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Sir
Ian Prosser tells why
 The
last 12 months have been the most challenging period faced
by the global Travel & Tourism industry in modern history.
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in the USA and
last month in Bali, the prolonged global recession and the
looming prospect of war with Iraq have all contributed to
dampen Travel & Tourism demand. Although the impact has
been very different across different markets/sectors and destinations,
it is being felt throughout the entire industry.
The pressure on individual companies is enormous,
and their struggle to keep costs in line with revenue will
continue for some time. Meanwhile, the message that all this
will give to the world is that we are a crippled industry
and we run the risk of presenting ourselves as being besieged.
To counteract this we must draw even greater attention to
the economic importance of Travel & Tourism by showing
a united front and speaking with a single global voice.
The World Summit on Sustainable Development
held in Johannesburg clearly demonstrated that it is difficult
to reach a global consensus on sustainable development and
poverty alleviation. Countries are facing two alternatives,
either to levy new taxes and introduce new legislation, or
to call on the private sector for solutions. WTTC has made
its position clear on both approaches and many of our Members
have already undertaken considerable steps to create a better
environment and to promote corporate social responsibility.
In the face of all the global economic, political
and social challenges, our industry needs to broadcast a message
of strength, unity, survival and recovery. And we believe
the only global organization capable of transmitting this
message effectively is WTTC and its Member companies.
This explains the theme of WTTC's next AGM and
Summit - 'Building New Tourism'. The Council's former policy
framework, the Millennium Vision, was a leading document referred
to by governments and the Travel & Tourism industry. WTTC
intends to use the Summit to deliver a new blueprint for the
future of the industry, which will be launched in Vilamoura,
from May 15-16, 2003. And to set the scene for this theme,
WTTC is proud to have Neil Armstrong - the first man to walk
on the moon - to be the keynote speaker at the Summit.
WTTC Members, governments, international organizations
and the media will share in discussions about the new perspective
and requirements needed for our industry so that it can meet
the challenges of the future and provide the world with sustainable
growth.
The AGM and Summit will provide a forum where
WTTC can help to reposition the industry and create a new
platform for some of our much-needed objectives:
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the need to speak with one voice about
the importance of our industry |
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the need for public-private sector partnerships |
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the need to balance the sometimes conflicting
imperatives of economic, social and environmental sustainability |
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the need to create an environment without
barriers to growth so that companies and the industry
as a whole will be able to play a positive role in the
future development of the planet. |
These discussions and debates will be concluded
with a declaration on every key aspect of this New Tourism
- from the new consumer and new travel behaviour to new forms
of investment, new approaches to sustainable development,
new ministries of tourism, and new approaches to public-private
sector partnership. This declaration (Vilamoura Declaration
III) will become a tourism action plan for the industry.
| For more information
on sponsorship opportunities or participation, please
contact WTTC. |
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