Latest news with #UNWTO
Web Release
2 days ago
- Business
- Web Release
Shaikha Al Nowais participates in VivaTech 2025 in Paris, highlights importance of localizing advanced solutions to develop tourism products and destinations
Her Excellency Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais, Secretary-General-elect of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for the 2026–2029 term, participated in VivaTech 2025 exhibition and forum, held under the theme 'New Frontiers of Innovation.' The latest edition of the event saw extensive participation from decision-makers, business leaders, and innovation pioneers from around the world. Her Excellency visited the UAE Pavilion at the exhibition, where she was briefed on the most prominent projects and innovations presented by Emirati small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly those specializing in tourism and related sectors. She praised the digital solutions and services developed by these companies and highlighted their role in offering innovative solutions that serve the community. During her meeting with Emirati entrepreneurs at the exhibition, Her Excellency underscored the importance of localizing advanced technologies and artificial intelligence in the development of hospitality services and tourism destinations, in line with international best practices. She noted that technology has become a key enabler in delivering distinctive tourism experiences, improving service quality, and enhancing the competitiveness of the sector. Her Excellency also toured pavilions of several other international companies operating in the fields of advanced technology, artificial intelligence, and digital solutions. She was apprised of the latest innovations in these fields, which are reshaping the future of digital economy and advancing smart tourism. VivaTech is the largest technology event and startup exhibition in Europe. This year's edition attracted approximately 165,000 visitors, and featured more than 13,500 startups, along with 3,500 exhibitors and 3,200 investors, serving as a unique platform for accelerating innovation, exchanging ideas, and building strategic partnerships.
Mid East Info
2 days ago
- Business
- Mid East Info
Shaikha Al Nowais participates in VivaTech 2025 in Paris, highlights importance of localizing advanced solutions to develop tourism products and destinations
Her Excellency Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais, Secretary-General-elect of the United Nations World Tourism Organization UNWTO for the 2026–2029 term, participated in VivaTech 2025 exhibition and forum, held under the theme 'New Frontiers of Innovation.' The latest edition of the event saw extensive participation from decision-makers, business leaders, and innovation pioneers from around the world. Her Excellency visited the UAE Pavilion at the exhibition, where she was briefed on the most prominent projects and innovations presented by Emirati small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly those specializing in tourism and related sectors. She praised the digital solutions and services developed by these companies and highlighted their role in offering innovative solutions that serve the community. During her meeting with Emirati entrepreneurs at the exhibition, Her Excellency underscored the importance of localizing advanced technologies and artificial intelligence in the development of hospitality services and tourism destinations, in line with international best practices. She noted that technology has become a key enabler in delivering distinctive tourism experiences, improving service quality, and enhancing the competitiveness of the sector. Her Excellency also toured pavilions of several other international companies operating in the fields of advanced technology, artificial intelligence, and digital solutions. She was apprised of the latest innovations in these fields, which are reshaping the future of digital economy and advancing smart tourism. VivaTech is the largest technology event and startup exhibition in Europe. This year's edition attracted approximately 165,000 visitors, and featured more than 13,500 startups, along with 3,500 exhibitors and 3,200 investors, serving as a unique platform for accelerating innovation, exchanging ideas, and building strategic partnerships.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Shaikha Al Nowais participates in VivaTech 2025 in Paris, highlights importance of localizing advanced solutions
Abu Dhabi: Her Excellency Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais, Secretary-General-elect of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for the 2026–2029 term, participated in VivaTech 2025 exhibition and forum, held under the theme "New Frontiers of Innovation." The latest edition of the event saw extensive participation from decision-makers, business leaders, and innovation pioneers from around the world. Her Excellency visited the UAE Pavilion at the exhibition, where she was briefed on the most prominent projects and innovations presented by Emirati small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly those specializing in tourism and related sectors. She praised the digital solutions and services developed by these companies and highlighted their role in offering innovative solutions that serve the community. During her meeting with Emirati entrepreneurs at the exhibition, Her Excellency underscored the importance of localizing advanced technologies and artificial intelligence in the development of hospitality services and tourism destinations, in line with international best practices. She noted that technology has become a key enabler in delivering distinctive tourism experiences, improving service quality, and enhancing the competitiveness of the sector. Her Excellency also toured pavilions of several other international companies operating in the fields of advanced technology, artificial intelligence, and digital solutions. She was apprised of the latest innovations in these fields, which are reshaping the future of digital economy and advancing smart tourism. VivaTech is the largest technology event and startup exhibition in Europe. This year's edition attracted approximately 165,000 visitors, and featured more than 13,500 startups, along with 3,500 exhibitors and 3,200 investors, serving as a unique platform for accelerating innovation, exchanging ideas, and building strategic partnerships.
