Indonesia’s president joins UNWTO campaign
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The President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has become the first Asian head of state to join the ongoing World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) ‘Global Leaders for Tourism’ campaign.
“Today, tourism plays a significant role not only in the preservation of cultural values, but also in increasing people’s welfare,” said President Yudhoyono. “Tourism has provided job opportunities for millions of people across the globe; is one of leading exports of developing countries; and is a key stimulus in the transformation to a green economy.”
As part of the campaign, UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai presented the Indonesian president with an open letter setting out the economic, development and environmental opportunities offered by tourism.
“We are delighted that Indonesia has joined this important campaign to raise international awareness of the relevance of travel and tourism,” said Rifai. “In doing so, Indonesia is sending out a strong message that it recognizes tourism’s potential as a force for development.”
Accepting the letter, President Yudhoyono expressed the willingness of Indonesia – with seven million international tourists and US$7 billion in receipts in 2010 – to capitalise on the “increasingly important role of tourism”.
“The importance of travel and tourism as a driver of Indonesia’s economy is clear. Over the next 10 years, Travel & Tourism’s contribution to the country’s GDP is expected to grow by nearly 6% per year,” said David Scowsill, President and CEO, WTTC.
“The strong message of support for the industry embodied in today’s acceptance of the Open Letter shows the government’s commitment to realising Travel & Tourism’s potential to create jobs, generate exports and stimulate investment,” he added.
Through the Global Leaders for Tourism campaign, UNWTO and WTTC are calling on heads of state to prioritise the tourism sector high in national policies in order to maximise its potential. The campaign has already received the support of the presidents of Mexico, South Africa, Kazakhstan, and Hungary.
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