Category: Latest Travel News

UN Tourism and TUI Care Foundation have solidified their ongoing partnership by signing an agreement at the UN Tourism headquarters in Madrid. The agreement focuses on empowering artists and artisans, particularly women and youth, in rural tourism destinations in Africa. With this new agreement, TUI Care Foundation becomes the first partner to support the pilot phase of the Tourism for Rural Development Small Grants Programme by UN Tourism.

Empowering Rural Artists and Artisans

With this collaboration, UN Tourism and TUI Care Foundation will launch ‘Colourful Cultures’ Call for Proposals to empower artists and artisans in rural destinations in Gambia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia.

Tourism has the power to transform lives and communities, especially in rural areas. By supporting artists and artisans, we are not only preserving cultural heritage but also creating sustainable income opportunities.

The call will allow non-profit organisations in these countries to develop innovative initiatives that benefit artisanal and artist communities to boost income opportunities, protect intangible cultural heritage, and promote rural tourism.

UN Tourism and TUI Care Foundation have been collaborating to promote sustainable development through tourism. In 2023, both organisations launched the Tourism for Development Fund with EUR 10 million to support sustainable development in destinations in Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

Empowering Rural Communities Through Tourism

Speaking at the signing ceremony of the agreement, Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of UN Tourism said: “Tourism has the power to transform lives and communities, especially in rural areas. By supporting artists and artisans, we are not only preserving cultural heritage but also creating sustainable income opportunities. This collaboration with TUI Care Foundation exemplifies our commitment to inclusive and sustainable tourism for rural development.”

Thomas Ellerbeck, Chairman of the TUI Care Foundation, echoed this sentiment, stating, “By supporting artists and artisans, we are preserving cultural heritage and promoting economic growth and social well-being in some of the world’s most vulnerable tourism destinations. This change-making collaboration with UN Tourism, inspired by our global TUI Colourful Cultures programme, is an important cornerstone of our Foundation’s strategy.”

Driving Sustainable Tourism Development in rural communities in Africa

Tourism serves as a lifeline for many rural communities and has a unique capacity to create new job opportunities, promote territorial cohesion, and protect natural and cultural resources. It also empowers women and youth.

Rural areas face increasing challenges, such as depopulation, aging populations, lower income levels, and gaps in infrastructure, health, and financial services. Despite significant improvements in recent decades, disparities between urban and rural areas persist. This call for proposals aims to:

• Increase the capacity of artists and artisans to engage in the tourism economy and enhance their income
• Increase the visibility of artists and artisans in rural tourism destinations
• Increase the availability of support services for artists and artisans in rural tourism

The call is expected to open for applications in September.

Phuket, Thailand, July 20, 2024 / TRAVELINDEX / Phuket Hotels for Islands Sustaining Tourism (PHIST), Southeast Asia’s biggest sustainability event for the travel and hospitality sectors, will return to spark conversation and drive the green agenda this September, with an impressive line-up of key figures and industry innovators led by Peng Sum Choe, CEO of Pan Pacific Hotels Group.

Organised by the Phuket Hotels Association, the non-profit organisation of hoteliers focused on creating a bright future for Phuket, PHIST 2024 will run under the theme “One on One: Sustainability from the Top”, as it reveals how senior company executives can successfully build a forward-thinking corporate culture and drive positive change, not only within their own companies, but across the entire industry and beyond.

Headlining this year’s event will be Peng Sum Choe, CEO of Pan Pacific Hotels Group, who has guided his company towards integrating sustainability into every aspect of its operations. This has led to the group achieving Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Multi-Site certification for all eight of its properties in Singapore. He will come together with Jesper Palmqvist, Senior Director – Asia Pacific for hospitality analysts STR, to discuss the critical issue of green leadership.

Also driving the conversation will be Jayne MacDougall, Executive Director of the Phuket Hotels Association, who will reveal the details of the Green Planet School Farm Project – an important initiative that is empowering the next generation of organic producers.

