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Key discussions to take place at World Travel & Tourism
Council’s Global Summit in Abu Dhabi, 9-10 April PHOTO CAPTION: ATA MEMBERS AT
WTTC GLOBAL SUMMIT IN WASHINGTON, DC INCLUDED FROM
LEFT: KAREN HOFFMAN, THE BRADFORD GROUP, ATA BOARD
MEMBER AND ASSOCIATE EDITOR, AFRICA TRAVEL
MAGAZINE; SUJIT CHOWDHURY, SECRETARY GENERAL, WORLD
TRADE UNIVERSITY, TORONTO; HON. EDUARDO CHINGUNJI,
MINISTER OF HOTELS AND TOURISM, ANGOLA; DR. PATRICK
MATLOU, DIRECTOR OF TOURISM, DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM (DEAT) MINISTRY
OF ENVIRONMENT AND TOURISM, SOUTH AFRICA; SANDY
DHUYVETTER, TRAVELTALK RADIO AND ATA MEDIA SPONSOR;
AND DR. JOSEPH RAPUTSOE, DIRECTOR TOURISM
PROMOTION AND QUALITY ASSUARANCE, DEAT, SOUTH
AFRICA; AFRICA TRAVEL
ASSOCIATION MEMBERS PARTICIPATE AT WORLD TRAVEL AND
TOURISM COUNCIL GLOBAL TRAVEL & TOURISM SUMMIT
WASHINGTON, DC, APRIL 10-12, 2006 Karen B. Hoffman, Associate
Editor Africa Travel Association
country members including Angola, South Africa and
Ghana were among the more than 700 CEO-
level travel industry leaders from 60 countries
attending the three-day annual World Travel
& Tourism Council (WTTC) Summit,
Washington DC, April 10-12, 2006. Held at the
Washington DC Convention Center it was the first
time ever that a WTTC Summit took place in the US.
The theme of the summit, "Open Mind, Open World,"
was intended to convey the need to encourage
cultural exchange, to promote better understanding
between nations, and to bolster economies through
increased business and leisure
travel. The Summit was opened WTTC
Summit Chair, Vincent A. Wolfington, Chairman
Emeritus, Carey International Inc, and Jean-Claude
Baumgarten, WTTC President. The growth potential of the
tourism sector in Africa was one of the points
raised during the opening panel which focused on
"Travel & Tourism, a 1.6 Trillion Dollar
Industry in Search of an Identity," moderated by
Nik Boking, BBC World. One of the speakers, Sarmad
Zok, CEO, Kingdom Hotel Investments, Dubai, spoke
about the tremendous opportunities for hotel
investment in the emerging markets including
Africa, specifically mentioning the high growth
rate opportunities in countries like Tanzania,
Ghana and Libya where his company has invested in
hotels. Zok further stated that "The Midde East,
Africa, Asia, Eatern Europe and Russia are markets
that are increasingly becoming part of the
international community and will have growth rates
over the next ten or twenty years exceeding the
developed world. And this presents opportunities
for travel and tourism." In the lively discussion that
followed questions from the audience also focused
on Africa. Jacqueline W. Qasheekie, CEO, Federation
of Namibian Tourism Associations, wanted to know
why the G8 countries don't have tourism on the
Agenda. "They talk about poverty alleviation, but
it is tourism that generates the jobs and drives
the economy in many African countries." Namibia is
currently one of the countries selected by WTTC for
an in depth Satellite Tourism Account Special
Country Report. The only other country from Africa
that was selected for a WTTC special country report
was South Africa and in Egypt, an Aviation report.
The ATA delegations from
Africa included Hon. Eduardo Chingunji, Minister of
Hotels and Tourism, Angola, and host of ATA's 9th
Cultural and Ecotourism Symposium Oct, 2005; Dr.
Patrick Matlou, Director of Tourism and Dr. Joseph
Raputsoe, Director Tourism Promotion and Quality
Assurance, both from the Department of
Environmental Affairs and Tourism, the Ministry of
Environment and Tourism, South Africa. South Africa
hosted ATA's 3rd Cultural and Ecotourism Symposium
in Sun City, 1994 as well as ATA's 21st
International Marketing Conference in Cape Town,
2001. From Ghana, James R.N. Taylor, Director,
Ocean Club, Accra. ATA members from the US in
attendance at the WTTC Global Summit were Helen
Broadus, ATA Secretary of ATA International Board
of Directors and David Saunders, ATA Board of
Directors, VIP Inc. For more information on the
WTTC Global Summit visit www. http://www.globaltraveltourism.com WTTC
Climbing to new heights but still in need of
recognition The
world's leading Travel & Tourism figures are
preparing for the 6th Global Travel & Tourism
Summit, which takes place in less than two weeks in
Washington DC from April 10 to 12,
2006. Senior
members of the Bush administration, governments
worldwide, Chairs and CEOs of the world's foremost
Travel & Tourism companies and the media will
come together to discuss the current issues and
opportunities that shape one of the world's fastest
growing industrial sectors. The
theme of the Summit is Open Mind, Open World. Some
of the questions, which will be debated 'in the
round', are: •
How can an industry which contributes 10.3 per cent
of global GDP and creates over 230 million jobs
still be in search of recognition? •
In view of the forecasts and the expected demand
growth, how will we tackle and balance emerging
bottlenecks, including
infrastructure? •
With an ever growing ageing population, how will
changing demographics worldwide impact the
industry? •
Can Travel & Tourism be a tool for diplomacy?
