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WTTC: Greek tourism sector growing over three times faster than wider economy

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In 2018, the Greek Travel & Tourism sector grew at a rate of 6.9% – over three and a half times the pace of its wider national economy, which grew by 2.0%.

The sector represents 20.6% of Greek GDP compared to the global average of 10.4%. This means that one in every five Euros spent in Greece last year came from the Travel & Tourism sector, worth €37.5bn (USD $44.6bn).


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Meanwhile, one quarter of all employment in Greece is based in Travel & Tourism – equivalent to 988.6k jobs. In 2019, this figure is forecast to surpass one million for the first time since WTTC records began.

Even at the height of economic performance before the financial crisis, Greece still employed less people in Travel & Tourism than they did in 2018 (934.5k in 2006), indicating that not only has the sector economy recovered but it is now outperforming its previous peaks.

The same is true for GDP contribution, which has never before amounted to 20% of total GDP.

These figures come from the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) annual review of the economic impact and social importance of the sector. The research, conducted for almost 30 years by WTTC, which represents the global private sector of Travel & Tourism, shows that in 2018 the Greek sector:

• Outpaced the EU’s regional Travel & Tourism growth rate of 2.4%. Both the EU and Greece’s wider economies grew at a rate of 2.0%, but the Greek travel sector leapt ahead of regional averages.

• Benefitted from €18.5bn international visitor spend, representing 27.9% of total exports.

• Two-thirds of inbound Greek travel spend came from international visitors (66%), and one-third from domestic travel (34%).

• Was driven by leisure spending, which comprised 94% of tourist spend compared to 6% for business.

WTTC President & CEO Gloria Guevara remarked, “We are hugely impressed by the Greek growth rate, and the government strategies that have spurred it on. Travel & Tourism has had a huge role to play in driving Greek economic recovery, and is a chief employer of people. Greece is an exemplary case study of how valuable an asset Travel & Tourism can be when the government prioritises the sector.”

The Minister of Tourism of the Hellenic Republic, Elena Kountoura remarked: “Our long-term tourism strategy that we implement since 2015 led to outstanding results in Greece’s tourism growth, and supported profoundly the Greek economy in the most difficult years of the crisis. We achieved our target in creating thousands of new jobs, new business activity, new sources of income, and in mobilizing new tourism investments.

With our growth plan for the next day, we intend to maintain Greece’s strong momentum in  tourism and maximize its benefits for the local communities across Greece, acknowledging tourism’s immense value as  a major driving force for employment,  economic and social prosperity.”

About the World Travel & Tourism Council

WTTC is the body which represents the Travel & Tourism private sector globally. Members consist of CEOs of the world’s Travel & Tourism companies, destinations, and industry organisations engaging with Travel & Tourism.

WTTC has a history of 25 years of research to quantify the economic impact of the sector in 185 countries. Travel & Tourism is a key driver for investment and economic growth globally. The sector contributes US$8.8 trillion or 10.4% of global GDP, and accounts for 319 million jobs or one in ten of all jobs on the planet.

For over 25 years, WTTC has been the voice of this industry globally. Members are the Chairs, Presidents and Chief Executives of the world’s leading, private sector Travel & Tourism businesses, who bring specialist knowledge to guide government policy and decision-making and raise awareness of the importance of the secto

A Plan For Our Kids: Climate Friendly Travel

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Deep down, most people know, Travel & Tourism must respond to the eXistential challenge of Climate Change, must fully align with the Paris Agreement targets, and must play a leading role in the Green New Deal paradigm shift. Our sector is a central part of the human activity – social, economic and environmental: its influence and impact are growing: its role in development is fundamental. Mobility is a part of our DNA.

But we are in the middle of a massive “New Climate Economy” transformation. It will affect all consumption, all supply, and all investment on the planet, as well as a shift to the circular economy and nature-based solutions.  The scientists say we have about a decade to get our house in order and keep global temperatures at tolerable levels for humanity. If we don’t fix it, our grandkids will freeze or fry.