Staged at Angsana Laguna Phuket in Phuket on 2nd September 2024, PHIST is not just another conference; it is a highly immersive and interactive learning event that will feature a series of candid debates and discussions, 18 workshops, career development sessions and networking opportunities that will encourage attendees to confront conventional thinking and create meaningful solutions to a range of environmental and community-focused challenges. Last year’s conference was attended by more than 1,000 people.“I am grateful for the opportunity to address my industry colleagues at PHIST. Sustainability is a crucial issue, particularly for island communities, making this event an important platform for collaboration. I look forward to sharing my experiences and learning from the innovative solutions and insights of others,” said Peng Sum Choe, CEO, Pan Pacific Hotels Group.

“We are thrilled to announce Peng Sum Choe and Jesper Palmqvist as our headline speakers; they will provide the perfect blend of expertise and insight to inspire guests to create sustainable futures for their own businesses,” said Jayne MacDougall, Executive Director, Phuket Hotels Association.

To learn more about the Phuket Hotels Association, please call +66 (0) 8 9645 2576, email info@phukethotelsassociation.com, or visit www.phukethotelsassociation.com.

Fred Finn, the official Guinness World Record Holder of the Most Travelled Man, takes you on a swashbuckling journey through the very history of commercial flight in his long-awaited autobiography. Sonic Boom.

Finn was born with aviation fuel in his blood, growing up a stone’s through from the historic Lympne Airport in Kent and took his first flight at the age of 13. He holds the Guinness World Record for being the World’s Most Travelled Man and took more flights on Concorde 718 than anyone else; in fact, he even had his own seat on Concorde (seat 9A).

Fred Finn’s story is one of excitement, glamour, royalty and celebrity. He’s landed with the wheels up, flew with a bomb on board and on a plane which was stormed by hijackers.

At a time when flying was the “preserve of the rich and famous”, Fred Finn met them all. As an executive at a major American corporation, Fred crisscrossed the globe signing deals. Throughout his career, he also made an amazing number of personal connections: international cricket stars like Sir Geoffrey Boycott, entrepreneurial giants such as Sir Richard Branson and royalty including Princess Diana and the Duchess of Kent among them.

Sonic Boom tells the story of a dashing, successful businessman travelling the world in the years before budget airlines revolutionised air travel. He has visited nearly every country in the world (and a few that are not there anymore) with a passport that is an inch thick with extra paperwork and the easy storytelling of the natural raconteur.

Fred’s first of more than 1,000 transatlantic flights was in a DC4B from Blackbushe Airport in Hampshire. He recounts “it took 19 hours and four stops before landing into Idlewild, known today as New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport. On the reverse of that, on Concorde I once did America in two hours 55 minutes, non-stop. By contrast, Concorde is not flying anymore yet the DC4’s are!”

Finn’s career also takes in an extensive range of charitable work, including his most recent support for Ukraine, a country he knows well and first visited in 1992.

Sonic Boom has a foreword by Sir Geoffrey Boycott, who Finn met in 1968 he says “Sir Geoffrey Boycott has written a wonderful foreword for me, I met him in 1968 and we’ve been friends ever since. Cricket has been my absolute passion throughout my life, but flying is the main theme of the book“.

Reflecting on a life at 30,000 feet Finn says “I have been so lucky to have been a part of some incredible experiences and it is still on going. I think I am just about to clock up 16 million miles. If you want a bit of trivia, that is 31,000 hours in the air which is one hour for every day of my life.”

Sonic Boom is out and can be ordered from www.fredfinn.uk

For more information please contact:
Ben Lord ¦ Finn Associates Limited
Tel: +44 7791 394143 ¦ E-Mail: info@fredfinn.uk

Sentosa, Singapore,  July 10, 2024 / TRAVELINDEX / The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) will be holding the GSTC2024 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference in Sentosa, Singapore, during November 13th-16th, 2024.

