Show to boost eco-tourism
PROMOTING wholesome master planning for the betterment of tourism, the Asia Pacific Tourism Destination Investment Conference (APTDI) 2013, to be held from October 21-23, 2013, in Singapore, will discuss social and environmental impacts of tourism developments. The conference will be a one-stop platform for all stakeholders to unleash investment potential through better policy framework, public-private partnerships and innovative business models. Attendees will include tourism/development/urban planning authorities, private-sector investors, developers, airlines, cruise terminals/operators, attraction/concept owners, design/architect/construction master planners, lawyers and financial/valuation/specialised consultants. More than 500 top-level executives will gather at APTDI to address investment and development challenges at the destination level.
ICCA Forum for young professionals
EIBTM, the leading global event for the meetings and events industry has once again partnered with the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) to deliver The Forum for Young Professionals, which will take place on November 18, 2013.
In recognising the increasing importance of young people in the meetings industry, the partners have increased the allocation for the programme this year to 35 young professionals.
To date, the programme has received a number of applications from young professionals working in countries including Brazil, Germany, Argentina, India, Austria, Kenya, Belgium, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom and South Africa.
EIBTM 2013 will take place in Barcelona from November 19 – 21.
Qatar re-elected to UNWTO
QATAR Tourism Authority (QTA) delegation have returned after their successful participation at the 20th UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly held recently in the Victoria Falls region at the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, and the 38th meeting of the UNWTO Commission for the Middle East. During the General Assembly Qatar was re-elected as a member of the Credentials Committee of the Middle East region.
QTA’s participation in the General Assembly meetings followed the recent agreement signed by QTA and UNWTO to develop Qatar’s tourism policies and procedures in line with international best practices. The agreement will also see UNWTO update and create benchmarked processes within QTA. Based on international benchmark standards, the UNWTO and QTA shall develop a consistent and locally relevant monitoring and quality control system across the wide range of tourism activities described under Law 6 of 2012, described as the “Tourism Law.”
Tourism activities in the Middle East grew by 11 per cent despite the conditions in the region. Most of the growth was registered by the GCC countries, especially Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Priceless Arabia campaign launched
MASTERCARD has launched its Priceless Arabia campaign, which brings the global Priceless Cities program to the Middle East and North Africa for the first time.
Priceless Arabia will give cardholders exclusive offers and experiences in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Lebanon, Morocco, Kuwait and Bahrain.
Raghu Malhotra, division president, Middle East and North Africa, MasterCard, says: “The Arab region shares many commonalities among its diverse population with its common language, cultural similarities and high interregional travel habits. It is these similarities that inspired us to develop MasterCard’s first ever region-wide Priceless Arabia campaign as a natural evolution of the global Priceless Cities programme that we have launched in other markets. This region will remain a strategic focus for MasterCard and as the programme develops we will be creating even more priceless opportunities for both residents and overseas visitors.”
Priceless Arabia is part of MasterCard’s Priceless Cities platform, which was initiated in New York City in July 2011. This campaign will be extended to the African region with the objective of eventually connecting Priceless consumer experiences across the globe.