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Many will say that we are acting already – conferences, declarations: observatories: pledges: certification: awards: offsets: clean energy technology and so much more. We have WTTC linked to UNFCCC, IATA & ICAO taking care of aviation and CLIA, WOC & IMO looking after cruises. We’ll also get a huge boost from societal shifts to low carbon lifestyles, smart cities, electric transport: synthetic fuels: green buildings, satellite or big data monitoring, AI, IOT and the like.

At the same time countries, cities, businesses, and consumers will deliver an increasing number of national and local regulations as states take steps to ensure that the SDGs and Paris targets are achieved. All this change will intensify under the dictates of a progressively tightening Paris climate regime. Surely this will be enough?

I suggest it will not. Our world is just beginning to understand the impact of extreme weather, melting ice caps, warmer oceans, severer drought, fiercer forest fires, disrupted supply chains, and migration mayhem.  The harsh reality is we still need to move further, faster and more strategically on Climate Response in the coming decade.

Tomorrow’s leaders must have the right mindset to deal with the dynamic disrupted world of tomorrow. The ingenuity to conceive and build responsive Travel & Tourism systems for liveable, as well as enjoyable destinations. And that means starting now and accelerating to stay on the intensifying Paris curve.

SUNx – a legacy program for Maurice Strong, the father of sustainable development – has crafted the start of a response. “Plan For Our Kids” will create 100,000 STRONG Climate Champions in all UN States by 2030. Not to replicate or substitute work done by committed industry or government bodies dealing with Climate response – we will need all of these. There will be no magic bullet

Our contribution is to help prepare the next generation of decision makers, as well as help companies and communities connect with them.  It’s a low cost, CSR linked program, which will support nextgen leaders with lifetime learning, from school through graduation and it will teach Climate Friendly Travel ~ measured to manage: green to grow and 2050 proof to innovate. It will provide cloud-connected online education, analytics and a heavy emphasis on innovation, to spread best practice around the system.

“Plan For Our Kids” will help keep a central focus on climate resilience for destinations, companies, value chains and travelers themselves. It will focus on communities because that’s where lasting impacts are made and it’s where ultimate lifestyle decisions rest.  It will be expanded through SDG 17 Partnerships for change.

To take this plan to global scale in the 2030 timeframe requires us to find a pioneer group of like-minded industry and government partners, prepared to commit to a real strategy for a real existential climate emergency. Just 50 STRONG Climate Champions in each State, every year for the next decade will see a global movement of 100,000 by 2030. They will be from the Greta Thunberg generation. They will have the same vision, commitment and tenacity. They will help deliver Climate Friendly Travel.

If you share this view and want to be a part of the change, please contact Geoffrey Lipman at [email protected]  or visit our website www.thesunprogram.com

source: International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP)

IIPT India Announces the Winners of the 4th Celebrating Her awards at ITB Berlin

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For the fourth consecutive year ITB Berlin will play host to the International Institute for Peace – India’s (IIPT India) Global Awards for Empowered Women in Tourism – “Celebrating Her.”

The IIPTI Global Awards, “Celebrating Her” are intended to acknowledge and felicitate exceptional women in the fields of travel, tourism and hospitality; individuals with a clarity of vision and mission who understand and believe that tourism, perhaps the biggest industry in the world, could become the first global peace industry and who have committed themselves to fostering the tourism business as a vehicle for peace.

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Five exceptional women from the world of tourism will be felicitated at the 4th edition of the Awards for their achievements and for their contribution to promoting tourism as a vehicle for peace and understanding.

The Awards will be held from 1400 to 1500 at the Palais am Funkturm (Hall 19) on the ITB fairgrounds on Thu 07 March and will be followed by a networking reception from 1500 to 1530.

Key speakers at the awards include Dr. Taleb Rifai, former Secretary General of UNWTO (2010 – 2017), H.E. Eliza Reid, First Lady of Iceland, The Hon. Marie-Christine Stephenson, Minister of Tourism and Creative Industries, Haiti and others.