The event aims to unite global and local tourism professionals engaged in advancing and advocating for sustainable travel and tourism. The conference and pre-conference training will be held at the Equarius Hotel in Resorts World Sentosa, certified against both GSTC Destination and Industry Criteria for Hotels.

With an estimated 500 participants, the GSTC2024 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference in Sentosa will attract representatives from diverse sectors, including the public sector, hotels, tour operators, companies, academia, development agencies, online travel agencies, and non-governmental organizations. Over the course of four days, attendees can engage in a comprehensive program comprising a pre-conference training session, interactive panels, workshops, meetings, and social events. Beyond the professional development opportunities, participants will also have the chance to immerse themselves in the allure of Sentosa.

The conference’s agenda revolves around four key themes:

– Driving Sustainable Urban Tourism
– Sustainable Hospitality
– Preserving Culture and Heritage
– Integrating Sustainability across the Value Chain

By addressing these key themes, the conference aims to empower participants with the knowledge and skills needed to advance sustainable tourism practices, ensuring a positive impact on both the environment and local communities.

Registration is now open for the GSTC2024 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference, where thought leaders, industry experts, and stakeholders converge to shape the future of sustainable travel and tourism.

For more information, please visit www.gstcouncil.org/gstc2024singapore/

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, May 17, 2024 / TRAVELINDEX / UN Tourism returned the Annual Investment Congress (AIM) to put the focus on innovation and women’s empowerment, and investments in the Middle East.

The tourism landscape of the Middle East is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by strong government support through economic diversification efforts. Tourism has emerged as a strategic sector offering opportunities for job creation, revenue generation, and sustainable growth. In 2023, the Middle East was leading the sector’s global recovery, being the only region to surpass pre-pandemic levels with arrivals reaching 87.1 million international tourists, 22% above 2019 levels.

The region is also performing well on investments: 254 greenfield projects were announced between 2018 to 2023, representing a total capital investment of USD 15.2 billion, and supporting the creation of an estimated 33,690 jobs.

The Middle East is also establishing itself as a global leader in tourism investments, and UN Tourism returned to the AIM Congress to focus on some of the key issues relating to this key priority for the sector: equality and innovation.

“The Middle East is blooming as a destination and as a major player in the global tourism sector. It was the only region where international arrivals last year were actually above pre-pandemic levels, and it’s leading the way in greenfield investment projects and in creating jobs. UN Tourism is delighted to be working with the region around our shared priorities”, says UN Tourism Executive Director, Natalia Bayona.

Fostering Innovation, Empowering Women Entrepreneurs

On the opening day of the Congress, UN Tourism held a special session centered around two pivotal themes: “Investing in Innovation” and “Enabling Women Entrepreneurs”. Experts provided insights into empowering women entrepreneurs in the tourism sector and investing in the next generation of women in technology to drive sustainable tourism growth.

As part of its commitment to gender equality and empowerment, UN Tourism also launched the second edition of its Women in Tech Startups competition for the region, aiming to recognize and support innovative tech-driven startups led by women entrepreneurs working in three categories: People and Skills, Green Travel Solutions and Market Innovators.

Tourism Investments in the Middle East chapter

On the second day, the AIM Congress served as a platform for UN Tourism to engage global stakeholders in a discussion surrounding tourism investments in the Middle East. UN Tourism highlighted the importance of tourism trends and sustainable investment practices, discussing policies that support such initiatives and exploring tourism growth in navigating investment horizons.

The session aimed at to provide insights into the evolving tourism landscape of the Middle East, showcasing traditional and non-traditional investment opportunities and emphasizing the region’s growing influence on global tourism investments. As the global tourism landscape evolves, the region plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of the sector through its vision, investment initiatives, and strategic partnerships. Participants called for the need of collaborative efforts between governments, private investors, civil society, and local communities to shape a tourism sector that is not only economically successful but also environmentally responsible and socially inclusive.

