World Tourism Organization - Report Example

Individual project World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is the UN agency responsible for the promotion of responsible (UNWTO, 2004b), sustainable and universally accessible tourism. According to UNWTO (2012), UNWTO’s members include 155 countries, 7 territories and about 400 affiliate members representing the private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations and local tourism authorities. This is a wide resource of networks and partnerships that are developing international tourism. It is noteworthy that, in 2011, Europe received 51% percent of international tourist arrivals. The Americas received 22% while Africa received 5% percent. The UNWTO predicts that, by 2015, the advancing economies will, for the first time, receive more international tourist arrivals than the advanced economies. Therefore, the networks and partnerships are necessary in order to transfer expertise and resources to the regions where international tourism is growing in the midst of global economic uncertainties. UNWTO is promoting tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and sustainability (UNWTO, 2012: 5). The organization is also offering leadership as well as support to the tourism sector in advancing tourism policies and knowledge throughout the world. The UNWTO has developed and is overseeing the implementation of the universal Code of Ethics for Tourism, in order to reduce the detrimental effects of tourism and maximize its socio-economic contribution. As an agency of the United Nations, UNWTO is promoting tourism as a way of achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), by reducing poverty and promoting sustainable development. The UNWTO is continuously generating market knowledge, as well as promoting sustainable and competitive policies for the tourism sector. The UNWTO is also providing technical assistance through its projects in over 100 countries in the world. Tourism is a chief worldwide industry, accountable for a significant fraction of world production, trade, job provision, plus investments (UNWTO 2012, p. 29). In many developing nations, it is the most important means of foreign exchange plus foreign direct investment (UNEP, 2011). Furthermore, tourism is a labour intensive industry since it is service oriented. The ILO (2008) estimated that the wider tourism economy, both directly and indirectly, will provide more than 230 million jobs. This represents about 8 percent of the global workforce. Therefore, the UNWTO is working to bring international tourism development to mainstream global agenda in order for the industry to get the attention it deserves from the world leaders and governments. The UNWTO has a general assembly which it organizes every two years. In June 2011, this assembly met in South Korea. In 2011, together with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), UNWTO launched the Global Leaders for Tourism Campaign. It is also actively involved in the T20 initiative which involves the top twenty economies in Tourism. It is also working to ensure that tourism enters the agenda of G20. The UNWTO also organised the World Tourism Forum. The UNWTO also presented a case for tourism to be incorporated in the Istanbul Plan of Action at the UN Conference for Least Developed Countries. In the tourism industry, new destinations are quick to emerge, preferences are changing, and crises that arise can have far reaching consequences (UNWTO 2012). Therefore, to remain competitive, the actors require the latest market information, techniques and tools. The UNWTO is providing its members with the latest market trends and statistics, intelligence on emerging markets, and risk and crises management tools. UNWTO is also disseminating information through its publications. The UNWTO World Tourism Barometer monitors short-term tourism trends throughout the year. The Barometer includes monthly data on tourist arrivals, receipts and expenditure on travel abroad from over 100 countries, as well as prospects for the following months and year and the latest survey of the UNWTO Panel of Tourism Experts (UNWTO 2012, p. 11). It is essential to note that this collection of data is possible because UNWTO is encouraging uniformity of methods. This is in line with the UN Approved International Recommendations for Tourism Statistics. The UNWTO in collaboration with the European Travel Commission (ETC) produced the Handbook on Tourism Product Development. The handbook provides a series of analyses on market trends and outlines the essential elements in the process of product development planning and implementation (UNWTO, 2012). It also provides case studies from all around the world. These can be used as examples for benchmarking in order for destinations to assess their own methods in product development. The UNWTO also provides long term forecasts for the global tourism industry. It has released the newest long term forecast, Tourism Towards 2030. This document replaces and updates Tourism Vision 2020. It provides information on the future of tourism in various regions and countries of the world. The study