• Encouraging travel facilitation and connectivity in Asia Pacific

    April 25, 2013
    Encouraging travel facilitation and connectivity in Asia Pacific

    Madrid : Travel facilitation, connectivity and the sustainable development of the tourism sector were at the center of UNWTO’s 25th annual statutory meeting for Asia and the Pacific and its adjoining conference on sustainable tourism in Hyderabad, India during the meeting held on 12-14 April.

    The Joint Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and UNWTO Commission for South Asia (CAP-CSA) are UNWTO´s annual regional statutory events, and the largest, most important gathering of Member States from the region.

    The focus on UNWTO priorities such as travel (visa) facilitation, intelligent taxation and air connectivity set the frame for the adjoining Sustainable Tourism Conference, hosted by the Ministry of Tourism of the Government of India in collaboration with the Government of Andhra Pradesh. At the opening, the Indian Minister State of Tourism, Dr. K. Chiranjeevi, emphasized the importance of intra-regional and inter-regional cooperation as a key to sustainable tourism development.

    During the conference, countries shared their challenges and difficulties in developing sustainable tourism, including the call to increase tourism’s contribution to poverty reduction, the need for long-term impact monitoring and the prioritization of tourism in national development policies.

    Mr. Zoltan Somogyi, UNWTO Executive Director for Member Relations and Services, noted that UNWTO is committed to standing by its members to advance the sustainability agenda by generating know-how, disseminating information and continuing to work closely with countries in the region to identify the challenges, needs and opportunities for sustainable development and formulate and implement effective sustainable tourism development strategies.

    The events gathered senior tourism executives from over 20 UNWTO Member States, who were joined by representatives of India´s state governments, union territories and private stakeholders , UNWTO reports.

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      Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Strategy 2030 aims for 39.3 million visitors per year, while Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 targets 150 million domestic and international visits, emphasising how tourism is being established as a key element of economic diversification throughout the region.

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      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.

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