Baku, Azerbaijan, May 15, 2024 / TRAVELINDEX / UN Tourism has joined leading international organizations and government leaders at the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, held in Baku around the theme of “Dialogue for Peace and Global Security: Cooperation and Interconnectivity.”

The sixth edition of the Forum forms part of the “Baku Process”, launched by President Ilham Aliyev in 2008, brought together more than 700 participants from 107 countries, including 60 Ministers of Culture. Serving as the sector’s voice, UN Tourism held a special session on the sector’s role in fostering connections in post-conflict societies, with reference to Bosnia & Herzegovina, Colombia, and Rwanda.

Opening the main high-level forum, UN Tourism Executive Director Zoritsa Urosevic said: “At UN Tourism, we have a duty to foster people’s desires to discover the world, making the unknown more inviting and building new connections between strangers, and also to give back to tourism the power to build bridges, because Tourism Opens Minds.”

Participating in the 3rd High-Level Meeting of International Organizations on Sustainable Pathways for a Greener Future, Ms. Urosevic highlighted UN Tourism’s commitment towards transforming the sector. She concluded: “As we look ahead to COP29 in Baku and future collaborations, I encourage all stakeholders to join us in the transformation of the tourism sector for a greener future. Our value chain cuts across various sectors, offering numerous opportunities to catalyze change for a more sustainable future.”

Top forum for international cooperation

The primary objective of the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue is to explore the critical intersections between dialogue facilitation, cooperative frameworks, leadership efficacy, and the complex dynamics of interconnectedness, all in the service of advancing global peace and security imperatives. Over three days, a series of plenary sessions and panel discussions brought together a diverse range of stakeholders, including government officials, representatives from international organizations, eminent cultural figures, journalists, civil society actors, and intellectuals from across the globe, to deliberate upon pressing global challenges. Joining UN Tourism partnership in Baku were representatives of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), UNESCO, and the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO).

Tourism and the Baku Process

Building upon the legacy of previous iterations of the forum held in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019, which collectively comprised more than 250 events and attracted nearly 10,000 participants from 180 countries and 30 international organizations, the 6th edition of the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue aimed to further solidify the “Baku Process” as a preeminent international platform for fostering intercultural collaboration and dialogue.

The significance of the “Baku Process” has been duly acknowledged by major international bodies, with the United Nations Secretary-General’s Annual Report of 2017 to the United Nations General Assembly on intercultural and interreligious dialogue recognizing it as a pioneering initiative in advocating for dialogue among cultures. Subsequently, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution acknowledging the “Baku Process” as a pivotal global mechanism for promoting intercultural dialogue. Furthermore, at its 215th session, the Executive Board of UNESCO passed a resolution voicing robust support for the “Baku Process” and urging all member states and major international organizations to actively engage with it.

Related links:

Madrid, Spain, May 18, 2024 / TRAVELINDEX / Over 260 villages from more than 60 countries representing the five regions of the world have put themselves forward for the 2024 edition of Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism 2024. This marks the highest volume of applications ever received in the past four editions.

Application Window Closes for Fourth Edition

Applications for the fourth edition of Best Tourism Villages closed on 8 May. Building on the success of past editions, this year’s initiative will again inspire communities worldwide to harness the power of tourism as a driver of rural development and wellbeing.

UN Tourism’s Member States were invited to submit up to eight candidate villages through their National Tourism Administrations (NTAs). As in previous editions, the villages will be assessed by an external independent Advisory Board in nice areas of evaluation:

1. Cultural and Natural Resources
2. Promotion and Conservation of Cultural Resources
3. Economic Sustainability
4. Social Sustainability
5. Environmental Sustainability
6. Tourism Development and Value Chain Integration
7. Governance and Prioritization of Tourism
8. Infrastructure and Connectivity
9. Health, Safety, and Security

The villages recognized as the Best Tourism Villages as well as those selected to participate in the Upgrade Programme will be announced in the fourth quarter of the year.

