Category: Latest Travel News

Hangzhou (China) – December 6. 2017 (travelindex.com) – Speaking at the International Hotel & Restaurant Association Annual Congress in Hangzhou, China, Professor Geoffrey Lipman, Co-founder SUN, discussed the urgent need for the tourism industry to tackle climate change and work together to develop climate resilience strategy. Lipman said:

“One of our known challenges – climate change – is existential and that means if we don’t fix it, our grandchildren will freeze or fry. And it also means we have to keep the pressure on that through other mega-challenges such as poverty, hunger and terrorism dealt with in 17 SDGs (with 169 targets and 304 indicators). All are vitally important but secondary if we do not deal with global warming.”

SUN – Strong Universal Network is a program of the EU based, not for profit Green Growth and Travelism Institute, and a legacy to the late Maurice Strong – sustainable development pioneer. Its goal is to promote Climate Resilient, Impact-Travel with good & bad effects measured and managed coherently: with Green Growth at the core and, 2050-proof in line with the Paris Accords and the W.E.F. 4th Industrial Revolution.

Addressing the Congress Professor Lipman charted the evolution of the tourism industry with its growth mindset focussed on bed nights and visitor numbers, coming to grips with the need to manage its growth sustainably. The triple bottom line focus on Economic, Social and Environmental sustainability must now address Climate Change first and foremost.

Impact-Travel is a template for sustainable Travel and Tourism that is Paris Climate & SDG linked – measured: green: 2050 proofed. SUN has developed a system for Impact-Travel, Learning, Innovation and Resilience. It is based on a network of cloud connected, solar powered pre-fabricated Centres for local Community focus. Shipped in a single container, they can be set up rapidly, without extensive machinery. They will be operated by smart, next generation, climate change curators, with graduate trainee support through Maurice Strong Legacy Scholarships, provided by industry CSR support. This next generation of SUN “Champions” will help to drive the behavioural change and influence the fundamental government and industry actions needed.

Professor Lipman urged the hotel and restaurant community to step up to the challenge of developing climate resilience strategy in line with the 2030/2050 SDG & Paris targets. SUN wants to form partnerships in line with Goal 17 and the One Belt, One Road initiative. Quoting Chairman Mao Lipman said that “The long march started with a small step. By uniting together to take that first vital step it will be the beginning of a global movement that continues Maurice Strong’s sustainability vision for the Travel & Tourism sector.

Contact
Professor Geoffrey Lipman
SUN Co-founder glipman@thesunprogram.com

The Strong Universal Network SUN, is a program of the EU based, not for profit Green Growth and Travelism Institute, and a legacy to the late Maurice Strong – Sustainable Development Pioneer.

Its goal is to promote Climate Resilient, Impact-Travel with good & bad effects measured and managed coherently: with Green Growth at the core and, 2050-proof in line with the Paris Accords and the W.E.F. 4th Industrial Revolution.

The International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA) is the only international trade association exclusively devoted to promoting and defending the interests of the hotel and restaurant industry worldwide. It is a non-profit organization and is officially recognized by the United Nations. IH&RA monitors and lobbies all international agencies on behalf of the hospitality industry.

Krynica Zdroj (Poland) – December 4, 2017 (travelindex) – The 24 year old Korean beauty Jenny Kim was recently crowned Miss Supranational 2017 in Krynica Zdroj, Poland. Held at a resort, winning the international beauty pageant Miss Supranational 2017 for Jenny Kim has been a dream come true.

Miss Supranational is an international beauty pageant operating since 2009 with contestants from over 65 countries. A young woman filled with passion, Kim has expressed her wisdom and beauty before the judges. Elegantly dressed in silver gown, she surpassed all 63 other contestants for the prestigious crown. Jenny Kim was crowned by Miss Supranational 2016’s winner Srinidhi Shetty.

It was an extremely competitive race with this year’s contestants brought beautiful ethnic costumes and accessories.

Final contestants:
– Jenny Kim (Miss Korea)- Miss Supranational 2017
– Bianca Tirsin (Miss Romania) – Second Runner-up Miss Supranational 2017
– Bitaniya Yosef (Miss Ethiopia) – Third-Runner up Miss Supranational 2017
– Larissa Santiago (Miss Peurto Rico) – Fourth-Runner up Miss Supranational 2017
– Miss Panama – Best Dress & Make Up
– Miss Germany – Best Talent – Salsa
– Miss Portugal – Best Talent- Hula Hoop

Kim is a student at Ewha Women’s University currently pursuing 2 majors, International Management and Literature & English. She also often volunteers as a translator at the Indonesia National Museum in Jakarta.

For more information please visit the Miss Supranational website.

Krynica Zdroj (Poland) – December 3, 2017 (travelindex) – Most recently held in Krynica Zdroj, Poland, the international beauty pageant Miss Supranational 2017 received exciting responses. Miss Hai Duong, a judge panel member, reveals her excitement and involvement behind the success of the pageant.