The Celebrating Her award winners for 2019 are:

H.E. Rania al Mashat – Minister of Tourism for Egypt for Tourism Policy and Leadership

Helen Marano – Founder & President, Maranao Perspectives for Building Global Alliances that promote Tourism as a Force for Good

Mechtild Maurer – General Director, ECPAT Germany for promoting Socially Responsible Tourism

Jane Madden – Managing Partner, Global Sustainability & Social Impact, FINN Partners for Sustainability and promoting Corporate Social Responsibility

Hon. Elena Kountoura – Minister of Tourism for Greece for Tourism Strategy and Resilience

Commenting on the Awards, Ajay Prakash, President of IIPT India says, “Each one of our winners this year is a champion; these ladies have reached the top of their chosen paths in tourism and are an inspiration. The Awards are being held on the eve of International Women’s Day but our champions need to be felicitated every day of the year.

Gender equality, which is a critical part of the United Nations SDGs, is intrinsic to IIPT’s global aims and objectives and integral to fostering peace. Through the Awards we’re aiming to create a network of powerful women across the world who would serve as role models and mentors while they represent IIPT as our Global Ambassadors of Peace.”

Dr. Talib Rifai, former Secretary General of UNWTOP and Chair of IIPT’s International Advisory Board says, “Celebrating Her is a timely initiative. Travel and tourism has become today’s grand human activity, greatly affecting the life and livelihood of people and communities and in turn, Peace and Sustainable Development all over the world.

Leaders in travel and tourism should be the first to recognize that we cannot anymore go about life, progress, development and building peace without HER and without reintegrating half of the human community in advancing towards our goals. It is, therefore, only natural that IIPT India, the country that is standing up bravely to achieving our goals, picks up the issue on behalf of all of us – To state clearly that, CELEBRATING HER IS CELEBRATING US”

Rika Jean-Francois, CSR Commissioner for ITB Berlin – co-presenters of the Awards, said “ ITB is extremely delighted to have partnered with IIPT India to give out these important awards. There are so many amazing women in the tourism industry who are doing an excellent job, committed to improving conditions, who are often never seen, never officially recognized. We are proud to foster change.”

Founded in 1986 by Louis D’Amore, IIPT is built on two very simple but powerful premises: That tourism, perhaps the biggest industry in the world, can become the first global Peace Industry and that every tourist is potentially an Ambassador of Peace. Through global summits, conferences, workshops, awards, the global Peace Parks initiative, consultations with governments and the UNWTO and a regular newsletter, IIPT has worked conscientiously over the last 30 plus years to make peace an integral part of the tourism ecosphere.

IIPT India is non-profit registered with the Indian Registrar of Companies.

UNWTO: International tourist arrivals reach 1.4 billion two years ahead of forecasts

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UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili

International tourist arrivals grew 6% in 2018, totalling 1.4 billion according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. UNWTO’s long term forecast issued in 2010 indicated the 1.4 billion mark would be reached in 2020, yet the remarkable growth of international arrivals in recent years has brought it two years ahead.

International tourist arrivals up 6% in 2018

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UNWTO estimates that worldwide international tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) increased 6% to 1.4 billion in 2018, clearly above the 3.7% growth registered in the global economy.

In relative terms, the Middle East (+10%), Africa (+7%), Asia and the Pacific and Europe (both at +6%) led growth in 2018. Arrivals to the Americas were below the world average (+3%).

“The growth of tourism in recent years confirms that the sector is today one of the most powerful drivers of economic growth and development. It is our responsibility to manage it in a sustainable manner and translate this expansion into real benefits for all countries, and particularly, to all local communities, creating opportunities for jobs and entrepreneurship and leaving no one behind” said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. “This is why UNWTO is focussing 2019 on education, skills and job creation.”, he added.

UNWTO’s long-term forecast published in 2010 predicted the 1.4 billion mark of international tourist arrivals for 2020. Yet stronger economic growth, more affordable air travel, technological changes, new businesses models and greater visa facilitation around the word have accelerated growth in recent years.

Results by region

International tourist arrivals in Europe reached 713 million in 2018, a notable 6% increase over an exceptionally strong 2017. Growth was driven by Southern and Mediterranean Europe (+7%), Central and Eastern Europe (+6%) and Western Europe (+6%). Results in Northern Europe were flat due to the weakness of arrivals to the United Kingdom.

Asia and the Pacific (+6%) recorded 343 million international tourist arrivals in 2018. Arrivals in South-East Asia grew 7%, followed by North-East Asia (+6%) and South Asia (+5%). Oceania showed more moderate growth at +3%.