A growing global network of Tourism Villages

Since launching the call for applications in January, the Tourism for Rural Development Programme by UN Tourism has hosted a series of online sessions with the Member States, offering insights into the application process. These sessions in Arabic, English, French and Spanish, drew in 117 participants, highlighting the widespread interest and commitment of UN Tourism Member States to advancing tourism for rural development.

The BTV Network, currently boasting a global consortium with 186 members, will continue to grow. The Network includes 129 villages recognized as Best Tourism Villages and 57 actively participating in the Upgrade Programme representing 55 countries. This collaborative network is a unique global grouping of local communities and serves as a platform for sharing experiences, growing knowledge, and fostering partnerships to drive rural development through tourism.

Bangkok, Thailand, July 18, 2024 / TRAVELINDEX / Twenty Two Winning-Entries Announced for the 2024 PATA Gold Awards, Winners To Be Celebrated at PATA Travel Mart 2024. The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 PATA Gold Awards, honouring organisations and individuals for their exceptional achievements and commitment to advancing tourism. Among them, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has been selected as the Grand Title Winner in the Marketing category for its “Hello Hong Kong Recovery Campaign,” which also secured victories in two sub-categories. Similarly, Intrepid DMC Nepal’s “More Intrepid Women for Nepal” campaign has been named the Grand Title winning-entry in the Sustainability and Social Responsibility category.

Since its inception in 1984, the PATA Gold Awards represents the true spirit of innovation, sustainability and the notion of tourism as a force for good. The awards are further distinguished by the voluntary participation of 23 independent expert judges from renowned organisations across the region. This prestigious celebration of excellence is generously sponsored by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), marking an impressive 29 consecutive years of collaboration.

“On behalf of PATA, I wish to express our heartfelt appreciation to the Macao Government Tourism Office for our long-standing partnership in powering the PATA Gold Awards 2024,” said PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid.

He added, “I am extremely delighted to note that we have received a significant number of high-quality submissions, with a 19% increase compared to the previous year. This is a clear sign that the travel and tourism sector is thriving and becoming more competitive than ever. We have witnessed tourism professionals putting more creativity and passion into their work to enhance the tourism economy. I would like to extend my gratitude to all the applicants and judges who have dedicate their time and efforts into making the PATA Gold Awards a possibility.”

Ms Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office said, “This year’s PATA Gold Award winners bring another colorful kaleidoscope of outstanding initiatives in marketing, along with sustainability and social responsibility in the tourism industry, which deserve our admiration. As Macao aims for more diversification in its development as a world center of tourism and leisure, we are honored to collaborate with PATA to help shape a vibrant yet responsible tourism industry across the Asia-Pacific region with the awards.”

This year’s winners across two broad categories, namely Marketing, and Sustainability & Social Responsibility, were selected from over 100 entries submitted by 47 travel and tourism organisations and individuals.

All 20 winners will be celebrated at the upcoming PATA Travel Mart 2024, to be held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, Thailand on August 28. To further honour these outstanding achievements, all 22 winning entries will be featured in the 2024 PATA Gold Awards booklet, to be published in August, and throughout PATA Travel Mart 2024.

As mentioned above, the PATA Gold Award 2024 Grand Titles were presented to two esteemed organisations:

The Hong Kong Tourism Board, Hong Kong SAR received the PATA Gold Award 2024 Grand Title in Marketing for its “Hello Hong Kong Recovery Campaign”. The campaign actively engaged all segments of society in the mission of recovery, inviting visitors to explore Hong Kong SAR’s natural beauty, rich heritage, culinary delights, and more through innovative marketing initiatives. By 2023, Hong Kong SAR had successfully achieved 68% of pre-pandemic visitor arrivals through this recovery campaign, contributing to the revitalisation in areas such as hotel occupancy rates, per capita spending, and length of stay.

