MAINSTREAMING THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC AGENDA

Madrid, Spain, 09 February 2010
“Travel and tourism: stimuli for the global economy”

The Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of South Africa, with the support of UNWTO, will host a Tourism Ministers' Meeting (T20) under the theme “Travel and tourism: stimuli for the global economy” from 22 to 24 February 2010 in Johannesburg.

Tourism ministers meeting at the UNWTO General Assembly (October 2009, Astana, Kazakhstan) expressed a strong sentiment that tourism should be further mainstreamed in global economic decision making, with a focus on the sector's efforts to build resilience, stimulate growth and development and support the transformation to the Green Economy.

Travel and tourism can make a valuable contribution to the economic recovery, and can be an important pillar of the global efforts to unlock enhanced economic growth, infrastructure development, trade promotion, poverty eradication and particularly job creation.

In addition to ministers responsible for tourism and the UNWTO Secretary-General, the meeting will be attended by high-level representatives and experts from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Social and Economic Commission for Asia, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the African Union, and the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).

The T20 is a members-driven initiative with the support of UNWTO.