The Americas (+3%) welcomed 217 million international arrivals in 2018, with mixed results across destinations.

Growth was led by North America (+4%), and followed by South America (+3%), while Central America and the Caribbean (both -2%) reached very mixed results, the latter reflecting the impact of the September 2017 hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Data from Africa points to a 7% increase in 2018 (North Africa at +10% and Sub-Saharan +6%), reaching an estimated 67 million arrivals.

The Middle East (+10%) showed solid results last year consolidating its 2017 recovery, with international tourist arrivals reaching 64 million.

Growth expected to return to historical trends in 2019

Based on current trends, economic prospects and the UNWTO Confidence Index, UNWTO forecasts international arrivals to grow 3% to 4% next year, more in line with historic growth trends.

As a general backdrop, the stability of fuel prices tends to translate into affordable air travel while air connectivity continues to improve in many destinations, facilitating the diversification of source markets. Trends also show strong outbound travel from emerging markets, especially India and Russia but also from smaller Asian and Arab source markets.

At the same time, the global economic slowdown, the uncertainty related to the Brexit, as well as geopolitical and trade tensions may prompt a “wait and see” attitude among investors and travelers.

Overall, 2019 is expected to see the consolidation among consumers of emerging trends such as the quest for ‘travel to change and to show’, ‘the pursuit of healthy options’ such as walking, wellness and sports tourism, ‘multigenerational travel’ as a result of demographic changes and more responsible travel.

“Digitalization, new business models, more affordable travel and societal changes are expected to continue shaping our sector, so both destination and companies need to adapt if they want to remain competitive”, added Pololikashvili.

Malta celebrates Valletta, a 2018 European Capital of Culture

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As 2018 draws to a close, Malta will celebrate the culmination of a year of festivities honoring Valletta, a 2018 European Capital of Culture, with a final Valletta 2018 closing spectacle on December 15, 2018. For Valletta, 2018 set the stage for a more vibrant and welcoming capital city, and this special after party promises to keep spirits high!

The Valletta 2018 European Capital of Culture festivities comprised over 400 events and encompassed a yearlong celebration of the culture and history of the island nation of Malta. The success of any European Capital of Culture is rooted in the passion, imagination, support, dedication, enthusiasm and generosity of its communities.

As such, Valletta 2018’s Closing Spectacle is all about celebrating community, life and culture while forging new friendships. Only together can one truly celebrate Valletta 2018’s year-long program of incredible events, initiatives and activities with the same energy and love that’s gone into it.

The festive closing event will take place in the heart of Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where visitors will experience an amazing celebration of Malta’s tenure as a European Capital of Culture 2018. Event-goers can expect to enjoy a spectacular line-up of live shows, music, tours, as well as a few unexpected surprises.

Highlights for the Valletta 2018 Closing Spectacle on December 15 will include:

• A contemporary performance from the Moveo Dance company
• Concert by the Valletta 2018 Chorus
• A colorful street performance featuring the Big Dancers’ signature giant marionettes
• Live painting by multidisciplinary artists, offering their own take on Valletta 2018
• Tours of the Old Abattoir (Il-Biċċerija) which houses the Valletta Design Cluster building

The Valletta 2018 Closing Spectacle will be a lively closing event, paying homage to the creative diversity that exists on the Maltese archipelago, in Europe and beyond. Visitors will join artists, curators, local residents, and the entire Valletta 2018 team in what will prove to be an exciting and memorable “after-party”!

“The amazing and diverse calendar of Events for Valletta 2018 generated great publicity and was a major factor for the dramatic growth in tourism from the US & Canada this year,” said Michelle Buttigieg, Malta Tourism Authority’s North American Representative. She added, “we want to congratulate Jason Micallef, Valletta 2018 Chairman and his entire team on their hard work to make the European Capital of Culture 2018 such a resounding success, not just for Valletta, but for all of the Maltese Islands.”

The Valletta 2018 Foundation is responsible for the planning of events for the European Capital of Culture program in Malta. Throughout 2018, they have partnered with various local and international communities to develop the programs for Valletta 2018.