The PATA Gold Award 2024 Grand Title in Sustainability and Social Responsibility was awarded to Intrepid DMC Nepal, for its “More Intrepid Women For Nepal” Initiative. This initiative fosters a workplace culture that not only recognises but actively nurtures the potential of women, ensuring their voices are heard and contributions valued at all organisational levels. By encouraging and facilitating active female participation in all levels of operation from office-based staff to local communities, Intrepid DMC Nepal has increased the number of women-led accommodation providers, supported women-led non-profit organisations, and highlighted success stories to inspire others, among other impactful initiatives.

The full result of the PATA Gold Awards 2024 and list of the distinguished judges is attached herewith.

PATA Gold Awards 2024 Grand Title Winners:

1. PATA Gold Award 2024 Grand Title in Marketing
– Winner: Hong Kong Tourism Board, Hong Kong SAR
– Submission: Hello Hong Kong Recovery Campaign

2. PATA Gold Award 2024 Grand Title in Sustainability and Social Responsibility
– Winner: Intrepid DMC Nepal
– Submission: More Intrepid Women For Nepal

PATA Gold Award Winners 2024 – Marketing Category

1. Digital Marketing Campaign
– Winner: Kerala Tourism, Government of Kerala, India
– Submission: Holiday Heist

2. Marketing Campaign (National – Asia)
– Winner: Hong Kong Tourism Board, Hong Kong SAR
– Submission: Hello Hong Kong Recovery Campaign

3. Marketing Campaign (National – Pacific)
– Winner: Tahiti Tourisme, French Polynesia
– Submission: The Treasured Test

4. Marketing Campaign (State and city – Global)
– Winner: Jeju Tourism Organization, Korea (ROK)
– Submission: Nurturing Jeju’s Wellness Tourism Ecosystem

5. Marketing – Carrier
– Winner: SriLankan Airlines, Sri Lanka
– Submission: Colours of Jaffna

6. Marketing – Hospitality
– Winner: Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Macao, China
– Submission: Studio City Water Park

7. Printed Marketing Campaign
– Winner: Hong Kong Tourism Board, Hong Kong SAR
– Submission: Hello Hong Kong Recovery Campaign

8. Travel Video
– Winner: Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia
– Submission: Truly Wondrous, Nature & Rainforest

9. Travel Photograph
– Winner: Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thailand
– Submission: Monk on the raft

10. Business Article
– Winner: TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd, Singapore
– Submission: Going green

11. Destination Article
– Winner: Anabel Dean, Australia
– Submission: The Simple Bear Necessities of Life

PATA Gold Award Winners 2024 – Sustainability & Social Responsibility

1. Climate Change Initiative
– Winner: Jetwing Hotels Ltd., Sri Lanka
– Submission: SolarPV Installations

2. Community-Based Tourism
– Winner: Nepal Tourism Board, Nepal
– Submission: Tourism Thrives when communities unite (Sustainable Tourism for Livelihood Recovery Project)

3. Corporate and Social Responsibility
– Winner: Sivatel Bangkok Hotel, Thailand
– Submission: From Kitchen to Chicken and Beyond

4. Culture (Joint winners)
– Winner: Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration – DASTA, Thailand
– Submission: Revitalizing the Unique Performing Arts and Traditional Local Wisdom of the Trai Trung Community through the Establishment of Cultural Community Tourism
– Winner: Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thailand
– Submission: The Diversity of Southern Border

5. Heritage
– Winner: Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration – DASTA, Thailand
– Submission: Building on Ancient Inspiration for Inter-generational Heritage of Sangkhalok Wares

6. Human Capital Development Initiative
– Winner: Macao Government Tourism Office, Macao, China
– Submission: Tourism Human Capital Development

7. Tourism Destination Resilience (Asia Pacific)
– Winner: Korea Tourism Organization, Korea (ROK)
– Submission: Rising Star! The Sustainable and Informational ‘Stargazing Tourism’ in Jeollanam-do Province, Republic of Korea (ROK)

8. Tourism for All
– Winner: Gangneung City, Korea (ROK)
– Submission: Gangneung Accessible Tourism City Establishment Project

