Research indicates need of a new international tourism organization

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - “The majority of private sector stakeholders of the tourism industry does not have any idea how the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) develops tourism barometers and what the role is of UNWTO to promote tourism in their countries.

“There is lack of interaction with UNWTO with the private sector, and there is a dire need for another international tourism organization that can connect private stakeholders including tour operators; DMOs; and professional associations of stakeholders like guides, experts, teachers, and consultants of the tourism industry.”

These are indicators received through the first of three stages of a research initiative to understand the level of contact of UNWTO with the private tourism sector in Silk Road countries. The research was initiated by The Region Initiative (TRI), and data was collected through questionnaires, background interviews, and direct contact with stakeholders of Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, and Armenia. The highest level of privacy and secrecy was followed with commitment to the participants that their input and identity shall not shared with any individual, organiation, or country whatsoever, and only the results shall be shared with industry leaders, experts, and the rivate sector. The first stage of data collected was based on the following questions:

1. How does UNWTO develop tourism barometers?

2. What has UNWTO done so far for medium and small stakeholders of the industry?

3. Do you have any office of UNWTO in your country like other UN agencies have offices (for example, UNICEF, UNESCO, IUCN, etc.)?

4. What is the role of UNWTO to promote tourism in your country?

5. How many times have you visited the UNWTO website?

It was observed that only senior experts know how UNWTO barometers are developed and used, while the rest of the private sector considers these barometers as having no input from tour operators, DMOs, and other stakeholders.

These results will be shared with students of universities, tour operators, and other stakeholders of the tourism industry, and their observations will base the questions for phase II of this research that will be concluded by September 2012.

The Region Initiative is a member of the International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP), a new and fast-growing grassroots travel and tourism coalition of global destinations committed to quality service and green growth.

ABOUT ICTP

The International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP) is a new grassroots travel and tourism coalition of global destinations committed to quality service and green growth. The ICTP logo represents the strength in collaboration (the block) of many small communities (the lines) committed to sustainable oceans (blue) and land (green).

ICTP engages communities and their stakeholders to share quality and green opportunities including tools and resources, access to funding, education, and marketing support. ICTP advocates sustainable aviation growth, streamlined travel formalities, and fair coherent taxation.

ICTP supports the UN Millennium Development Goals, the UN World Tourism Organization's Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, and a range of programs that underpin them. The ICTP alliance is represented in Haleiwa, Hawaii, USA; Brussels, Belgium; Bali, Indonesia; and Victoria, Seychelles. ICTP membership is available to qualified destinations free of charge. Academy membership features a prestigious and selected group of destinations.

Members of destinations currently include Anguilla; Aruba; Bangladesh; Canada; China; Croatia; Greece; Grenada; India; Indonesia; Iran; Iran; La Reunion (French Indian Ocean); Malaysia; Malawi; Mexico; Morocco; Nicaragua; Northern Mariana Islands, US Pacific Island Territory; Pakistan; Palestine; Rwanda; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; South Africa; Sri Lanka; Sultante of Oman; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Yemen; Zimbabwe; and from the US: Arizona, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Missouri, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.

Partner associations include: African Bureau of Conventions; African Chamber of Commerce Dallas/Fort Worth; Africa Travel Association; Alliance for training and research in the field of social and solidarity tourism (ISTO/OITS); Cultural and Environment Conservation Society; DC-Cam (Cambodia); Hawaii Tourism Association; International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPT); International Organization of Electronic Tourism Industry (IOETI); Livingstone International University of Tourism Excellence, Zambia; Positive Impact Events, Manchester, UK; Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade, China; SKAL International; Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality (SATH); Sustainable Travel International (STI); The Region Initiative, Pakistan; University of Florida: Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute; University of Hawaii; University of Technology Mauritius; and vzw Reis-en Opleidingscentrum, Gent, Belgium; and University of Technology Mauritius.

Sourced: eTN Globaltravel