Tourism Indochina: Microsoft and World Tourism Organization to Drive Innovation in The Tourism Sector

Tourism Indochina: Microsoft and World Tourism Organization to Drive Innovation in The Tourism Sector

(TourismIndochina.com: Tourism-Review): The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Microsoft signed today an agreement aimed at bringing the benefits of the most advanced technologies to the tourism sector and driving the industry’s evolution towards the computing paradigm of the future. Jean-Philippe Courtois, President of Microsoft International, and Márcio Favilla, Executive Director of UNWTO, have forged this alliance that, in an increasingly demanding and competitive economic context, will promote technological innovation in world tourism and help the Spanish market strengthen the country’s brand as a world leader in the application of innovation to the tourism sector.

With this agreement, Microsoft becomes a strategic partner of UNWTO that will propose, coordinate and spearhead technological innovation initiatives within the community of the Organization’s Member States and Affiliate Members. It will also make new technologies available to the international tourism sector in order to enhance its competitiveness.

Jean-Philippe Courtois, President of Microsoft International, pointed out that “the tourism sector has undergone a drastic transformation over the past years and has been evolving towards Tourism 3.0, where users connect to travel websites and interact by sharing their experiences, thus directly influencing the perceptions and decisions of other users and potential travellers. Because of this, it is more and more important for tourism sector enterprises to develop their online businesses by looking to the most advanced technology. In this regard, the adoption of cloud computing is key, as it provides access to a solid web platform that will make it possible to offer more productive, efficient and competitive services."

According to Márcio Favilla, Executive Director of the World Tourism Organization, "cooperation with Microsoft is both timely, in light of the current economic context, and necessary in view of the technological demands we are subject to. Tourism has a proven track record when it comes to being at the leading edge of innovation and the dissemination of best practices, and our sector closely reflects the positive potential of globalization. Thanks to cooperation with Microsoft we will be able to more rapidly implement training tools and disseminate their content, stimulate the adoption of practical and advanced technological solutions in our sector and continue to promote tourism as a vehicle of sustainable development, in line with the position held by the UN.”

The transformation of the tourism sector: the Tourist 3.

Today’s tourists are geared towards the 3.0 environment; they are connected to the Net and are highly present in social networks. Consequently, it is more important than ever for destinations and tourism enterprises to not only have an Internet presence but also to offer their users a good experience and the necessary tools to interact with the supply side and with other users.

The Microsoft Innovation Center in Tourism Technologies (MICTT) will take part in joint efforts to develop technological projects led by UNWTO. UNWTO members will have preferential access to the services offered by the MICTT, including the development of proofs of concept and pilot projects applying technological innovation to the tourism industry.

By virtue of this agreement, Microsoft will also collaborate with the UNWTO Themis Foundation, which is responsible for implementing the World Tourism Organization's programme of work in the field of Education and Training, in a training programme on technological innovation and the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of the tourism sector. These two entities will work together in actions for the dissemination of the use of information technologies, aimed especially at small and medium-sized tourism enterprises. They will also collaborate in the development of volunteer projects related to tourism innovation in emerging countries.

SOURCE CONTACT:

Principal Media Officer: Marcelo Risi

Tel.: 91 56781 60 / unwto.org


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Tourism Indochina: UNWTO: 1 Billion Tourist Arrivals in 2012

Tourism Indochina: UNWTO: 1 Billion Tourist Arrivals in 2012

(TourismIndochina.com: Tourism-Review): According to the prognosis of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), 2012 will be a record-breaking year as an incredible 1 billion international tourist arrivals are expected worldwide.

The relevance of the tourism industry is undisputed for most economies. On a global basis, this sector is responsible for 5% of world’s GDP and in every advanced or emerging economy employs on average more than 10% of the population.

According to a recently revealed study of the UNWTO, 2012 will be a record-breaking year, even though the growth of the industry is expected to slow down. However, the milestone of 1 billion international tourist arrivals is expected to be reached, which is a fantastic development.