9. Women Empowerment Initiative
– Winner: Destination Asia, Thailand
– Submission: Empowering Marginalized Women in Bali

10. Youth Empowerment Initiative
– Winner: Galaxy Entertainment Group, Macao, China
– Submission: Nurturing Macau’s future leaders and cultivating our Team Members

Panel of Judges:

– Mr. Anthony Hoglund, General Counsel, APAC, Amadeus IT Group, Thailand
– Mr. Bernard Metzger, Founder & Chairman, Travelindex Group, United Kingdom
– Mr. Bharat Nagpal, Director-Sales, Rate Gain Adara Inc., United Kingdom
– Mrs. Caroline Bremner, Head of Travel Research, Euromonitor International, United Kingdom
– Mr. Chad Shiver, VP Destination Marketing, Clicktripz, LLC, United States
– Mr. David Hailstones, Senior Vice President & Chief Operations Officer, Bella Vista Institute of Higher Education Switzerland (BVIS), Switzerland
– Mr. Ed Kastli, Vice President, International Sales, American hotel & Lodging Association (AHLEI), United States
– Elif Balci Fisunoğlu, Deputy General Manager, Turkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), Türkiye
– Emmanuelle Charotte, VP Business Development, ECA2 LIMITED, Hong Kong SAR
– Ms. Hannah Pearson , Regional Director APAC, Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), United States
– Mr. Jesper Palmqvist, Area Director Asia PAcific, STR, Singapore
– Ms. Jintana Borin, Head of Market Development, Cloudbeds, United States
– Mr. John Williams, VP Advertising Sales, BBC Studios Singapore, Singapore
– Mr. Jonathan Song, Director of Global Business Development, Plaza Premium Lounge Management Limited, Hong Kong SAR
– Prof. Kaye Chon, Dean and Chair Professor, School of Hotel and Tourism Management, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR
– Ms. Natalia Bayona, Executive Director, World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), Spain
– Professor Kumi Kato, PhD, Faculty of Tourism/Graduate School of Tourism, Wakayama University, Japan
– Mr. Randy Durband, CEO, Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), United States
– Mr. Simon lloyd, Dean – Hospitality Management, Dusit Thani College, Thailand
– Ms. Suyin Lee, Managing Director, Discova Travel, Singapore
– Mr. Taichiro Ishida, Marketing Manager, Suruga Marketing & Tourism Bureau, Japan
– Ms. Topaz Smith, Project Lead, Travel and Tourism, World Economic Forum (WEF), United States
– Ms. Xin Mok, Community Lead, Aviation, Travel & Tourism, Mastercard Asia/Pacific Pte. Ltd., Singapore

About PATA
Founded in 1951, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a not-for-profit membership association that acts as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. The Association provides aligned advocacy, insightful research, and innovative events to its member organisations, which including government, state and city tourism bodies; international airlines and airports; hospitality organisations, and educational institutions, as well as thousands of young tourism professional (YTP) members across the world. The PATA network also embraces the grassroots activism the PATA Chapters and Student Chapters, who organise numerous travel industry training programmes and business development events across the world. Thousands of travel professionals belong to the 32 local PATA Chapters worldwide, while hundreds of students are members of the 28 PATA Student Chapters globally. The PATAmPOWER platform delivers unrivalled data, forecasts, and insights from the PATA Strategic Intelligence Centre to members’ desktops and mobile devices anywhere in the world. PATA’s Head Office has been in Bangkok since 1998. The Association also has an official office in Beijing.

UN Tourism and the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) have joined forces to promote sustainable development within the meeting industry.

The recent visit of an ICCA delegation to UN Tourism headquarters culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), symbolizing the deepening collaboration between the two entities. This partnership aims to enhance the business tourism industry’s activity and impact, aligning with broader global sustainability goals. The MOU outlines various areas of cooperation, including raising awareness of business tourism’s value, supporting mutual events, promoting education, fostering collaboration, amplifying visibility for entrepreneurs, showcasing best practices, and advocating for the industry’s economic significance.

UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili says: “The partnership between UN Tourism and ICCA recognizes the growing economic importance of business events for our sector. ICCA has been a valued Affiliate Member of UN Tourism since 2004, and our collaboration has yielded several joint publications and initiatives focused on advancing the Meetings Industry. With this new partnership, we look forward to shaping a more sustainable and resilient future for the business tourism sector.”

ICCA CEO Senthil Gopinath says: “This collaboration with the UN Tourism has been a long-held strategy of ICCA. This is great news not just for our members but for the whole international associations meetings and events industry. We know how intrinsically linked the world of business events and tourism are, but this formal partnership gives us privileged access to each other’s communities. The partnership agreement also signifies a closer alignment of our industry-leading programmes.”

About ICCA

ICCA is a global community and knowledge hub for the international association – and governmental – meetings industry. Founded in 1963, ICCA specialises in the international association meetings sector, offering data, education, communication channels, as well as business development and networking opportunities. Today, ICCA continues to advocate for the world of international meetings. The ICCA Association Community offers associations across the world education, connections, tools, and resources to help them organise more effective and successful meetings.

UN Tourism has launched the second edition of its Women in Tech Startup Competition: Middle East. The initiative aims to highlight and support women entrepreneurs who are shaping the future of sustainable tourism and technology across the region.

Applications now Open

The competition targets startups that are led by women and based in the Middle East. Enterprises must be operating within the tourism sector and related industries, and offer sustainable solutions for people, the planet, and prosperity. They must also be an entrepreneurial project at an early stage, idea stage, or Series A stage of their journey. Applications are open for the following three categories:

• People and Skills: this category calls for startups with environmental and sustainable approaches in education tech, social connectivity, wellness or health, with cross-cutting benefits with tourism.
• Green Travel Solutions: for startups that use environmentally friendly and sustainable approaches in green tech, green infrastructure, travel and logistics, urban development or rural development, with cross-cutting benefits with tourism.
• Market Innovators: for startups working with emergent technologies applied to tourism.

UN Tourism has welcomed key global and regional partners and ecosystem collaborators to support the winning startups. Almosafer, Plug and Play, AIM, The Bench, Impulse4Women and Bilakatu will be providing visibility, personalized mentorship, consultancy and access to potential investment to the best entrepreneurial solutions. This year’s applications will be processed through Plug and Play’s open innovation platform, the largest in the world, and the finalists will also be invited to join the global UN Tourism Innovation Network.

The launch was announced at the AIM Congress, a leading investment platform, in Abu Dhabi, UAE, during a special UN Tourism Investment Forum session on “Investing in Innovation and Enabling Women Entrepreneurs”.

The second edition follows on from the success of the inaugural initiative, with over 140 startups and SMEs applying from 11 countries. The four winners, Fosha (Egypt), Sparkle Haze (UAE), Plastus Biotech (Saudi Arabia), Xenios Academy (UAE) were announced last year during the celebrations for World Tourism Day on 27 September in Riyadh.

UN Tourism and Women Empowerment

UN Tourism is committed to advancing the positive impact of tourism on women’s lives, thereby contributing to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 5 – Gender Equality. The organization has been actively supporting women entrepreneurs, working to propel the tourism sector forward and to foster inclusivity.

UN Tourism Executive Director Natalia Bayona says: “It is crucial to empower female entrepreneurs in the Middle East with innovative business proposals that have a component of positive social impact and respect for the environment to support the sustainable development of the growing tourism sector in the region.”

UN Tourism and Innovation

Since 2018, UN Tourism has launched more than 25 startup competitions and innovation challenges, covering over 150 countries around the world. With over 20,000 participants and more than 350 top startups mapped with USD 2+ billion in funding, UN Tourism continues its efforts to support digitalization and innovation to advance the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Tourism is a tool for positive transformation and inclusive economic development.