Sharjah 24
5 days ago
- Business
- Sharjah 24
Sheikha Al Nowais boosts tourism ties with Cyprus, Greece
The meetings occurred during her participation in the inaugural "Investopia Med" forum in Cyprus, which attracted a diverse international audience, including leaders, ministers, entrepreneurs, investors, and economic experts from the UAE, Lebanon, Cyprus, Greece, and Europe. These engagements are part of Sheikha Al Nowais's initiative to consult with global partners on tourism priorities in preparation for her upcoming tenure as UNWTO Secretary-General. Emphasising tourism's role in sustainable economic growth Sheikha Al Nowais highlighted tourism's critical role in fostering sustainable economic development. She emphasised its contributions to job creation, support for local businesses, and the enhancement of cultural connections. She underscored the importance of collaborative efforts to develop new initiatives and projects across various tourism sectors. Additionally, she advocated for expanding international cooperation to promote sustainable tourism development at both regional and global levels. She expressed her commitment to building upon the organization's achievements, particularly in areas such as strengthening tourism data systems, integrating tourism with related sectors like entertainment, sports, hospitality, cultural arts, and urban tourism, incorporating artificial intelligence into tourism policies, attracting foreign direct investment, and developing human resources through training and academic programs. Bilateral discussions with Cypriot ministers During her visit, Sheikha Al Nowais engaged in three key meetings with Cypriot ministers: Dr. Constantinos Koumpos, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Giorgos Papanastasiou, Minister of Energy, Trade, and Industry; and Costas Koumis, Minister of State for Tourism. She presented her strategic vision focusing on preserving communities' tourism and cultural identities, creating job opportunities for youth, promoting environmental sustainability, and enhancing the tourism sector's adaptability to future global challenges. The discussions also explored opportunities for collaboration in the wellness tourism sector, which offers integrated experiences aimed at improving health and well-being through activities like spas, healthy nutrition, yoga, and other practices supporting a healthy lifestyle. Meeting with Greek minister of tourism Sheikha Al Nowais also met with Her Excellency Olga Kefalogianni, the Greek Minister of Tourism, to discuss the exchange of expertise and best practices in developing sustainable tourism destinations. They explored international partnerships that contribute to the recovery of the global tourism sector following recent challenges. Sheikha Al Nowais shared her vision for continuing the positive development led by the UNWTO, strengthening communication channels with partner governments, supporting growth opportunities for the private sector and entrepreneurs, and promoting sustainable tourism and innovation globally. The meeting also reviewed strategies aimed at developing the Greek tourism sector, focusing on sustainability, specialised tourism products, and improving infrastructure to boost tourist flow to Greek destinations.
Hospitality Net
13-06-2025
- Hospitality Net
Swiss Tourism's Long Decline: Can the Alpine Giant Regain Its Global Standing?
