faces in that regard? A. In the last decades, the number of travellers has multiplied by three and the tourism sector has been growing at a rate of 4% per year. This means that it is necessary to make sure that the 1,235 million tourists travelling today do not become 1,235 problems. Protecting the environment, respecting human rights particularly those of societies most vulnerable groups and preserving cultural richness and traditions, as well as tangible and intangible heritage, are some of our current challenges. These are also the pillars of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, pillars that should guide the responsible growth of the sector in the coming decades. Q. What is the Convention on Tourism Ethics and what impact do you expect it to have in the sector? A. We presently have a Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, which was adopted in 1999, on how to develop tourism in a responsible and sustainable manner. It is addressed to all stakeholders alike: governments, tourism operators, the hotel sector, tourism workers and travellers. It has been working reasonably well, but we feel that we have to make it stronger. With tourism s growth we have to take the collective commitment to ethical tourism a step further, via the conversion of the Code into a proper Convention. Probably not all Member States of UNWTO will sign this, but we expect a lot of support. The Code of Ethics is for Member States, operators, industry and

11 consumers. The Convention, being an international, legallybinding treaty, can only be signed and ratified by Member States. Consequently, they are the ones that have to make sure that all actors of their national tourism sectors are responsible and work together to make tourism more ethical. The approval of the Convention, is an ideal achievement of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development that we are celebrating throughout Q. What are the key pillars of the Convention on Tourism Ethics? A. Based on the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, the Convention has a set of ethical principles that encompass key areas of responsible development, which largely coincide with the UN 2030 Agenda: Sustainable development (protection of the environment and wildlife, promotion of local culture, waste and energy management, climate change and pollution control); Social issues (poverty alleviation, quality of life, protection of children, empowerment of women, accessibility to tourism for all); Local community development (local employment opportunities through tourism, local consumption patterns, respect of the rights of indigenous people); Improved understanding between cultures (ensuring respect of host societies, transparent tourist information); and Labour issues (equal opportunities and nondiscrimination, paid leave, freedom of association, working conditions, career development programmes). Q. How was the text of the Convention prepared? A. Shortly after the 2015 UNWTO General Assembly, it was decided that the Code of Ethics would have to be converted into an international convention. The UNWTO Secretariat was requested to start preparations to this effect and a Working Group was set up to draft the convention. All UNWTO Member States were invited to be part of the Working Group. As Chairman of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics I participated in all meetings of this Working Group. With tourism s growth we take the collective commitment to ethical tourism a step further via the conversion of the Code into a proper Convention.

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13 WINNERS VIDEO COMPETITION W I N N E R V I D E O C O M P E T I T I O N A F R I C A T U N I S I A W I N N E R V I D E O C O M P E T I T I O N A M E R I C A S C H I L E W I N N E R V I D E O C O M P E T I T I O N E A S T A S I A A N D T H E P A C I F I C I N D O N E S I A W I N N E R V I D E O C O M P E T I T I O N E U R O P E G R E E C E

14 WINNERS VIDEO COMPETITION W I N N E R V I D E O C O M P E T I T I O N M I D D L E E A S T E G Y P T W I N N E R V I D E O C O M P E T I T I O N S O U T H A S I A B H U T A N W I N N E R V I D E O C O M P E T I T I O N P E O P L E S C H O I C E I N D O N E S I A

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