• Pascal Lamy to chair the World Committee on Tourism Ethics

    September 7, 2013

    Madrid : The 20th Session of the UNWTO General Assembly unanimously approved the designation of Mr. Pascal Lamy, former Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), as the new Chairman of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics.

    Mr. Pascal Lamy will chair the World Committee on Tourism Ethics for four years, starting on 1 September 2013. A renowned economist and former European Commissioner, Mr. Lamy headed the WTO for the last eight years. He takes over, as Chairman of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics, from Dr. Dawid de Villiers, UNWTO former Deputy Secretary-General and former South African Minister of the Environment and Tourism.

    The World Committee on Tourism Ethics is the independent body responsible for interpreting, applying and evaluating the provisions of the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism. The Committee´s tasks include the promotion and dissemination of the Code as well as the evaluation and monitoring of its implementation.

    The 20th General Assembly also approved the appointment of the following as Committee Members: Gede Ardika (Former Minister of Tourism of Indonesia),  Yoshinori Hompo (Former Commissioner of Japan Tourism Agency), Ms. Fiona Jeffrey (Former Chair of the World Travel Market),  Khelil Lajmi (Former Minister of Tourism of Tunisia),  Jean Marc Mignon (President, International Organisation for Social Tourism), Ms. Tanja Mihalic (Head of Institute of Tourism, University of Ljubljana),  Ron Oswald (General Secretary, International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers´ Association), . Eugenio Yunis (Executive Vice President, Federation of Tourism Enterprises of Chile).

    Mr. Hiran Cooray (Chairman, Jetwing), Ms. Suzy Hatough (Director of Dar Al-Diafa for Tourism Human Resources Development Consultancy) and Ms. Gunnur Ozalp (Secretary-General, Association of Turkish Travel Agents) were also appointed as alternate members of the Committee.-UNWTO

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      Messe Berlin India launched 

      to drive growth of ITB India 

      Messe Berlin announces the official launch of Messe Berlin India, a newly incorporated subsidiary that underscores the company’s long-term commitment to one of Asia’s fastest-growing markets. Headquartered in Delhi , the new entity will serve as a strategic base for expanding ITB India and launching future projects tailored to the Indian market. With this establishment, Messe Berlin is reinforcing its vision of India as a regional hub for innovation, collaboration, and sustainable business growth within the exhibition and events industry.

      “Messe Berlin’s presence in India reflects our strategic intent to strengthen our international reach by being where the growth is. India is a key market for us — vibrant, diverse, and full of opportunities. With Messe Berlin India, we are laying down long-term foundations to build strong partnerships, support local industries, and elevate our global platforms,” said Dr. Mario Tobias, CEO, Messe Berlin.

      ITB India, inaugurated in 2023, continues as the flagship event under the new subsidiary. Held annually, ITB India is a three-day B2B travel trade show and convention that connects the global travel and tourism industry with the Indian market. Alongside MICE Show India, Travel Tech India, and the ITB India Conference, ITB India serves as a unique platform to forge new partnerships, strengthen existing ties, and capitalize on the fast-growing potential of the Indian and South Asian travel economies. The show hosts key players from the MICE, Leisure, Corporate Travel, and Travel Technology sectors. The upcoming edition, ITB India 2025, will take place from 2 – 4 September 2025  in Mumbai.

      FACTS —

      Tourism helps in:

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      👉Reducing Inequalities

      👉Promoting gender equality

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      In 2019, Travel & Tourism’s direct, indirect and induced impact accounted for:
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      -10.3% of global GDP
      -330 million jobs, 1 in 10 jobs around the world
      -US$1.7 trillion visitor exports (6.8% of total exports,
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      -US$948 billion capital investment (4.3% of total
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