The World Committee on Tourism Ethics at its fourteenth meeting held in Rome (Italy) (17-18 November 2014), congratulated UNWTO and partners of efforts to promote tourism accessible to all. The Committee strongly supported the "Montreal Declaration: a world for all" outcome of the World Summit for all destinations recently organized and actively participated in the first Conference on Accessible Tourism in Europe, San Marino, the 19 and 20 November.
"Tourism is a major contributor to the economy, even if it can sometimes have adverse effects locally, our committee is looking closely. The tourism sector has experienced significant changes (online booking systems, feedback from users, use of ICT and social networks in tourism), all subjects that we must understand and reflect in our initiatives, "said the Chairman of the Committee, Pascal Lamy.
When he welcomed the members of the Committee, the Italian Minister of Culture and Tourism, Dario Franceschini, said: "In this difficult period marked by economic instability and financial, natural disasters and unpredictable socio-political news we are all aware that the development must be within a shared ethical framework ".
"I want to thank the Italian Government for his outstanding support to promote important issues addressed by the World Committee on Tourism Ethics. This is the fourth time that the Committee meets in Rome thanks to the excellent cooperation relations established with Italy and the support of the Centre for the promotion and dissemination of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, based in Rome. This collaboration reflects Italy's commitment to the promotion of a more sustainable and responsible tourism development, "said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai.
The Committee also argued the campaign against trafficking entitled "Be a responsible traveler." The campaign, initiated by the World Tourism Organization, UNODC and UNESCO in cooperation with the private sector, aims to Stop human trafficking and illegal wildlife trade, cultural objects and drugs. In the area of child protection, the Committee welcomed the participation of the WTO at the next World Survey on the sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism and will closely follow the progress of this research work.
As the body responsible for promoting and monitoring the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics established by the WTO, the Committee welcomed the growing number of companies and trade associations that joined the 'private sector engagement to the Code. In November 2014, a total of 356 signatories from 51 countries had pledged to promote and implement the Code into practice in the course of their business.
The World Tourism Ethics Committee is the independent body responsible for promoting and monitoring the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics established by the WTO. Its fourteenth meeting, chaired by Pascal Lamy, held in Rome, a city that houses the Promotion Center of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism.
The next meeting will be held in Istria (Croatia), on the occasion of the hundredth session of the Executive Council of the UNWTO.
Note to editors:
The World Committee on Tourism Ethics established by the UNWTO Code is a collection of principles to guide the development of tourism in order to maximize socio-economic benefits of the sector while minimizing any negative impact. The Code was adopted by the General Assembly of WTO in 1999 and approved by the UN General Assembly in 2001.
The Global Tourism Ethics is a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly of WTO, to which he reports directly. Its members are elected as individuals, not as administrative officers or as representatives of their countries.
Chairman of the Committee: Pascal Lamy (former Director General of the World Trade Organization); members: Mr. I Gede Ardika (former Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia), Mr. Yoshiaki Hompo (former Commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency), Ms. Fiona Jeffery (former President of the World Travel Market), Mr. Khelil Lajmi (former Minister of Tourism of Tunisia), Mr. Jean-Marc Mignon (President of the International Organization of Social Tourism), Ms. Tanja Mihalic (Director of the tourism Institute at the University of Ljubljana) Mr. Ron Oswald (Secretary General of the International Union of food, Agricultural, Agriculture, hotel, restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers), Mr Eugenio Yunis (Vice-President Executive of the Chilean tourism businesses Federation); alternate members: Mr Hiran Cooray (Chairman of Jetwing), Ms. Suzy Hatough (Director of Dar Al-Diafa, a consulting firm in human resources development in tourism) and Mrs. Gunnur Ozalp (Secretary General of the Association of agents Turkish travel).
reference : http://media.unwto.org/
reference : http://media.unwto.org/