The results for 2011 have already been released and many regions have a reason to rejoice. Overall, the growth recorded was 4.4%, totaling 980 million international tourist arrivals. The economic recovery is one of the main reasons why the numbers are so positive.

Europe had a fabulous year, and with a 6% increase to 503 million featured the best result. South America broke last year’s record with a 10% increase. On the other hand, some regions experienced natural disasters as well as political changes and these had a negative impact on tourism.

Middle East lost 8%, which means approximately 5 million international tourist arrivals, while North Africa lost 12%. Even some Asian countries noticed a drop which was caused by the disaster in Japan earlier in the year.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization’s forecast expects a steady growth of the sector in 2012, even if at a slightly slower pace. 3-4% is the predicted increase and if all goes well, the international tourist arrivals will indeed reach a whopping 1 billion.

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Tourism Indochina: ASEAN Tourism Ministers Meeting

Tourism Indochina: ASEAN Tourism Ministers Meeting

(Tourism Indochina: Date : 2012-01-26): The Cambodia Minister of Tourism attended the 15th ASEAN Ministers Meeting under the theme of “Tourism For A Global Community of Nations”. In the Meeting, the ASEAN Tourism Ministers express a high appreciation to the continued progress in implementing the Tourism Strategic Plan 2011 -2015 and also the commitment to foster the implementation the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan so as to hit the defined target and strengthening of the tourism product quality via standardizing and human resources capacity building.

Throughout the meeting agenda of ASEAN Tourism Forum, ASEAN Tourism Ministers have endorsed ASEAN Green Hotel Standard, Home Stay and Spa and rewarded 10 ASEAN Green Hotels Standard in the Kingdom of Cambodia including 7 in Siem Riep, one in Phnom Penh, one in Battambang and another one in Preah Sihanouk province. In addition, with the same shared goal, ASEAN Tourism Ministers have supported ASEAN Tourism Marketing Strategy 2012-2015, aiming to promote and develop ASEAN to be a competitive destination.

The Marketing Strategy mainly focuses on Indian and Chinese and Intra- ASEAN Travelers and remarkably ASEAN inbound tourist is approximately 79 million with an increase of 7.4 %. Tourists from Korean, Japan and china are about 12 million, 2.4 million from India, and 34 million from Intra- ASEAN travelers. ASEAN expect to register approximately 107 million in 2015.

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Tourism Indochina: Asia Pacific News: Hong Kong Breaks Tourists Record in 2011

Tourism Indochina: Hong Kong Breaks Tourists Record in 2011

HONG KONG: Tourist arrivals hit a record high in Hong Kong in 2011 with nearly 42 million visitors, boosted by a huge increase of people from mainland China, tourism officials said.

The number of holiday makers to the city increased 16.4 percent from 2010 to 41.92 million, with about two-thirds coming from mainland China, according to the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) in a statement late Thursday.

Mainland tourist figures jumped 23.9 percent year-on-year, helping to offset a decline of 2.4 percent from Japan following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami disaster.

"Looking into 2012, notwithstanding uncertainty in the global economic environment, the HKTB will continue to invest in promotions in different key source markets," board chairman James Tien said.

"We project there will be single-digit growth in visitor arrivals in 2012."

Tourism accounts for about 3.4 percent of Hong Kong's economy.

The former British colony, which was returned to China in 1997 but maintains a semi-autonomous status, is a shopping haven for many of mainland China's newly-minted who pack the city's numerous luxury goods stores.

However, there have been complaints by some tourists that they are strong-armed to go shopping by tour guides who often earn commission from local shops based on how much is spent.

Source: AFP/al

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Tourism Indochina: Advancing Cruise Tourism in ASEAN

Tourism Indochina: Advancing Cruise Tourism in ASEAN

SINGAPORE: ASEAN's Tourism Ministers have agreed on closer collaboration to advance cruise tourism in the region at their recent meeting in Manado, Indonesia.

To this end, ASEAN will look at a series of workshops, co-organised with the industry, to share best practices and strengthen collaboration in port infrastructure development, development of regional itineraries and joint marketing.