Miss Hai Duong, iconic beauty for modern Vietnamese women herself, caught the eye of Poland’s luxury society. Together with the President of Miss Supranational and other judge panelists, she exchanged ideas and assessments on the contestants.

Miss Hai Duong is quoted, “Our new Miss Supranational 2017 Jenny Kim is an excellent representative of the organization. She has a great personality inside – and out- and has convincingly given impressive performances. I was invited by the beautiful Korean Jenny Kim to be a beauty consultant and mentor throughout the preparation and participation of her involvement as a contestant. Although I was quite busy with work, we happily managed to time manage ourselves. I am extremely glad Jenny Kim was crowned Miss Supranational 2017 and honored to be involved with the organization.”

Earlier this year, Miss Hai Doung made a special appearance during her visit in Thailand at Asia Pacific Women Forum as an elected representative of female leaders of Vietnam. She attracted the attention of both media and its prestigious guests with her elegant presence. A personality of inspiration amongst Vietnamese women, Hai Doung often shares her life experiences and knowledge of how to be beautiful for current and upcoming Vietnamese women. She is often involved and volunteer with many charities around Vietnam, proving on a mission to help the unfortunate children. She is also invited to be a beauty consultant of Miss Universe Vietnam 2017.

Miss Supranational is an international beauty pageant operating since 2009 with contestants from over 65 countries.

For more information please visit the Miss Supranational website.

Bangkok (Thailand) – December 1, 2017 (travelindex.com) – Travelindex launched today its first Top 25 Restaurants City Guide by Restaurant Rating Index. Bangkok as the top tourism destination in Mastercard’s annual travel index, 20 million overnight visitors and a very diverse and dynamic dining scene was the perfect choice for this first restaurant city guide.

From Michelin-star quality tasting menus to exquisite Thai food or the best sushi you’ll ever have, Bangkok is a gourmet heaven. The city is also the top-ranked destination city by international overnight visitors and Travelindex decided to launch its first Global Restaurant City Guide with the Top 25 Restaurants in the Thai capital.

Restaurant ratings and reviews are critical in the consumer decision making process. The Top 25 Restaurants Guide is based on Travelindex owned and patented, “Restaurant Rating Index”. The 3-tier rating combines the power of crowd wisdom (social media and review sites) with artificial intelligence behavioral algorithms and a zest of human expertise from some of the world’s top culinary experts. The result, the Restaurant Rating Index (RRI), a true and objective measuring standard on a scale between 1 and 100, where 100 is best.

Bernard Metzger, Founder of Travelindex, said “How often are you asked by your friends for restaurant recommendations? Existing guides and websites offer either too much choice, and one gets frustrated by the many layers to go through, or restaurants on curated sites tend to be expensive with Michelin-star quality of cooking and a price tag to match. Our aim, with the Top 25 Restaurants guide series, is to give, diners and foodies alike a tool to fast and easily match their aspirations, location and budget.”

Bernard added “Bangkok is the first in our new series of restaurant city guides and in fact our team of experts is already working on the Singapore and Hong Kong editions”.

The Bangkok guide ranked L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, the Michelin star world champion, in the top spot while Savelberg, another Michelin star regular and Sra Bua a Thai restaurant offering a modern interpretation of Thai cuisine take respectively second and third positions.

The Top 25 Restaurants Guide brings together not only gourmet dining but the best of all cuisines, with every establishment chosen first and foremost for the quality of cooking. The diversity of cuisine is reflected in the ranking, from the classic French and Italian to hyper-local Thai food restaurant Bo.lan, to Middle Eastern inspired at House on Sathorn and modern American at Bunker.

About Travelindex
Travelindex is a company focused on developing data driven travel discovery and travel planning products. The Company owns digital media products, brands and a technology framework helping businesses create online marketing solutions. Since 2013 Travelindex has spearheaded the development of the “Travel Rating Index” a system and platform measuring objectively, in the same way across the world, criteria important for travelers. Travelindex puts a priority in the integration of sustainability into distribution and management systems to bring tangible benefits to its partners and clients helping them to improve reputation and goodwill. Travelindex is a UNWTO World Tourism Organization Affiliate Member.

About Top25Restaurants.com
Top 25 Restaurants aims to guide and assist diners to find, in every city and every day of the year, the restaurant matching their aspirations, location and budget. To deliver a true and objective measuring standard Travelindex has develop its own and unique “Restaurant Rating Index” (RRI) combining the power of a mathematical algorithm driven by artificial intelligence and re-assessed through the human discernment of some of the world’s top culinary experts.

