Tag: UNWTO

The Tourism department of Odisha is undertaking to take a pledge to make a Odisha plastic free on the World Tourism Day, which is falling on 27th September 2018.  It was decided on in a review meeting to plan various activities to celebrate the forthcoming World Tourism Day. 27th September of each year is celebrated all over the world as World Tourism Day as per the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) directive. The theme of this year’s Tourism Day  is ‘Tourism and Digital Transformation’. A Tourism Walk will be organized, which will start from Kalinga Stadium and will conclude ... Read more

Qatar has become the most open country in the Middle East and the 8th most open in the world in terms of visa facilitation. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) recently updated its visa openness rankings, confirming Qatar’s recent visa facilitation improvements including allowing nationals of 88 countries to enter Qatar visa-free and free-of-charge. With an aim to improve visa facilitation, Qatar has introduced an online platform for efficient and transparent visa processing and e-visas, as well as a free 96-hour transit visa doubling the time stopover passengers can remain in the country. As a result of these measures, Qatar’s visa openness ranking ... Read more

Italy's capital, Rome, is well known for its rich cultural and historical sites, including the Colosseum and the Pantheon. It boasts top restaurants specializing in the world's most popular cuisines. It has a vibrant nightlife, and picturesque piazzas. However, Rome has got just 16th rank in the world’s most visited city as per the Mastercard Global Destinations Cities Index. According to the report, Rome attracts 7.1 million tourists every year, less than other 15 countries. Bangkok is the top-ranked destination with 21.5 million tourists, which is three times more than the tourists who travel to Rome every year. Dubai, in ... Read more

The 4th United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Forum on Gastronomy Tourism was launched off on Thursday at Bangkok. The forum has brought 475 delegates from 52 nations to Bangkok. The forum focuses on updating the participants about the strong linkage between tourism and gastronomy highlighting new techniques and technologies in preparing, marketing and managing the association. The forum organized by UNWTO and Basque Culinary Centre focuses on stressing the importance and role of gastronomy tourism towards the development of sustainable tourism in the region and increasing its awareness, both nationally and regionally. The participants from Japan, China’s Macao, Indonesia ... Read more

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism, K J Alphons met with the Secretary-General of UNWTO, Zurab Pololikashvili and discussed on developing a Joint Action Plan focused on Tourism Innovation and Digital Transformation including the positioning of India on this Action Plan of UNWTO. The discussions also included involving UNWTO in developing tourism as a strong agent for the better future of the world and establishing Global Public Private Partnerships. The duo also discussed regarding strengthening the relationship between India and UNWTO. The minister, along with a delegation of senior officials, attended the 108th session of UNWTO Executive Council from ... Read more

The II UNWTO World Conference on Smart Destinations, promoted by the UNWTO together with the Kingdom of Spain and the Government of the Principality of Asturias, call for creative videos from entrepreneurs and companies in line with the themes of innovation, technology and sustainability in tourism. The last date for the submission is April 30, 2018. The Conference will serve as a forum to debate academically research work on future tourism models, based on Innovation and Technology, which allow Accessibility and Sustainable Development of tourism and the territories in the 21st century. “The Conference recognizes the key role of entrepreneurs and ... Read more

Lionel Messi joins the World Tourism Organization to promote the value of responsible tourism. The UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili, appointed Messi as UNWTO Ambassador for Responsible Tourism at Camp Nou in Barcelona, after the F.C. Barcelona – Leganés match. “During my travels I have had the opportunity to know other cultures and societies as well as others ways to see the world and this is very enriching. The World Tourism Organization as a specialized Agency of the United Nations works to make tourism a source of development and I am happy I can join this mission of promoting responsible tourism,” ... Read more

Kerala had realized the infinite potential offered by the tourism scene as early as 25 years ago, said to P Balakiran IAS, Director, Kerala Tourism. He was addressing the closing session of the 12th UNWTO Asia/Pacific Executive Training Programme on Tourism Policy and Strategy in Kovalam. “The state had moved ahead of times as it identified the revenue generation possibilities and the employment opportunities tourism could offer. Kerala was also able to integrate technology with tourism. The tourism industry in the state has already made use of various social media platforms to enhance the industry here, he said. Balakiran also said ... Read more