Details were released by Singapore's Trade and Industry Ministry.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Trade and Industry, S Iswaran, who attended the meeting, said: "This is a positive development for ASEAN tourism as we work towards a strong regional cruise tourism industry.

"Singapore will work closely with the member states and the industry to organise these workshops in the coming months. Collectively, we can bring out the region's strong diversity and promote greater tourism flows within ASEAN."

The meeting noted that a key enabler in advancing cruise tourism in ASEAN is to develop adequate port infrastructure to accommodate more cruise ships.

ASEAN countries can also work together to develop regional cruise itineraries and share experience in enhancing shore-side attractions and amenities at the various destinations.

The Ministry added that the opening of Singapore's International Cruise Terminal (ICT) this year will support ASEAN's goal to be an exciting cruise region.

The terminal will double berth capacity and allow Singapore to cater to the world's largest ships.

Speaking in support of ASEAN's direction, Mr Michael Bayley, executive vice president of International of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, said: "The ASEAN region enjoys many innate favourable factors for cruise development such as the huge population base and growing affluence that will drive demand for travel.

"Together with the more active developments in the cruise infrastructure here recently, ASEAN's cruise industry is now poised to grow beyond its infancy stage and in the long run, to make the region the next exotic cruise paradise of the East."

Source: CNA/cc

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Tourism Indochina: Asia Pacific News: Voluntourism on the Rise

Tourism Indochina: Asia Pacific News: Voluntourism on the Rise

ANHUI: Soaking in the sights and sounds of rural China or visiting the homes of families affected by HIV and AIDS to better understand their needs may not be most people's idea of a vacation.

But an increasing number of people, foreigners as well as Chinese, are choosing this alternative form of travel called 'Voluntourism'.

'Voluntourism' or combining volunteer work with tourism is becoming an increasingly popular way of seeing the world.

In China, more people from major cities such as Shanghai and Hong Kong are choosing to travel with a purpose.

Charity organization Chi Heng Foundation has organized 10 such trips since last year to visit AIDS affected families in rural China.

A day out at the park may not seem like the most interesting activity on a tour itinerary, but for these AIDS affected children, it is good fun and a way to forget their problems for a while.

Thomas Ho and his wife, who are from Hong Kong, brought their three sons, with the youngest at seven years old, along with them for a 'Voluntourism' trip.

Mr Ho said: "What's the point of bringing children to great cities, five-star hotels, what do they learn? But coming to a trip like this, the children will see a contrast of what they have and the life of people who don't have what they have."

Chi Heng Foundation's founder Chung To said: "Many of the children do not have HIV themselves but in a village setting where people sometimes are superstitious and relatively uneducated, some villages believe that these children brought the bad luck to the family, causing the parents to die. The children have been the scapegoat in some cases and even the relatives are not treating them well."

Many of the visitors were inspired by the children's resilience.

Fourteen-year-old Kevin Ho said: "They are not different in any way. It's just that their background is different but when we meet them, they are all like normal kids."

Another participant Tejinder Rajput said: "In a place that has lots of poverty, they are so positive and vibrant. They are smiling and it makes you wonder whether we have got it wrong. Living in the city with the stresses of working nine to five, these people are just free-spirited individuals."

A three day two night weekend trip to Anhui costs about US$500.

It covers accommodation, meals, as well as gifts for the children.

Source: CNA/fa


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Tourism Indochina: Minister of Tourism attended the ASEAN Ministers Meeting in ASEAN Tourism Forum

Tourism Indochina: Minister of Tourism attended the ASEAN Ministers Meeting in ASEAN Tourism Forum

Indonesia- On January 10-15, 2012, Cambodian delegations, led by H.E Dr. THONG Khon, Minister of Tourism of the Kingdom, attended the 15th ASEAN Ministers Meeting, the 13th ASEAN Ministers Meeting plus China, Japan and Korea, and the 3rd ASEAN-India Meeting in ASEAN Tourism Forum under the theme of “Tourism For A Global Community of Nations”, held in Manado, Indonesia.