Notes to editors
Media Contact:
Nicole Lim, Top 25 Restaurants Asia Pacific
+852 6236 9854
nicole@www.top25restaurants.com

Bangkok (Thailand) – December 1, 2017 (travelindex.com) – Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Bangkok and internationally renowned Thai fashion designer Ms. Vatanika Patamasingh reaffirmed connections with a successful showcase of the latter’s exclusive fashion collection curated for Rolls-Royce in a first-of-its-kind collaboration at the 34th Thailand International Motor Expo 2017.

The collection is in line with the theme for the show, “Effortless Luxury”, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Bangkok approached Ms. Patamasingh to curate three looks for each iconic Rolls-Royce model on display – Ghost, Wraith and Dawn – in her signature chic, yet wearable style.

The four-door Rolls-Royce Ghost cuts a handsome figure in Diamond Black, confident and poised with a thoroughly polished presence. To match this, Ms. Patamasingh paired a business-ready look with a sharp VATANIKA silk velvet and silk satin jacket, paired with silk velvet straight-leg pants.

Packing power, style and drama, the sleek two-door fastback, Rolls-Royce Wraith, boldly stood out with its two-tone Diamond Black/English White finish. Ms. Patamasingh complemented this with her signature black silk satin hand-draped backless gown, layered with a black turtle neck sleeveless top.

The super-luxury drophead motor car, Dawn, is the sexiest Rolls-Royce ever created, an effortless boulevardier presented in elegant English White at the Motor Expo. Ms. Patamasingh encapsulated this with a variation of three different looks, all reflecting the strikingappeal of Dawn.

Mr. Sunthornpan Dhechatech, General Manager for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Bangkok, commented on the collaboration, “Elegant, sophisticated and edgy, VATANIKA’s designs match our increasingly younger and fashion-savvy patronage. Rolls-Royce is collaborating with one of Thailand’s most internationally-renowned fashion labels for this first-of-its-kind collaboration at the Motor Expo. VATANIKA’S designs are aligned with our brand values – capturing expressions of visual beauty and individuality, with luxury at their core. . Her tailoring technique is personal and embraces effortless wearability with a contemporary feel.” Ms. Patamasingh echoed the same sentiments, saying, “It was a pleasure for us to work together; we share many common values and strive for perfection in all that we do. Like Rolls-Royce’s uniquely personal creations, , VATANIKA prides itself on exciting handcrafted detail, and it was a real pleasure for me to select these looks inspired by the motor cars on display.”

The curated Rolls-Royce collection will go on to be part of VATANIKA’s Resort 2018 collection, and will be available through her boutiques located at Bangkok’s Emquartier, Siam Paragon, Central Chidlom and via her online store.

The authorised Rolls-Royce Motor Cars dealer in Thailand is operated by Millionaire Auto (Thailand) Company Limited, under the Holding company, Master Group Corporation (Asia).

About VATANIKA
The VATANIKA label was founded by leading fashion designer Ms. Vatanika Patamasingh, born in Bangkok, Thailand. After completing degrees from both Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and London College of Fashion, Ms. Patamasingh started her eponymous label in 2011. Today, her designs grace numerous runways at international fashion festivals, and are worn by models and celebrities like Miranda Kerr, Heidi Klum, actress Cara Delevingne and singers Jennifer Lopez and Taylor Swift.

About Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
The full Rolls-Royce Motor Cars product range:
– New Phantom / Phantom Extended Wheelbase
– Ghost Series II / Ghost Series II Extended Wheelbase
– Wraith
– Dawn
– Black Badge range of models: Ghost, Wraith and Dawn

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is the pinnacle purveyor of super luxury, with a 114-year history creating some of the finest handcrafted automobiles in the world. Like VATANIKA’s bespoke clothing and accessories, many fashion-forward celebrities choose to drive or be driven in Rolls-Royces.

Further information:
Thailand: Neo Target
Somsri Hansirisawasdi
somsri@neotarget.com
+66 81-174-5182
Tiphathai Ngamsiriporn
tiphathai@neotarget.com
+66 89-161-1029
Arisa Chaidej
arisa@neotarget.com
+66 81-806-6637

Regional – Asia Pacific (South)
Hal Serudin
hal.serudin@rolls-roycemotorcars.com
+65 6838 9675
Brendan Mok
brendan.mok@rolls-roycemotorcars.com
+65 6838 9687

Bangkok (Thailand) – December 1, 2017 (travelindex) – Bangkok’s luxury 407-room Rembrandt hotel is the ideal location for Christmas and New Year celebrations. On offer are sensational cuisine, party venues, and fixed price special festive promotions from 24 – 1 January 2018 at four award-winning restaurants:

Rang Mahal
Thailand’s most acclaimed Indian restaurant is presenting mouth-watering regional and traditional menus including Roganjosh Kashmiri, Tandoori Murgh, Tandoori Prawns, Paneer tikka badshahi, and Murgh makhanwala:

Sunday 24 December 2017
Christmas Eve Festive Brunch, 11 am – 2.30 pm, THB 1,200 net per person
Free flow beverage, 11 am – 2.30 pm, THB 800 per person
Christmas Eve Dinner Buffet, 6.30 – 11.30 pm, THB 1,600 per person

Sunday 31 December 2017
New Year’s Eve Festive Brunch, 11 am – 2.30 pm, THB 1,200 net per person
Free flow beverage, 11 am – 2.30 pm, THB 800 net per person
Rang Mahal Gala Dinner, 8.00 pm – 12.30 am, THB 3,800 net per person. *Includes a bottle of bubbles per two persons and free flow beverage, THB 2,000 net per person.

