9 March 2010: In an opening speach to the ITB Travel Trade Show, which is convening in Berlin, Germany, from 10-14 March 2010, UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary-General Taleb Rifai urged the tourism sector to ensure that global policies are supportive of the sustainable growth of tourism.
He also invited the sector to consider a collective initiative that stimulates the preservation and creation of decent jobs, and qualifies human resources to be part of the transformation to the green economy. Rifai further highlighted the need for healthy and identifiable national public policies on travel and tourism, in order to develop meaningful public-private partnerships. [UNWTO Press Release] [UNWTO Secretary-General’s Speech]