UNWTO urges Vice President to position Tourism higher on the Global Agenda

The Secretary General of United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Mr. Taleb Rifai accompanied by Union Tourism Minister Shri K.Chiranjeevi handed over an “Open Letter” to Vice President Shri M.Hamid Ansari here today. The letter jointly signed by Mr. Rifai and Mr. David Scowsill, President and CEO, World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) urges world leaders to join hands with the leaders from the other countries as well as with UNWTO and WTTC to position travel and tourism higher on the global agenda. The Open Letter says travel and tourism currently accounts directly and indirectly for about 3% to 5% of global GDP, as well as 30% of the world’s export of services. If the induced impacts of travel and tourism are factored into the calculations, its total contribution is greater still. According to the letter, “The total contribution of Travel &Tourism to employment-including jobs indirectly supported by the sector is estimated at 7% to 8%. This makes Travel & Tourism a vital contributor to the global development agenda, affording it a unique role in building strong, sustainable and balanced global growth”. With a view to acknowledge the instrumental role of tourism in the global economy, the UNWTO and WTTC have jointly initiated a ‘Global Leaders for Tourism Campaign’. The basic objective of the campaign is to send a message to the world to accord high priority to the development of the tourism sector for promoting employment opportunities and economic development. The campaign was launched in 2011 and till date 47 countries have joined this campaign. The Open letter along with the testimonials of the Head of States and Governments who have joined the Campaign will be compiled in the Golden Book of Tourism Campaign