Mexicano
Talk of the Town and Bangkok’s favorite Mexican restaurant features delicious authentic garden-fresh Mexican cuisine, Mexican chefs, live music and a fun atmosphere like Mexico City. Highlight menus include: Guacamole en molcajete, Ceviche, Quesadillas, Fajitas…and 60 tequilas. Guau!

Sunday 24 December and Monday 25 December 2017
Festive Dinner, 5.00 – 11.30 pm, Enjoy with special festive menus created by Mexican Chef Carlos Bravo and paired with special celebratory drinks. Dance in a party with a Latin band and romance the night away. On offer is an unforgettable dinner in the world’s most vibrant city…more fun than ever.

Saturday 30 December, 2017
Festive Brunch, 12.00 – 3.00 pm, THB 999 net per person + Free flow beverage, THB 499 net per person.

Sunday 31 December 2017
All you can eat, 5.00 – 8.00 pm, THB 890 net per person
All you can eat + After Party from 8.00 pm – 1.00 am with THB 1,690 net per person
Free flow beverage, THB 1,000 net per person

Monday 1 January 2018
Family Day at Mexicano, 12.00 – 3.00 pm, THB 800 net per person with fun activities.

Da Vinci
Home-made delicious Italian cuisine created by Chef Vittorio, a long-time champion of Italian cuisine using the best of Thailand’s gardens. The newly renovated restaurant is set against the swimming pool and panorama city views. Highlight menus include Pizza Da Vinci, Crema di funghi al tartuffo nero, Lamb shank ossobuco, Ravioli panna e tartuffo and beers, wines and spirits to suite gourmet tastes. Great dining.

Sunday 24 December 2017
Christmas Eve Festive Dinner Buffet, 6.30 – 11.00 pm, THB 1,093 net per person

Monday 25 December 2017
Christmas Festive Lunch Buffet, 12.03 – 0.33 pm, THB 653 net per person

Sunday 31 December 2017
Festive Buffet and New Year Countdown, 7.33 pm – 1.33 am, THB 2,253 net per person
Festive Beverage Package, THB 1,033 net per person

Monday 1 January 2018
New Year recovery session by the pool, start your 2018 with tasty confort food and refreshing beverages 12 pm – 5 pm, THB 650 net per person.

Red Pepper
Our All Day dining restaurant invites you to a ‘New Year’s Eve Tango Party’ with fabulous tasty international dishes including Tom Yam Koong, Phad Thai Koong, Panang Goong, and Gai Phad Med Mamuan. Great night entertainment with International Dance on Sunday 01December 2317 from 8.00 pm till late. Price THB 1,650 net per person.

The Lobby Bar will feature a cookie corner with Christmas cake, stollen, Christmas cookies, Santa chocolate, pralines and more. Special festive goodies and beverages will also be featured at the Lobby Bar from 8 December 2017 – 7 January 2018.

Also on display will be inspiring Christmas tree lighting, festive canapes and special drinks. Live piano will play Christmas carols. Santa Claus will be on hand for children and the young at heart. On Friday 8 December 2017, 6.00 – 7.00 pm.

For reservations, please call 02 261 7100 or visit www.rembrandtbkk.com/restaurants/

About The Rembrandt Hotel Bangkok:
The Rembrandt Hotel is centrally located in the heart of Bangkok off Sukhumvit Road. Guests may access our hotel either from Sukhumvit Soi 18 or Sukhumvit Soi 20 as our property extends the length of the block. We offer luxury, outstanding services, and facilities for all travelers to Bangkok, Thailand. The property is conveniently located near the central business district as well as shopping attractions, city landmarks and vibrant nightlife. Our guests also have the benefit of all major public transportation stations in Bangkok as both skytrain (BTS Asoke Station)and metro (MRT Sukhumvit Station) are just a short 5-minute walk from the hotel or guests may ride on a complimentary 24-hour ‘tuk tuk’ shuttle service to the main road. This quality hotel is a great location for both tourists and business travelers, who will find easy access to Sukhumvit and the Bangkok CBD.

