TOP executives of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) expressed their deep sorrow at the result of the natural disaster that caused the death of more than 80 people in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina last year.
Geoffrey Kent, chairman and CEO of Abercrombie & Kent and chairman of WTTC, offered the tourism body’s sincere condolences to the families who lost members of their families as a result of the recent floods and landslides, as well as to the 54,000 who were forced from their homes.
“We are more than ever committed to making a huge success of our Global Travel & Tourism Summit, which will take place from 15-16 May 2009,” Kent said, “and which we believe will help put Santa Catarina and its capital Florianópolis firmly on the world tourism map – both from the point of its international tourism potential and its potential for foreign investment.”
More than a million people have been affected by the natural disaster – “the worst the state has ever faced,” according to governor of the southern Brazilian state Luiz Henrique da Silveira.
A state of emergency was declared by Brazil’s President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
“It is extremely important for private sector leaders and ministers of tourism from all four corners of the globe to come to Santa Catarina next May to give their support and guidance to Santa Catarina,” said Jean-Claude Baumgarten, WTTC president and CEO. “Travel and tourism could be the vital stimulus that the state needs to help kick start its economy after this terrible tragedy.”
