Destinations

plus

Global Lodging Forum Paris: Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Secretary General, explains its latest actions

7 min reading time

Published on 01/03/13 - Updated on 17/03/22

Opening the Global Lodging Forum in Paris, Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization, has insisted on the vital importance of tourism in terms of economic growth, jobs and environmental protection. He also described the various actions taken by his organization to convince the heads of States and Government to increase their actions in favour of Tourism. Hereafter is his speech in full.

Watch the speech on Hospitality ON TV : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEbHxkQzipUDear Friends,For those of you who are not familiar with our work, UNWTO is the UN specialized agency in charge of advancing the development of responsible and sustainable tourism.We have therefore before us a growing yet very rewarding challenge.Travel and tourism have become a global phenomenon, playing a great role in the life of millions and millions of people.Tourism means economic growth, employment, exports and development opportunities.Today, hundreds of millions of people live off, working in, and benefiting from, this wonderful sector. In Europe alone, tourism accounts for 19 million jobs. International tourism represents 30% of all world exports, bringing in much needed relieve to the balance of payments of countries around the world, particularly in Europe. Tourism is development - today 47% of the world’s one billion tourists visit an emerging economy destination as compared to 40% ten years ago and by 2015 UNWTO forecasts that emerging economies will surpass advanced ones in terms of number of tourist they receive. The tourism map has changed bringing in many new opportunities for emerging economies. Moreover tourism is one of the few sectors of the economy growing amidst the current challenging conditions and one of the most resilient as proven by its recovery over the past decade from economic crises, terrorism actions or natural disasters.Growing amidst economic uncertaintyLadies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,We must be realistic. The global economic situation remains fragile and instability continues in the Eurozone. There are over 200 million unemployed around the world. According to the International Labour Organization, the world needs to create 600 million new jobs over the next decade to sustain economic growth and maintain social stability. Yet today I would like to argue that despite the challenging times we find ourselves in, there are forces at work that, if properly harnessed, can transform this global panorama and shape our world for the better. And among these forces, I believe, lies Travel & Tourism. In 2012, amid daily news of economic doom and gloom, international tourist arrivals grew by 4% to reach the historic mark of one billion tourists travelling the world in one single year. For 2013, UNWTO estimates growth to slow down only slightly, to a rate of between 3% and 4%.By 2030, UNWTO forecasts the number of international tourist arrivals to reach 1.8 billion. Another five to six billion people are estimated to travel within their own countries each year. These are impressive numbers; but they are even more so when we look back. In 1950, 25 million tourists traveled internationally. Last year that number hit one billion – Europe, the most visited region in the world, received for the first time 500 million international tourists Never before have so many people travelled to so many places. Few places on the planet have escaped the curiosity of the traveller and few are now unreachable.For a world in crisis, the exponential and sustained growth of the tourism sector is much welcome news because behind these numbers lies a roaring, and often underestimated, engine of economic growth, job creation and development. As world leaders confront mounting economic challenges, our message is clear: tourism can be part of the solution. At a time when traditional activities such as manufacturing and agriculture and other economic sectors are showing signs of fatigue, we need to recognize that a new wave of human activities is emerging.Tourism, culture, sports, creative industries and technology. These are some of the most dynamic and economically significant activities of this decade. In this context, and as Europe dwells between austerity measures and policies for growth, allow me to highlight five key reasons why we at UNWTO advocate that tourism can be a strategic pillar for restoring growth and employment: 1. Tourism creates jobs at a rate higher than many other sectors: We all know tourism is one of the most labor intensive sectors, yet it is also one that creates jobs at a comparatively higher rate. Data shows that in the EU, during the last decade, the annual growth rate of employment in the tourism sector has almost always been higher than the growth rate of total employment.2. Tourism creates wealth and jobs not just in tourism, but in many other sectors: At a time in which many economies face domestic constraints on consumption, international tourism brings not only direct export revenues, but also a very significant indirect impact through its enormous value chain. At their destinations, tourists travel by local bus or taxi, taste the local gastronomy and wines, buy local produce ensuring jobs and sleep in a hotel which buys linen from the factories of the country.3. Tourism