predicts that global tourist arrivals will hit 1.8 billion by the year 2030. Further, the current trend of tourist arrivals concentrating on a few destinations will change. The tourism industry is heterogeneous; hundreds of actors are operating in multiple markets. The industry also involves, among other sectors, travel, accommodation, tour operation, and entertainment. The industry is highly vulnerable to both manmade and natural crises. Although the industry is resilient, the reduction of tourist numbers has negative consequences to any destination. Therefore, the UNWTO is working closely with its members to assess and mitigate risks related to tourism, and develop and implement crisis management systems (UNWTO, 2012). When the tsunami hit Japan, the UNWTO activated the Tourism Emergency Response Network (TERN), which was working in together with other UN agencies. They assured travellers that the level of radiation did not pose any health or transportation risk. In response to the Arab Spring, the UNWTO provided technical assistance. UNWTO is working with the National Tourism Recovery Taskforce in Tunisia to develop a recovery plan. In Egypt, UNWTO held a workshop on Stimulating Demand through Product Redesign in order to increase the flow of tourists. The UNWTO Review Meeting on the Integration of Tourism and Emergency Management, held in Australia, brought professionals in the tourism industry, emergency management experts and government policy planners. They discussed a range of issues from the dissemination of security information to repatriation of travellers. The UNWTO is also using geo-referencing to provide event-related -the location, timing, and status of disaster- information in order to minimize the impact of crises on the tourism sector (UNWTO 2012, p.13). The tourists are at risk since they are usually in new environments. The UNWTO is working to ensure there is no gap in terms of international regulations governing rights and obligations of tourists and tour operators. It has set up a working group to draft an international convention for the protection of both parties (UNWTO 2012, p. 14). This convention will become the first instrument proposed by the UNWTO that is legally binding. The UNWTO has also proposed to create a database on tourist protection methods and practices among its members. UNWTO has released the UNWTO Toolbox for Crisis Communication in Tourism. This guides destinations to prepare crisis communication plans in order to limit the impacts. The toolbox has templates and covers issues such as press conferences and interviews. The UNWTO Practicum- a specialized training course on tourism related issues- tested the toolbox in 2011. The UNWTO is engaging in capacity building initiatives. This includes training, workshops and development of tools. The UNWTO is conducting on the ground statistical training through its Statistical Capacity Building Program. The function of this program is to promote and disseminate the IRTS 2008 and the related Tourist Satellite Account: Recommended Methodological Framework 2008 (TSA: RMF 2008) to a number of UNWTO member states (UNWTO 2012, p. 12). The programme consists of a series of four workshops help at intervals of six months in different regions. The UNWTO shares its expertise by engaging in programs on the ground. It continues to insist on its main message for a responsible, sustainable and more inclusive tourism. Depending on planning, development and management, Tourism can have positive or negative effects. Tourism requires enabling conditions so that it can become sustainable: contribute to social and economic development within the carrying capacities of ecosystems and socio-cultural thresholds (UNEP 2011). The UNWTO has also developed and disseminated the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria. The four main themes of the criteria are effective sustainability planning, increasing social and financial benefits for the society, enhancing cultural tradition, plus reducing negative impacts to the environment (UNWTO 2012, p.16). This is a minimum that should be met by all business. A major challenge in the world today is how to safeguard world heritage while at the same time make it accessible. Tourism is a powerful motivation to preserve the natural and cultural heritage. The revenue it generates can be ploughed back into efforts of preserving it. UNWTO has developed a Programme on Tourism Management at Heritage Sites. It also published Communicating Heritage: A Handbook for the Tourism Sector (UNWTO, 2012). This will guide actors on heritage communication policies and strategies. For sustainability, the UNWTO recommends placing ethics at the centre of tourism development. This includes adhering to the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism. This involves protecting children from any form of exploitation in tourism, including child prostitution, pornography and exploitation. The role of women should also be recognized, and gender mainstreaming carried out in order to empower women. Through the STEP Programme (Sustainable Tourism-Eliminating Poverty Programme), the UNWTO provides assistance to