In the 15th ASEAN Ministers Meeting, ASEAN Tourism Ministers have highly appreciated the continued progress in implementing the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan 2011-2015 which was endorsed during the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2011 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Moreover, the ASEAN Tourism Ministers have jointly committed to further foster implementation of the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan in order to accomplish the defined targets, namely strengthening of tourism product quality through standardizing the quality of various tourism products; endeavors in human resource capacity building in tourism sector via the stringent implementation of the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) and last but not least, the joint promotion of ASEAN tourist destination.

In keeping with this spirit, the ASEAN Tourism Ministers have endorsed the ASEAN Green Hotel Standard, ASEAN Home Stay Standard, and ASEAN Spar Standard, and at the meantime, approved and supported the initiatives of Cambodia in preparing the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Standard based on the Cambodian Clean Tourist City Standard. during the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2012, ASEAN Tourism Ministers have conferred upon the Green Hotel Reward to the 10 Hotels in Cambodia, in which seven hotels located in Siem Reap province, one hotel in Phnom Penh, one in Preah Sihanouk province, and another one in Battambang province in addition to the existing 20 ASEAN Green Hotels in the country.

Concurrently, ASEAN Tourism Ministers have endorsed the ASEAN Tourism Marketing Strategy 2012-2015, aiming at developing ASEAN to be the competitive tourist destination, mainly targeting the Chinese and Indian source markets as well as the Intra-ASEAN Travelers (ASEAN for ASEAN).

It is remarkable to note that in 2011, ASEAN registered international tourists of approximately 79 million with an increase of 7.4% (in which tourists from China, Japan, Korea recorded 12 million, 2.4 million from India, and 34 million of Intra-ASEAN Travelers, and ASEAN will receive approximately 107 million in 2015.

Furthermore, the 11th ASEAN Tourism Ministers Meeting plus China, Japan and Korea have conducted in accordance with the agendas of cooperation of ASEAN+3 (China, Japan, Korea). The meeting has shared opinions and best practices and highly appreciates the strong tourism cooperation in the framework of ASEAN+3, thereby requesting to further encourage youth travelers, joint-promotion of ASEAN+3, connectivity of ASEAN+3, healthy and security cooperation by preparing the Memorandum of Cooperation-MOC on ASEAN Plus Three (ATP) Tourism Cooperation which is agreed to be signed in 2012 as well as further intensify the implementation of ASEAN Plus Three Work Plan 2007-2017. the ASEAN Tourism Ministers have highly appreciated the ASEAN-Japan Center and ASEAN-Korea Center for best endeavors in technically supporting ASEAN tourism development, and strongly welcome remarks by H.E Taleb Rifai, the Secretary General of United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) showcasing the progressive development of cooperation between ASEAN and UNWTO.

In particular, the 3rd ASEAN Ministers Meeting + India has mutually recognized the importance of tourism development between ASEAN and India, and agreed to sign the Memorandum of Understanding ASEAN-India on Tourism Cooperation. Whereby, ASEAN Tourism Ministers have welcomed the establishment of ASEAN Promotion Chapter Mombai and ASEAN-India Car Rally 2012.

Overall, ASEAN Tourism Ministers have supported and committed to urge up ASEAN connectivity by further encourage visa exemption between ASEAN member states and welcome the implementation of Common Visa (by introducing the formation of Minus X as experienced in ACMECS framework, Single Visa between Cambodia and Thailand), as well as further strengthen close cooperation in ASEAN Transportation service, particularly air connectivity by mean of the Full Liberation of Passenger Air Services by 2015. It is remarkable to note that the Opening of ASEAN Tourism Forum 2012 was highly presided over by H.E Boediono, the Vice-President of Indonesia with honorary participation of H.E Taleb Rifai, the Secretary General of UNWTO and Tourism Ministers of ASEAN, China, Japan, Korea and India.

The next ASEAN Tourism Forum 2013 will be hosted in Vientiane, Laos from 18-21 January 2013. Source: MOT

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