UNWTO schedule at this year’s ITB Travel Trade Show

UNWTO events at this year’s ITB Travel Trade Show include a high-level session on tourism trends in the Mediterranean, the Silk Road Ministers’ meeting, a session on consumer protection, and a meeting of the World Tourism Network on Child Protection, among others (Berlin, Germany, March 7-11, 2012).

SILK ROAD MINISTERS’ MEETING
March 7, 1100-1230, Hall 7.3, Berlin Room

Ministers of the Silk Road will meet to discuss how they can work together to capitalize on the revival of the Silk Road. This year’s meeting will include a special session on the importance of route development in strengthening the Silk Road product offer and attracting investment. The Ministers’ Meeting will be followed by the VIP Walk “Flavors of the Silk Road” where UNWTO Secretary General and ITB management will visit 10 countries showcasing the Silk Road’s most celebrated cuisine.

Tour operators will convene at the “Tour Operators’ Forum on the Silk Road – Creating a stronger business environment for growth” (March 8, 1100-1300, Palais West), to discuss how to overcome the challenges and create opportunities for doing business on the Silk Road.

For more information, please go to: http://silkroad.unwto.org/en or contact [email protected] .

HIGH-LEVEL SESSION ON TOURISM TRENDS AND OUTLOOK IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
March 7, 1400-1500, Hall 7.1b, Auditorium London

Destinations around the Mediterranean, the world’s most-visited region, face a number of challenges: economic, political, and environmental. This session, moderated by UNWTO media partner CNN, with Ministers of Tourism from the region and private sector representatives, will address questions such as: What trends are affecting the region? What challenges and opportunities face these destinations in the long-term, and how can they adapt to changing market conditions? In view of the UNWTO forecast, “Tourism Towards 2030,” what is the outlook for the region over the next two decades?

For more information, please go to: http://media.unwto.org/en/event/high-level-session-tourism-trends-and-outlook-mediterranean or contact [email protected] .

FIRST MEETING OF THE GLOBAL NATIONAL TOURISM ORGANIZATIONS (NTO) THINK TANK – CREATING VALUE THROUGH COLLABORATION
March 7, 1600-1800, Hall 7.3, Berlin Room

A joint initiative of UNWTO and the European Travel Commission (ETC), the Global NTO Think Tank, will provide an opportunity for NTOs from around the world to collaborate on common issues and strategic priorities. By invitation only.

For more information, please contact [email protected] .

UNWTO PRESS CONFERENCE – INTERNATIONAL TOURISM RESULTS AND WORLD TOURISM DAY 2012
March 8, 1200-1400, ICC, Hall 4/5

The UNWTO Secretary General will present the tourism trends and figures for 2011 and outlook for 2012.

UNWTO will also launch the World Tourism Day 2012 official celebrations with the presence of the Secretary of State for Tourism, Isabel Borego Cortés, under the theme: “Tourism and Sustainable Energy: Powering Sustainable Development.” World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) President and CEO, David Scowsill, will also be present to highlight the joint efforts of WTTC and UNWTO in advancing a common agenda on visa facilitation as a driver of economic growth and job creation.

For more information, please contact [email protected] .

MEETING ON CRISIS MANAGEMENT – INFORMATION NEEDS IN TIMES OF CRISES FOR THE TRAVEL AND TOURISM SECTOR
March 9, 0930-1100, ICC, Salon 21

UNWTO and members of the Tourism Emergency Response Network (TERN) will meet to discuss their information needs in times of crises to help minimize the negative perception on consumer’s behavior, while at the same time ensuring safety and well-being and allowing for a fast recovery.

For more information, please go to: http://rcm.unwto.org/en/event/information-needs-times-crises-travel-and-tourism-sector-0 or contact [email protected] .

UNWTO SESSION ON CONSUMER PROTECTION – ACCOMMODATION-RELATED ISSUES
March 9, 1100-1300, ICC, Hall 7

In the absence of international regulations governing the rights and responsibilities of tourists/consumers and tour operators, UNWTO set up a working group to draft a legal instrument for their protection. At ITB 2012, UNWTO will host a special session on accommodation-related issues, the conclusions of which will feed into the next meeting of the working group.

For more information, go to: http://media.unwto.org/en/press-release/2012-02-20/en/event/unwto-session-protection-touristsconsumers-accommodation-related-issues or contact [email protected] .

27TH MEETING OF THE WORLD TOURISM NETWORK ON CHILD PROTECTION
March 9, 1430-1730, ICC, Hall 7

The 2012 meeting of the World Tourism Network on Child Protection will focus on “Young Workers in the Tourism Sector: Risks and Opportunities.” The event is jointly organized by UNWTO and the International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor (ILO–IPEC) of the International Labor Organization (ILO). The meeting will also feature a reporting session, affording representatives of national tourism administrations, the tourism sector, NGOs, and specialized media outlets an opportunity to report on new projects concerning child protection in tourism.

For more information, please go to: http://ethics.unwto.org/en/event/world-tourism-network-child-protections-27th-meeting-formerly-task-force-protection-children-t or contact [email protected] .

Visit the UNWTO stand at ITB: 20/127

UNWTO Activities at ITB: http://www2.unwto.org/en/event/itb-2012