International Tourism on Track for a Rebound after an Exceptionally Challenging 2009
Madrid, Spain 18 January 2010
Growth returned to international tourism in the last quarter of
2009 contributing to better than expected full-year results, according
to the latest edition of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer.
International tourist arrivals fell by an estimated 4% in 2009. Prospects
have also improved with arrivals now forecast to grow between 3% and 4%
in 2010.This outlook is confirmed by the remarkable rise of the UNWTO
Panel of Experts’ Confidence Index.
Tourism Will Contribute to Solutions for Global Climate Change and Poverty Challenges
UNWTO says that the world must respond in a holistic way to the twin
challenges of Climate Change and Poverty and that the tourism sector can
effectively contribute to the solutions.
"Support Tourism, Support Your Economy" Madrid,Spain, 23 September 2009
As world leaders meet to discuss a sustainable way out of the current
economic crisis, many governments and decision makers still have some
way to go before they recognize tourism as a sector which can be a
relevant factor of the economic recovery.
This training program has been especially designed by APPI for people who want to put up their own travel agencies as well as for professionals who want to upgrade their skills in managing their travel and tour businesses.
Schedule for the 1st Quarter of 2010: March 3,4, and 5, 2010 Kaisa Angelo King Heritage Center Time : 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Please check back for updates and schedule for the rest of the year.
Asia Pacific Projects, Inc. (APPI) in partnership with the Asian
Institute of Management’s (AIM) Center for Development Management
(CDM) held the second program called
“Developing Responsible Tourism”. This intensive five day program was
held at the AIM Campus from September 21 to 25, 2009. The program’s main objective
is to provide tourism managers, local governments, academe, and NGOs,
the knowledge and skills in developing responsible and sustainable
tourism.
The second batch was composed of local government planning and tourism officers, regional directors of tourism, travel agents and tour operators, NGOs and executives from the the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The course discussed the key principles, challenges, management tools, and best practices in responsible and sustainable tourism development.
One of the unique features of the program was the living case study and interaction with the cooperatives and community leaders of Barangay Papaya, Nasugbu, Batangas in connection with the Hamilo Coast development in their area. The living case study gave the participants first hand experience and lessons on how the community, the public, and the private sector, can work hand-in-hand in developing responsible tourism. Other significantly relevant cases that were discussed and tackled in the course included the Luang Namtha Ecotourism Case in Lao PDR, El Nido Resort – Ten Knots Corp., the Ifugao Rice Terraces and the Donsol, Sorsogon Whale Shark interaction program.
AIM and APPI designed the program taking into consideration the fact that Asia and the Pacific now make up the fastest –growing tourism region in the world. Given this huge potential, appreciation is growing for the tourism industry’s contribution towards the achievement of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the region.
The next program will be held in 2010. The schedule will be announced in due course.
AIM CDM and APPI wish to thank former Senator Ramon Magsaysay, Jr. for awarding four (4) scholarships to enable qualified people to attend this program.
Macau Gov't Tourist Office Honors APPI
The Macau Gov't Tourist Office recently bestowed an award of
recognition recently to Asia Pacific Projects, Inc. (APPI), which has
handled all the marketing activities of the Macau Gov't Tourist Office
(MGTO) in the Philippines for 11 years. Through its marketing efforts
and promotional efforts, Macau has become the destination of choice of
Filipinos.
From left: Dr. Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, MGTO Deputy Director; Narzalina Z. Lim; Engr. Joao Manuel Costa Antunes, MGTO Director; and Dr. Manuel Goncalves Pires Jr., MGTO Deputy Director
Tourism Investment Opportunities in Iloilo and Guimaras
Ms. Narzalina Lim talked about Tourism Investment Opportunities in Iloilo and Guimaras during the Iloilo-Guimaras Investment Forum held on September 4, 2009, at the Hotel Intercontinental Manila. Some of the investment opportunities discussed are the development of tourism circuits and community-based tourism, diversification of urban tourism products, revitalization of historical Iloilo Business District, upgrading of the sea ports and ferry terminal, and investments on resorts, business hotels, and multi-purpose centers. Aside from tourism, other presentors spoke about agri-business and IT potentials of the two provinces and the city.
The Investment Forum was organized by the Iloilo Economic Development Foundation, Inc. in coordination with the city and provinces of Iloilo and Guimaras.
APPI’s Chairman and Principal Consultant, Ludwig Rieder shown
consulting with local communities and forestry department officials
located in the northern buffer zone of the Corbett Tiger Reserve.
This was part of an extensive consultation process to design a major inclusive tourism infrastructure loan project to be funded by the Asian Development Bank in the states of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand.
Planning and Developing Ecotourism in the EAGA Region
APPI’s Chairman and Principal Consultant, Ludwig Rieder gave a presentation on planning and developing ecotourism in the EAGA region at the EU-EAGA BizTech Partnership Seminar held from 17 to 18 November at Miri in Sarawak, Malaysia.This international event was attended by 270 delegates from 20 countries including Malaysia, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Japan, Poland, Portugal, Brunei, Sri Lanka, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Thailand, United Kingdom and Vietnam.
Mr. Rieder’s presentation sought to explain why ecotourism was important to developing sustainable subregional tourism development strategies, provided examples of how ecotourism had been planned and developed in the Greater Mekong Subregion and in South Asia, and given the lessons learned from other subregional approaches, identified the potential and suggested approaches towards ecotourism development in the EAGA subregion.