If so, what is government's role? •
How is technology changing the industry and,
post-September 11, how do you balance security
needs with travel necessities? Industry
leaders contributing to the discussions
include: •
Marilyn Carlson Nelson, Chairman & CEO, Carlson
Companies •
Edouard Ettedgui, Group Chief Executive, Mandarin
Oriental Hotel Group •
Michael Frenzel, Chairman, TUI AG •
Maurice Flanagan CBE, Vice Chairman & Group
President, The Emirates Group •
Barney Harford, President, Asia Pacific,
Expedia •
James Hogan, President & CEO, Gulf
Air •
Larry Kellner, CEO, Continental
Airlines •
Gerald Lawless, CEO, Jumeirah Group •
JW Marriott, Jr, Chairman & CEO, Marriott
International •
Jay Rasulo, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks &
Resorts •
Sarmad Zok, CEO, Kingdom Hotel
Investments The
event offers a unique opportunity to discover what
the leaders are thinking, to put questions live and
to meet them in person. Media
from around the world are encouraged to play an
important role in these topical sessions and
actively question delegates. There is no
registration fee for media that wish to attend the
Summit if they are accredited in advance by the
World Travel & Tourism Council.
WTTC
will unveil its 2006 Forecast for Travel &
Tourism Press
conference: Monday March 6, 2006, 10.30 The
World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) will
present its 2006 forecast estimates of Travel &
Tourism's economic performance for 174 countries
and the world during a press conference on Monday
March 6 at 10.30 am at the InterContinental hotel
in Berlin. In
response to a strong demand for exclusive and
detailed access to WTTC's proprietary economic
research, the Council, along with its research
sponsor Accenture, will release its 2006 Tourism
Satellite Accounting (TSA) forecast. WTTC and
Accenture will also deliver a joint message of key
industry issues to kick-start a series of special
industry events which will be held around the world
over the coming year. Senior executives from both
organizations, including WTTC President Jean-Claude
Baumgarten and Accenture Managing Director Peter
Franz will be joined by industry leaders and senior
government officials to discuss the 2006 forecast
and issues. Travel
& Tourism is one of the world's highest
priority industries and employers. In partnership
with Oxford Economic Forecasting (OEF) WTTC's
Tourism Satellite Accounting research, based on the
UN standard for Satellite Accounting, quantifies
the wide-ranging economic impact of Travel &
Tourism and provides solid, credible and
professional statistical information that can
assist in informing government policy and business
decision processes. In
2005, WTTC predicted that Travel & Tourism
would contribute 10.6 per cent of world GDP and
create 220 million jobs. Did the industry realize
these forecasts? Will 2006 build on 2005's
performance? Which countries are becoming the
powerhouses of industry growth? Has the industry
recovered from recent natural disasters? Where are
the opportunities for Travel & Tourism business
development and investment? Don't
miss this opportunity to participate in the open
discussion and to put your questions to the
panelists. About
Accenture Accenture
is a global management consulting, technology
services and outsourcing company. Committed to
delivering innovation, Accenture collaborates with
its clients to help them become high-performance
businesses and governments. With deep industry and
business process expertise, broad global resources
and a proven track record, Accenture can mobilize
the right people, skills and technologies to help
clients improve their performance. With more than
126,000 people in 48 countries, the company
generated net revenues of US$15.55 billion for the
fiscal year ended August 31, 2005. Its home page is
www.accenture.com . About
The World Travel & Tourism
Council The
World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is the
forum for global business leaders comprising the
presidents, chairs and CEOs of 100 of the world's
foremost companies. It is the only body
representing the private sector in all parts of the
Travel & Tourism industry worldwide. Its
Members are leaders in all sectors of the industry,
including accommodation, catering, entertainment,
recreation, transportation and other travel-related
services. WTTC's
mission is to raise awareness of the full economic
impact of the Travel & Tourism industry,
employing some 220 million people and generating
over 10 per cent of the world's GDP. Governments
are encouraged to unlock the industry's potential
by adopting the Council's policy framework for
sustainable tourism development. For more
information on WTTC, please visit www.wttc.org
Contact For
further information on WTTC please contact
L ouise
Oram at louise@wttc.org
or on + 44 (0) 20 7481 8007. |
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