development projects around the world. This it does through a network of volunteers and experts who provide the necessary technical assistance and training. The UNWTO is now ODA-eligible on a bilateral basis as recognized by the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organization for Economic Cooperation (OECD). This new status will improve the capacity of UNWTO to mobilize resources in a more systematic manner and act more effectively in its development support to Member States. In conclusion, the UNWTO is thorough in its support of international tourism development. It is the foremost organization in the tourism industry around the world. It has clout in international matters since it can easily work with other UN Agencies as well as 400 affiliate members. The organization networks, organizes conferences, disseminates information, educates and trains, formulates statutory instruments and gives technical support. It deals with the technical, the ethical and social dimension of tourism. There are so many actors in the tourism sector, even within a single market segments there are many niche markets. Furthermore, tourism is more developed in some regions than others. The UNWTO provides a platform in the global arena for all the stakeholders to interact in an organized manner as well as to ensure tourism develops in all regions. A CASE STUDY: SUSTAINABLE TOURISM-ELIMINATING POVERTY INITIATIVE (STEP) Thanks to UNWTO, the world has recognized the potential of tourism in poverty alleviation. However, the poor in developing countries often do not gain from the impact of tourism economically. The hub of this idea is to enhance sustainable tourism through activities that alleviate poverty, create jobs for people and deliver development (UNWTO, 2012). It is a valuable way to make a real contribution to the MDGs. The Sustainable Tourism for Eliminating Poverty (ST-EP) initiative has acknowledged various apparatus via which the underprivileged can gain from tourism (UNWTO, 2012); (1) Performing measures for the purpose of increasing the level of work in the tourism sector (2) Endorsing the direct sales of goods plus services to visitors by the poor from various businesses (3) Setting up and managing several formal tourism ventures by the poor, either independently or at a community level (4) Utilizing taxes or levies on tourism income or profits with the intention of benefiting those who are poor (5) Offering support to the poor via visits to tourism enterprises (6) Participating in infrastructure development for the purpose of offering communities a chance to acquire available resources (UNWTO, 2004b). 75% of the STEP programmes are complete while 25% are in various stages of completion. A good case in point is the project in Kenya, Enhanced Market Access for Community-based Tourism Products. The project is involves the Step Foundation, UNWTO and the participating communities. The local communities have gained tremendously from this initiative, breaking the cycle of poverty and empowering the women among the Maasai community. Bibliography World Tourism Organization (2012), Annual Report 2011, UNWTO, Madrid. ILO (2008): Guide for social dialogue in the tourism industry. Sectoral Activities Programme. Working Paper 265 prepared by Dain Bolwell and Wolfgang Weinz. — (2010a): Reducing poverty through tourism. Sectoral Activities Programme. Working Paper 266 prepared by Dain Bolwell and Wolfgang Weinz. — (2010b): Developments and challenges in the hospitality and tourism sector. Sectoral Activities Programme. Issues paper for discussion at the Global Dialogue Forum for the Hotels, Catering, Tourism Sector (23-24 November 2010). OECD (2000): Measuring the Role of Tourism in OECD Economies. The OECD Manual on Tourism Satellite Accounts and Employment. Paris. — (2010): OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2010. Paris: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. UNEP (2011), Green Economy Report, (Advance copy: online release) UNEP and UNWTO (2005): Making Tourism more Sustainable. A Guide for Policy Makers. United Nations Environment Programme and World Tourism Organization. UNWTO (2001): Tourism 2020 Vision. Madrid: World Tourism Organization. — (2004a): Indicators of Sustainable Development for Tourism Destinations. A Guidebook. Madrid: World Tourism Organization. — (2004b): Tourism and Poverty Alleviation: Recommendations for Action. Madrid: World Tourism Organization. — (2010a): Tourism and the Millennium Development Goals. Madrid: World Tourism Organization. — (2010b): UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, 8(2), June. — (2010c): TSA Data around the World. Worldwide Summary. Statistics and TSA Programme. Madrid: World Tourism Organization. — (2010d): Tourism and Biodiversity: Achieving common goals towards sustainability. Madrid: World Tourism Organization. — (2011): UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. Advance Release, January. Madrid: World Tourism Organization. Kyriakidou, O. and J. Gore (2005): “Learning by example: Benchmarking organizational culture in hospitality, tourism and leisure SMEs.” Benchmarking, 12 (3), pp 192-206. Read More