Contact:
Paemika Mungclasiri (Ms.) – Marketing Communications Manager
E-mail: pr@rembrandtbkk.com
Phone +66 (0) 2261 7100 Ext. 7443

Sirorat Jaroontham (Ms.) – Marketing Communications Executive
E-mail: pr@rembrandtbkk.com
Phone +66 (0) 2261 7100 Ext. 7444

Bangkok (Thailand) – November 30, 2017 (travelindex.com) – The Thailand Tourism Forum (TTF) will return for its seventh annual edition on January 22nd, 2018, gathering approximately 650 hotel industry professionals at the InterContinental Hotel Bangkok to discuss the mega-projects that are reshaping Bangkok’s cityscape.

Running under the theme ‘MEGACITY BANGKOK– A Tourism and Hotel Futurescape’, TTF 2018 will focus on the redevelopment of the thriving Thai capital. A series of high-level speakers will address the one-day event, including Mr Srettha Thavisin, President of Sansiri PLC, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and real estate developers.

Sansiri recently entered the hospitality space in partnership with Standard Hotels to create the upstart hotel brand, Monocle, and Mr Thavisin will be interviewed on stage at the forum, discussing how “Large Scale Projects Contribute to Better Tourism Experiences.”

He will be joined at the event by executives from some of the Thailand’s largest conglomerates, hotel leaders, expert analysts, developers, financiers and more. The opening address will be made by Bill Barnett, TTF event co-organiser Managing Director of C9 Hotelworks.

“Thailand’s tourism industry continues to ride the crest of a wave, with record-breaking numbers of global visitors clamouring to experience the country’s many attractions,” Mr Barnett said. “As the country’s capital and major international gateway, Bangkok is fast becoming one of the world’s great mega-cities.

“To sustain such numbers however, Bangkok needs large-scale redevelopment. Massive infrastructure projects are pushing into more districts and creating new tourism hotspots such as the Chao Praya River area. At TTF 2018, we will learn first-hand about the ambitious plans for Bangkok’s emerging cityscape and examine their impact on the tourism and hospitality sectors,” Mr Barnett added.

Thailand’s tourism industry is on track for yet another record-breaking year. According to data from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Kingdom welcomed 17.3 million international visitors in the first half of 2017, generating THB876 billion (US$25 billion). Tourism revenues are expected to reach an all-time high of THB1.81 trillion (US$50 billion) for the full year.

This rising demand is also boosting confidence in Thailand’s hotel sector; according to STR, approximately 100 new hotels are currently in the country’s pipeline, potentially adding 21,600 new rooms to the national inventory – many of which will be in Bangkok.

But challenges remain; Thailand’s transport infrastructure struggles to cope with the tourism influx, hoteliers face strong competition, and average daily rate (ADR) remains under pressure. So what does the future hold for Bangkok? A series of multi-billion-baht developments, including transport links, mega-malls, attractions, hotels and residential projects, are transforming the cityscape, creating both opportunities and threats for the city.

TTF 2018 will address all these issues, with a comprehensive, insightful programme of discussions, debates and presentations. The forum will conclude with an evening networking event and cocktail party.

In addition to Srettha Thavisin, President of Sansiri PLC, speakers and panellists at TTF 2018 include Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Minor Hotel Group; Nikhom Jensiriratanakorn, Director of Horwath HTL; Thomas Schmelter, IHG’s Director of Operations for Thailand & Indochina; KC Moy, Executive Vice President of Capella Hotel Group; Mike Batchelor, JLL’s Managing Director, Investment Sales for Asia; Jesper Palmqvist, STR’s Area Director for Asia Pacific; Caroline Cheah, General Manager of the Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok; and many more.

Bangkok (Thailand) – November 30, 2017 (travelindex.com) – Mobile Positioning Data (MPD) was recognised as a “state of the art” approach for the use of big data, and in particular for producing more accurate official statistics, at a workshop organised by United Nations ESCAP held on 24 November, 2018 during the Second Ministerial Conference on Regional Economic Cooperation and Integration in Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok.

The global community is in pursuit of real-time data, with indicator-based development monitoring and response, built upon the integration of content from remote sensing, social media, mobile phones, scanners, and a fast-expanding number of other sources such as the Internet of Things (IOT).

Until recently, deploying and validating these models required accessing massive amounts of sensitive data from private-sector data holders, not to mention a high degree of trust among risk-averse data holders and government statistical agencies. The overarching issues of confidentiality, data access, and the risk of information leakage to competitors, regulators, and other parties were fundamental barriers to progress in scaling up these approaches.

What was needed was a way to share fully anonymized data while not detracting from its use in producing real-time economic and social indicators. The workshop showcased research from two companies that have come together to show how this is done by experts from Positium and Cybernetica, two leading Estonian information-systems companies, that elaborated on the innovative ways population, migration, and tourism statistics are being produced using mobile phone data, and how innovations in encryption and privacy-preservation are overcoming long-standing barriers to the public use of confidential information.