സാമൂഹ്യ മാധ്യമങ്ങളുടെ വളര്‍ച്ച വിനോദ സഞ്ചാര മേഖലയുടെ പുരോഗതിയെ സ്വാധീനിച്ചെന്ന് കേന്ദ്ര ടൂറിസം മന്ത്രി അല്‍ഫോന്‍സ്‌ കണ്ണന്താനം. വിനോദ സഞ്ചാരികളെ കൂടുതല്‍ ആകര്‍ഷിക്കാന്‍ സാമൂഹ്യ മാധ്യമങ്ങള്‍ സഹായകരമാകുമെന്നും മന്ത്രി കൂട്ടിച്ചേര്‍ത്തു. പന്ത്രണ്ടാമത് യു.എൻ.ഡബ്ള്യു.ടി.ഒ ഏഷ്യ-പസഫിക് എക്സിക്യൂട്ടീവ് പരിശീലന പരിപാടി കോവളം ലീല ഹോട്ടലില്‍ ഉത്ഘാടനം ചെയ്യുകയായിരുന്നു അദ്ദേഹം. ഐ.ടി.ബി ബെർലിനിൽ നടന്ന ട്രാവൽ മാർട്ടിന്‍റെ പ്രൊമോഷണൽ വീഡിയോ പന്ത്രണ്ടു ദിവസം കൊണ്ട് പതിനേഴ് ദശലക്ഷം പേരാണ് കണ്ടത്.  കഴിഞ്ഞ വർഷം ഇന്ത്യ സന്ദർശിച്ച 10  ദശലക്ഷം ആളുകളിൽ 10  ലക്ഷം പേരാണ് ഇ-വിസ തിരഞ്ഞെടുത്തത് . അത്  ഈ വർഷം അത് 30 ലക്ഷത്തിലേക്ക്  എത്തുമെന്നാണ്   പ്രതീക്ഷയെന്നും കേന്ദ്ര മന്ത്രി പറഞ്ഞു. യു.എൻ.ഡബ്ള്യു.ടി.ഒയുടെ പ്രവർത്തന വിഭാഗമായ റീജ്യണൽ പ്രോഗ്രാം ഫോർ ഏഷ്യ ആൻഡ് പസഫിക്കിന്‍റെ ആഭിമുഖ്യത്തിൽ സംസ്ഥാന- കേന്ദ്ര ടൂറിസം വകുപ്പുകളുടെ ആഭിമുഖ്യത്തിലാണ് പരിശീലന പരിപാടി സംഘടിപ്പിക്കുന്നത്. 21വരെയാണ് പരിശീലനം.സംസ്ഥാന ടൂറിസം മന്ത്രി കടകംപള്ളി സുരേന്ദ്രന്‍ അധ്യക്ഷത വഹിച്ചു.   ‘ടൂറിസവും സാങ്കേതികതയും’ ... Read more

The government is planning to give not just a ‘wow’ experience to the travellers, instead it aims at giving a ‘transforming experience’, said Union Minister for State for Tourism K J Alphons while inaugurating the UNWTO Executive Training Programme on Tourism Policy and Strategy at the RGCC Convention Centre, The Leela Raviz Kovalam in Trivandrum. Alphons also added that the government’s vision is that the tourists should go back from India feeling rejuvenated, realising a new person within. The minister also said that technology is the future and it’s very well connected with the tourism industry. “The promotional video put ... Read more

The 12th UNWTO Asia/Pacific Executive Training Programme on Tourism Policy and Strategy co-organized by UNWTO, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Republic of Korea will be held in Thiruvananthapuram, the Kerala capital city from 19 – 22 March 2018. The event would be inaugurated by K J Alphons, Minister for Tourism, on March 18 at the RGCC Convention Centre, The Leela Raviz Kovalam at 7 pm. Kadakampally Surendran, Minister for Tourism, Govt of Kerala, Xu Jing, Director, Regional Progrmme for Asia and Pacific, UNWTO and Byungchae Yu, Director, Tourism Industry Policy Division, Ministry ... Read more

Azerbaijan International Travel and Tourism Fair (AITF) is all set to begin from 5th April at Baku Expo Centre in Azerbaijan. The 17th version of the three-day expo features all the ingredients a country can offer, in terms of tourism and associated destination marketing. AITF 2018, will be supported strongly by the Azerbaijan Ministry of Culture and Tourism, UNWTO and PATA, with its prominence to increase the country’s GDP through tourism. The expo further aims to unite the associates in the field of tourism agencies, organisations under one umbrella. Azerbaijan, for a long extend, has been promoting tourism with useful services ... Read more

India is not just depending on the foreign tourist arrivals, close to 24 million Indians travelled last year. “In 2017, 1.8 million trips were made by Indians within the country and which will go up to 2 million in 2018 and we want this number to increase dramatically, its not just about international arrivals but also Indians visiting India,” Tourism Minister K J Alphons said while interacting to the travel/tour operators in a Q&A session at the ITB Berlin. The minister also stressed on the growing use of new technologies and methodologies in tourism, especially social media. Alphons also spoke ... Read more

The tourism sector’s role and responsibility in contributing to sustainable development on a global scale was the central message delivered at the opening of the 2018 edition of the ITB Berlin travel trade show by Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Speaking in the presence of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, tourism ministers from around the world and the leaders of the tourism sector, Pololikashvili stressed how tourism not only needs to consolidate current growth rates, but “to grow better”. Grand Finale of the opening ceremony In 2017, international tourist numbers grew a record 7 per cent to ... Read more

Pakistan to conduct a three day International conference in association with Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) and United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) on 29th January at Islamabad. Photo Courtesy: dnanews.com.pk The forum will be attended by delegates and representatives from the member countries under World Tourism Organisation (WTO). Officials of the tourism ministry of Pakistan told the media that the conference would benefit the country in improving its good image from a global perspective. He also added that the joint relationship between PTDC and UNWTO will further help Pakistan in developing various forms of their tourism, such as culture, ... Read more