Global tourism and aviation sectors join forces
The links between the global tourism and aviation sectors grew closer this week, with the signing of a new cooperation agreement between the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The two bodies penned a ‘Joint Statement on Aviation & Tourism’, acknowledging their intention to begin cooperating more closely on issues such as visa facilitation, taxation, aviation regulations and traveller protection
“Separate sectorial policies on air transport and tourism result in a fundamental, and too often even conflicting disconnect which constitutes a severe constraint on the development of travel and tourism,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. “The signing of this statement therefore represents a defining moment – one which can set air transport and tourism on a common path on matters of shared concern with considerable mutual benefit.”
More than one billion tourists crossed international borders during 2012, more than half of whom travelled by air. And these numbers are expected to surge in the coming decades.
“Based on ICAO’s latest forecasts, aircraft departures are forecast to grow from 30 million today to 60 million by 2030,” said ICAO Secretary General, Raymond Benjamin. “These figures support the UNWTO’s tourism projections and highlight how important it is that our organisations continue to address air transport system capacity and related challenges today, in order to maximise the economic development aspects of air transport and tourism tomorrow.”
In addition to the agreed areas of cooperation, ICAO and UNWTO said they could also look at joint solutions for airport passenger flow management, air capacity in developing countries and environmental issues.