The discussions at the workshop confirmed that Mobile Positioning Data can help improve the measurement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in several areas. More accurate population and mobility data it provides lays the foundation for a vast array of indicators.

About United Nations ESCAP
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is the regional development arm of the United Nations for the Asia-Pacific region. Made up of 53 Member States and 9 Associate Members, with a geographical scope that stretches from Turkey in the west to the Pacific island nation of Kiribati in the east, and from the Russian Federation in the north to New Zealand in the south, the region is home to 4.1 billion people, or two thirds of the world’s population. This makes ESCAP the most comprehensive of the United Nations five regional commissions, and the largest United Nations body serving the Asia-Pacific region with over 600 staff. ESCAP works to improve the use of data for evidence-based decision-making, and to produce and disseminate quality data and statistics about societies in the ESCAP region. Website at www.unescap.org

About Positium
Positium has been generating research and official statistics from mobile phone data for over 10 years, which is used for planning, impact studies and research, by government and local bodies. International and local organizations can benefit from the data, to understand the mobility of people in countries and regions, both residents and visitors.

Siim Esko is Director of International Business Development at Positium, mainly works with large public sector institutions across Asia, Africa and South America to leverage location data from mobile networks. Siim has graduate degrees in International business and economics from Copenhagen and Vienna. Website at www.positium.com

About Cybernetica
Cybernetica is an information security and e-governance company. Cybernetica developed the Sharemind secure computation system and the Unified eXchange Platform (UXP), the foundation of e-governments in Estonia (X-road), Finland, Namibia, Haiti, Azerbaijan and Ukraine. Sharemind can be used to perform secure computation for privacy-preserving data analysis for policymaking, fraud prevention and official statistics.

Dr. Dan Bogdanov, with Cybernetica, is the inventor of Sharemind, a secure multi-party computation system for collecting, sharing and processing private data. He has been a research team lead for multiple privacy technology research projects with the United States DARPA, European FP7 and Horizon 2020. He is the co-author of the ISO/IEC 29101 standard on the architecture of privacy-preserving systems and the ISO/IEC 19592 standard on secret sharing.

For further information, please contact: Siim Esko siim.esko@positium.com

Lusaka (Zambia) – November 30, 2017 (travelindex.com) – The potential of tourism in poverty alleviation and to induce transformative change has been addressed in Lusaka, capital city of Zambia, in the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Conference on Promoting Sustainable Tourism, a Tool for Inclusive Growth and Community Engagement in Africa. The Conference, a flagship event of the Africa region for the celebration of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, took place last 16-18 November and was coordinated by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in cooperation with the Government of Zambia.

According to UNWTO statistical data, the African continent had an increase of international arrivals of 8% in 2016, compared to the previous year. This, together with the increasing commitment of African governments to position tourism in their agenda, reveals the gaining prominence of the sector as well as its strong potential to foster positive change and transformation.

The Conference that was preceded by a technical workshop to revise strategies and approaches to develop sustainable tourism initiatives in the African continent, tackled these issues as well as the potential of sustainable tourism to lead policies to foster communities inclusion. The summit was attended by more than 200 international and local participants from Angola, Egypt, Jordan, Cabo Verde, Guinea Equatorial Kenya, Mali, Republic of Congo, Sudan, Switzerland, Spain, Union of the Comoros, Malawi, Seychelles, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The event commenced with a Ministerial Dialogue on Tourism, Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development in the African continent, attended by Charles Banda, Minister of Tourism and Arts of Zambia, Ronald Chitotela, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development of Zambia, Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Secretary-General, Fatuma Hirsi Mohamed, Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism of Kenya, Abdelgadir Dmein Hassan Undersecretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Antiquities and Wildlife of Sudan and Dorothy Tembo, Deputy Executive Director at the International Trade Center. The session was moderated by Brownyn Nielsen, Editor-in-Chief at CNBC Africa who invited the attendees to showcase sustainable tourism practices in the region and how the sector could help achieve the SDGs and generate benefits for African societies.

The framework of the Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals were defined together with the African Union Agenda 2063 as the best scenario to foster sustainable tourism in the continent.

Precisely to this green, responsible and eco-friendly tourism was dedicated the intervention of Charles Banda, Minister of Tourism and Arts of Zambia who emphasized that “sustainability is believed to be the link between the present and the future. As patrons of the tourism sector our role is to ensure that even our children’s children experience the same nature in the form that it currently is and not in a worse off state.”

As commented by Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia, the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development is a unique opportunity to highlight the importance of the tourism sector and to promote activities to enhance the contribution of the sector for national economies. The President emphasized the capacity of tourism to contribute to local development and stated that “the Lusaka Declarationis an important milestone in the Agenda 2030 and towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and in the recognition of tourism as an essential development pillar.”

UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai, who congratulated Zambia for hosting the Conference as member of the UNWTO Executive Council and Chair for 2019, highlighted that the current world is facing major transformations namely the digital revolution, connecting our minds virtually and globally, the urban revolution, connecting our life style and our livelihoods and the travel revolution connecting us physically and culturally “Today, the world is at a major transformation juncture, rapid and fast change is the essence of our time. The three global forces are leading this transformation”, he added. During his visit, Rifai also declared the South Luangwa National Park of Zambia as a sustainable park.

Partnerships, technology and wildlife conservation at the core

The sessions were organized into four panels tackling Public-Private Partnership, the Role of Technology in the development of tourism, Wildlife conservation and Community Engagement and Air Connectivity in Africa.

The final outcome of the conference was the Lusaka Declaration on Promoting Sustainable Tourism Development, a Tool for Inclusive Growth and Community Engagement in Africa. The document, which places sustainability at the core of tourism development and on national and international development agendas, was adopted unanimously by all participants.

Contacts:
UNWTO Media Officer
Rut Gomez Sobrino
rgomez@unwto.org
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60
UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme
comm@UNWTO.org
Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100
Fax: +34 91 567 8218

Lusaka (Zambia) – November 30, 2017 (travelindex.com) – The Secretariat of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), presents its compliments to the Members of the UNWTO Commission for Africa, the Affiliate Members of the region as well as other recipients, and has the honour to present to them The Lusaka Declaration on Promoting Sustainable Tourism, a Tool for Inclusive Growth and Community Engagement in Africa.

This declaration took place during the International Conference on Promoting Sustainable Tourism:A Tool for Inclusive Growth and Community Engagement in Africa, held in Lusaka, Zambia from 16-18 November 2017 organized jointly by the Government of the Republic of Zambia and the UNWTO as an official event of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, 2017 (IY2017).

The final outcome of the conference was the Lusaka Declaration on Promoting Sustainable Tourism Development, a Tool for Inclusive Growth and Community Engagement in Africa. The document, which places sustainability at the core of tourism development and on national and international development agenda, was adopted unanimously by all participants.

We are shar this declaration with the representatives of the private sector, tour operators and other sectors related and committed to sustainable tourism and its potential in poverty alleviation and to transformative change.

LUSAKA DECLARATION
on Promoting Sustainable Tourism, a Tool for Inclusive Growth and Community Engagement in Africa
Lusaka, Zambia, 16-18 November 2017

We, the representatives of Africa’s tourism administrations, international and regional organizations, local communities, and the private sector, gathered at the International Conference on “Promoting Sustainable Tourism: A Tool for Inclusive Growth and Community Engagement in Africa”, organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Arts of the Republic of Zambia and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), in Lusaka, Zambia, on 16-18 November 2017, as an official event of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017 (IY2017),

1. Recalling

1.1 The UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/69/233 of 19 December 2014 on the “Promotion of sustainable tourism, including ecotourism, for poverty eradication and environment protection”, which recognizes that “sustainable tourism, including ecotourism,represents an important driver of sustainable economic growth and decent job creation and that it can have a positive impact on income generation and education, and thus on the fight against poverty and hunger”;

1.2 The UN General Assembly Resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015 on “Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as UN Resolution A/RES/70/193 declaring 2017 as the International Year for Sustainable Tourism for Development;

1.3 The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the UN General Assembly on 1 3 September 2007, which sets out the individual and collective rights of indigenous peoples, including their rights to culture, identity, language, employment, health, education and other issues, as well as the First African Charter on Sustainable and Responsible Tourism, adopted in the framework of the UNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP22) on 10 November 2016 in Marrakech,Morocco, that serves as a voluntary framework to monitor and implement sustainable and responsible principles in the tourism sector and which reaffirms the “firm belief that tourism is one of the key drivers of socioeconomic development in Africa”;

1.4 The African Union Agenda 2063 whose vision is for “an integrated prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in international arena” and which recognizes tourism as a tool for socioeconomic development, the empowerment of women and youth and for environmental preservation;

1.5 The UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, approved by the UNWTO General Assembly in
1999 and endorsed by the UN General Assembly in 2001, which comprises a comprehensive set of principles as guidelines for responsible and sustainable tourism, including the provision of fair and quality training and employment opportunities in tourism;

1.6 The UNWTO “Manila Call for Action on Measuring Sustainable Tourism” of 23 June 2017, which recognizes that “sustainable tourism drives inclusive economic growth and social development by promoting entrepreneurship, creating jobs and fighting poverty” and is based on the strong conviction that credible and comprehensive data on sustainable tourism is key for effective evidence-based policies and management;

1.7 The ChengduDeclaration of the 22nd UNWTO GeneralAssembly on “Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals” of 13 September 2017, which affirms that “tourism is a vital instrument for the achievement of the 17 SDGs and beyond”;