is one of the most resilient economic sectors: If there is one characteristic that is critical in facing today’s challenges that is resilience: the flexibility and capacity to adapt to changing conditions and recover from setbacks. Indeed, looking back on past decades, we see that international tourism decreased on only three occasions: in 2001 (-0.4%), following September 11, in 2003 (-1.6%) due to the SARS outbreak and in 2009 (-3.8%) in the middle of one of the worst global economic crises of our time. More importantly, international tourism demand always bounced back stronger with growth rates much above the average. If tourism is important in the good times, during a crisis it is vital.4. Tourism is a key sector in the transformation to the Green Economy: A recent report by the United Nations identified tourism as one of 10 sectors that are vital to greening the global economy. With the right investment, tourism can be a lead change agent in the move to a Green Economy by driving economic growth and job creation while simultaneously improving resource efficiency, minimizing environmental degradation and raising environmental awareness among travellers.Turning the potential into reality Dear Friends In spite of its immense expansion, obstacles naturally remain to tourism’s continued growth. I would like to highlight four:1. Visa procedures: research shows that improving visa processes and entry formalities could generate an extra US$ 206 billion in tourism receipts for G20 countries and create as many as 5.1 million additional jobs by 2015; yet today, unnecessarily complicated, lengthy and overpriced travel and entry formalities still make it extremely difficult for many tourists to travel, namely from emerging economies which are also some of the most fastest tourism source markets. Just over 60 years ago, in 1950, international travel was the realm of the privileged few. Most people lived, worked and holidayed within a relatively small radius. Of the 25 million tourists who crossed international borders, most came from, and travelled to, Europe and North America. Today, emerging economies receive over 47% of the one billion international tourists. By 2015, according to UNWTO’s long-term forecast Tourism Towards 2030, emerging economies will surpass advanced economies in the number of international tourists received.The shift in the centre of gravity towards the East, towards the emerging countries of China, India, Russia, Brazil, but also of Thailand, Indonesia and the Middle East, has transformed international tourism in the same way it has shaped the global economy and although most tourism flows will continue to originate from the same region, namely in Europe where 80% of all tourists come from European source markets, it is ever more important to create the conditions to attract these visitors and visas are no doubt a critical factor.2. Connectivity: A key factor, for developed and developing countries alike, is the growing need for market liberalization in terms of air services. Unfortunately reciprocity continues to take precedence in too many countries over an assessment of economic and social benefits of an open market, while separate sectoral policies on air transport and tourism result in a fundamental, and too often even conflicting, disconnect.3. Taxation: the recent trend of introducing new and/or increasing existing taxation on travel and tourism, namely on air travel and accommodation, represents a serious threat to our sector. We need to ensure these measures are taken considering in a balanced manner and with the due analysis of their economic and social impact as often the immediate benefits can overshadow the negative impacts on tourism and its capacity to contribute to jobs and growth.4. Fourth, and finally, the need of support at the highest level: It is clear that tourism is a sector that can deliver like few others on the goals of economic growth, job creation and fair development. But without recognition and support at the highest level, tourism’s potential cannot be fully harnessed. In each country, we need to have the Head of State or Government realizing the potential tourism has in bringing new jobs and investment; in improving the lives of their people. And we need them to act accordingly. We need them to show their leadership in bringing all areas of government together – transport, finance, employment, foreign affairs - to build a cross-cutting commitment to tourism development and a truly national policy for tourism.Dear FriendsWith over one billion people traveling internationally each year, five to six billion traveling domestically and hundreds of millions working in the sector, we cannot talk about a new development model, whichever shape it may take, without talking about tourism. Just as any businessmen would choose those investments which guarantee a higher return on investment, so should national and international leaders look into which sectors can better deliver on the challenges of restoring growth and creating jobs – tourism is no doubt one of them.

For further

Every week, the HON team brings you an expert look at the world of hospitality. By becoming a member, you will have access to a complete ecosystem: exclusive content, jobs, etc.

BECOME A MEMBER

Sign up to add topics in favorite. Sign up to add categories in favorite. Sign up to add content in favorite. Register for free to vote for the application.

Already signed up? Already signed up? Already signed up? Already registered?