Compared to other countries, Switzerland has steadily become less and less popular as a vacation destination, which raises important questions about the factors shaping international tourism flows. This article examines the role of demographic change, particularly ageing populations, in influencing destination rankings and looks at what these trends may imply for the future of Swiss tourism. Switzerland's Tourism: A 70-Year Decline in Global Popularity International travel has steadily increased over the decades. In 1950, there were 25 million international trips, rising to 1.4 billion by 2018 on the eve of the COVID-19 pandemic. This growth has made tourism a significant part of the economy. In Switzerland, for example, travel and tourism accounted for 12.5% of jobs and 9.2% of GDP in 2019. However, trends have been shifting away from Europe, and Switzerland in particular. In 1950, Switzerland was the 5th most-visited country by international travelers; in 1990, it was the 13th most-visited country in the world; by 2018, Switzerland had fallen to the 35th position (UNWTO Barometer). Where tourists choose to spend their holiday has a major impact on national economies. Countries in the Americas and Europe have for instance been losing ground. As figure 1 shows, fewer people are directing their international trips towards the Americas and Europe, while increasingly numbers are setting their sights on Asia and the Pacific. Figure 1. Share of worldwide international travel (arrivals)— Source: EHL The Role of Demographics in the Past Destination choices depend on many factors. Income plays an obvious role, as transportation and accommodation costs can be sizable, especially in certain countries. Scholars have been looking for key decision factors for decades and have consistently found that the cost of living in the destination country and exchange rates were two other important economic factors, perhaps without much surprise. The role of historical and natural sites, of temperature, sunshine as well as snowfalls at destination has also been established. Lastly, geographical, cultural and historical proximity, domestic or international conflicts, migration and political stability undoubtedly play an important role. Travel decisions also depend on non-economic characteristics of the person traveling. For instance, there is evidence that people go abroad less often as they get older. Health typically deteriorates with age - an important aspect to take into consideration before embarking on long-distance trips! One related factor which hasn't been investigated much is the ageing population. For instance, one adult out of five was older than 65 in Japan in 2000. In 2020, it was one adult out of three. As populations age, does that mean that there would be less international travel if all other factors were held constant? The answer is no. The analysis of data shows that it is quite the opposite. The ageing phenomenon is driven mostly by the increases in life expectancy, and to a smaller extent, by the drop in fertility. Living longer is, to a large extent, a by-product of medical progress that allows us to live in better health for longer. There might be an increase of the elderly in society, but this is due to better medical knowledge, meaning that people live longer and in better health, thus enabling more people to travel abroad. The Role of Demographics in the Future The United Nations has made projections on future fertility, mortality and migration rates, which allow researchers to estimate the expected number of old people in society. The OECD also makes projections of future economic growth. Based on these projections and the past effect of the ageing population on international travel, one can make projections of future travel between any pair of countries, ignoring all other factors that influence travel decisions. One can thus simulate future worldwide rankings simply based on changing demographics and income. The following table compares the projections for Sweden and Switzerland, two European countries of similar ranking in 2025: — Source: EHL Simulations predict a different path for the two countries. On average, international arrivals in Sweden would grow by 2.2% ever year, while they would grow by 3.2% in Switzerland. Switzerland could thus maintain its worldwide position and stop the decline that has taken place since 1950. The decline is slated to, on the other hand, continue in Sweden. Why is There Such a Difference? The primary reason for the difference in outcomes is that the two countries attract visitors from vastly different countries. For example, twice as many people in the U.S. traveled to Switzerland (about 1 million) compared to Sweden (about 0.5 million) in 2018 just before the COVID-19 crisis. In contrast, many more travelers from Denmark visited Sweden (2.3 million) compared to Switzerland (57,000). Yet, demographic trends suggest patterns will change: Denmark's population is expected to remain stable at around 6 million, while the U.S. population, driven by higher fertility rates, is projected to grow from 350 million to 400 million by 2070. This means that the market for international travel to Sweden is likely to grow at a slower rate than the market for international travel to Switzerland. Implications For National Tourism Management First of all, there are many factors and thus policy actions that can be taken to influence the attractiveness of a country to international travelers. What we learn from the simulation exercise is that demographic trends in themselves will also play a role. Relative to other European countries, these trends should help Switzerland maintain its standing, without any particular policy efforts. Secondly, tourism operators or policy makers who want to increase international arrivals into a country can also use demographic information to define their marketing targets. As there are more international departures from countries where people live longer (and thus are healthier on average), one could focus marketing resources on countries where life expectancy is higher and projected to increase faster, assuming that all other factors influencing travel decisions are the same. While Switzerland has seen its position as a tourist destination gradually slip since the middle of the 20th century, our simulation indicates that the downtrend is expected to level off in the coming years. Population growth in its key markets, notably in the United States, is likely to continue to bolster Swiss tourism in the near future. Shifting trends, including the ageing population and the increasing popularity of Asia-Pacific, are not predicted to cause a further decline for the Swiss tourism industry. Further Reading We invite you to access the full simulation here or download the PDF. For further details on worldwide travel, please consult the numerous publications from the UN World Tourism Organization. For further details on the role of demographics and simulations, please visit the 'Long-run Economic and Demographic Influences on International Tourism' project. View source