2. Taking into consideration that tourism, if well managed and monitored, has the potential to contribute directly or indirectly to all 17 SDGs in view of its cross-cutting nature, and the fact that it is specifically featured in Goals 8, 12 and 14 on inclusive and sustainable economic growth, sustainable consumption and production, and the sustainable use of oceans and marine resources;

3. Understanding that tourism can, with appropriate planning and implementation, substantially contribute to poverty reduction and inclusive growth, environmental conservation and the preservation of intangible and tangible cultural heritage and traditions, and building peace;

4. Recognizing that tourism represents a key driver for job creation, community pride and social welfare and can contribute to the empowerment of local communities, in particular to the empowerment of women and youth;

5. Emphasizing that Africa is endowed with rich biodiversity, cultural and artistic heritage, vibrant communities and growing cities, with immense tourism potential, and is expected to double its international tourist arrivals to 134 million by 2030;

6. Considering that the development of tourism in Africa offers opportunities in terms of infrastructure development, destination access, connectivity, travel facilitation, safety and security, human capital development, women’s and youth empowerment, and marketing;

7. Taking into consideration that local companies and communities should be fully integrated in the tourism value chain to minimize economic leakages from the importation of inputs into the sector, and that local procurement for tourism services can generate business opportunities for local supplies;

8. Understanding that integrating sustainable consumption and production patterns in the tourism sector in Africa requires, among others, the identification and adoption of tourism planning approaches that improve resource efficiency by tourism stakeholders;

9. Emphasizing that approaches such as the circular economy – which promotes business models based on renewable resources, longer and diverse product life cycles, shared consumption and interconnected value chains – can play a significant role when designing and improving resource management systems not only in the tourism sector, but for the sustainable development of destinations as well;

10. Recommend raising awareness of tourism’s role in contributing to sustainable development in Africa at the global, regional and national levels, and to prioritize tourism development in national plans in Africa in order to position the sector more effectively in accessing development assistance, Aid for Trade (AfT) and other financing mechanisms;

11. Encourage maximizing the positive and minimizing the negative aspects of tourism through the adoption and application of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism by governments and the private sector;

12. Urge that local communities and indigenous peoples are involved the development of tourism and that local economic impacts are enhanced by engaging local communities through their direct participation in the management of tourism attractions, services and facilities, and supporting the establishment of small tourism-related business;

13. Recommend encouraging the global donor community, investors and financial institutions to recognise the potential of tourism to contribute to the SDGs and to increase investment for the sustainable development of tourism, particularly related to infrastructure, product and human resource development, research and technology;

14. Recommend promoting safe, secure and seamless travel, liberalizing the skies and providing incentives for all types of transportation enterprises to expand their services within the African continent and beyond;

15. Encourage Governments and other regional stakeholders to join the 10YFP Sustainable Tourism Programme, which aims to promote innovation and circular thinking to accelerate resource efficiency in the tourism value chain;

16. Invite Governments and other regional stakeholders to join the UNWTO International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO) to promote socially, economically and environmentally sustainable tourism, and to support the practice of informed policy making around the world, mainly through the identification and dissemination of best practices and enhanced awareness of and capacity-building for sustainability among tourism stakeholders;

17. Recognize that private-public partnerships (PPPs) will continue to be relevant and beneficial as a vehicle for tourism development and that various countries have developed models relevant to their circumstances and thus acknowledge the need to share lessons and best practices amongst the global community through a potential knowledge network;

18. Encourage countries to develop modalities to monitor PPPs for sustainability, including those involving communities and the private sector;

19. Call upon

19.1 The Governments of Africa to actively develop and implement tourism policies that further contribute to sustainable development and the achievement of the SDGs;

19.2 All tourism stakeholders to work together to promote safe and seamless travel, improve infrastructure and connectivity to and within the African region;

19.3 All tourism stakeholders to benefit from technological achievements and incorporate them into their sustainable tourism plans and practices towards positioning an “African Tourism Brand” while simultaneously contributing to development;

19.4 All tourism stakeholders to ensure local community participation along the entire value chain;

19.5 All tourism stakeholders to recognize the role of tourism in contributing to a greater understanding and respect among civilizations, cultures and religions, and thus to peace;

19.6 The global donor community, investors, and financial institutions to recognize the potential of tourism to contribute to the 2030 Agenda, and to substantially increase investment in sustainable tourism development in Africa and beyond;

19.7 The UN, and UNWTO in particular, as well as other international organisations, to intensify efforts to advance tourism as a tool for sustainable development, with a specific focus on the African region, and to trigger changes in policies, business practices and consumer behaviour on the occasion of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017 and beyond;

20. Extend

Our sincere gratitude to our host, the Government of Zambia, for its warm hospitality and amiable support for the organization of the Conference, as well as its significant contribution to the advancement of the sustainable tourism agenda as a driver for change and an inclusive future.

Lusaka, 17 November 2017