Www.slovenia.info



[pic]

BLED STRATEGIC FORUM: THE SAFETY OF OUR FUTURE

TOURISM PANEL:

"Safety and Sustainability in Tourism"

Time: 6 September 2016, from 10 am to 12.30 pm

Location: Grand Hotel Toplice, Grand Conference Hall

The Slovenian tourism and Minister of Economic Development and Technology Zdravko Počivalšek hosted a number of influential guests during this year's internationally recognized Bled Strategic Forum (BSF) organised from 5 and 6 September at Bled, including Secretary General of the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Dr. Taleb Rifai, Chairman of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Gerald Lawless, and Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific-Asia Travel Association (PATA) Mario Hardy. Tomorrow, on 6 September, Bled will host the third BSF tourist panel under the title of "Safety and Sustainability in Tourism", with Dr. Taleb Rifai as the main speaker.

During the tourism panel on tourism safety and sustainability, experts in both tourism and sustainable development will be answering questions about the global security challenges and the meaning of sustainable development in tourism, especially in light of Ljubljana being the 2016 European Green Capital and in view of the Global Green Destinations Day which will take place in Slovenia this year. The renowned guests will attempt to outline solutions for meeting the current challenges and set guidelines for the successful development of tourism in the region.

Zdravko Počivalšek, Minister of Economic Development and Technology:

"On Tuesday 6 September, Bled will be the stage of an important international tourism event. Within the BSF, the third Tourism Panel will be taking place, with the currently topical subject of "Safety and Sustainability in Tourism". We are glad to host Secretary General of the World Tourist Organisation Dr Taleb Rifai as the main speaker of the event. Among others, notable speakers will also include important representatives from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), Pacific-Asia Travel Association (PATA), tourism administrations from several countries, and the tourism industry in general. We will discuss the importance of safety and sustainability in tourism, which are very important key elements for the successful development of tourism. As the subject is quite topical at the global level, it will be interesting to hear different opinions and recommendations. I am delighted that the ministers responsible for tourism, or their representatives, from certain countries in the Middle and South-Eastern Europe have also responded to my invitation."

Maja Pak, Director of Slovenian Tourist Board

"This year's subject of discussion at the BFS tourism panel, i.e. the safety and sustainability in tourism, is one of the most topical issues that the tourism is facing on a global level. Tourism as one of the fastest growing industries with huge potential for further growth depends strongly on global safety. Terrorism and the immigration waves as a secondary challenge represent an additional threat. What we are facing is a different distribution of tourists as they place safety on a high priority level when choosing destinations. Furthermore, tourism needs a well-balanced, sustainable development which takes into account the social, economic, environmental and climate challenges and influences safety in the broadest sense of the word.

The Slovenian Tourist Board positions Slovenia as a green, active, healthy and safe boutique destination offering products with high added value, and we would wish to keep it that way. We promote the development of sustainable tourism through a unique tool called the 'SLOVENIA GREEN Tourism Scheme', which we developed based on the internationally comparable criteria and by taking into account the national character. This is why the tourism panel will take place in view of Ljubljana being the 2016 European Green Capital and also in light of the Global Green Destinations Day, a prestigious event which Slovenia and Ljubljana will host on the World Tourism Day. In light of the main topic of this year's tourism panel, we are especially glad to host Secretary General of the World Tourist Organisation Dr. Taleb Rifai as the main speaker, who responded to Slovenia's invitation to the forum due to concrete activities undertaken by the Slovenian tourism in the area of developing sustainable tourism.

Dr Taleb Rifai, main speaker at the Tourism Panel

This year's Bled Strategic Forum will host Dr Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of the World Tourist Organisation (UNWTO), as the main speaker at the Tourism Panel.

Dr. Taleb Rifai said on the occasion:

"The Bled Strategic Forum discusses some of the most pressing questions of our time, i.e. the question of economic growth, including the economic development, and the question of environmental sustainability, peace and safety. I am especially happy that tourism has a key role in this discussion. As one of the most important social-economic industries of our time, the task of tourism is to solve these pressing questions to which it does in fact contribute a great deal in terms of solutions.

Dr Taleb Rifai will be received by Minister of Economic Development and Technology Zdravko Počivalšek as the host.

The Minister and Secretary General will also give a joint statement on Tuesday 6 September 2016 at 1 pm in the Grand Hall of Grand Hotel Toplice.

Dr Taleb Rifai has held the position of Secretary General to the UNWTO since 2010. He has shown his affiliation for Slovenia on numerous occasions, among others during this year's tourism exchange ITB Berlin, where Slovenia was awarded the PATWA award for fastest-developing tourism destination. When handing in the award, Dr Rifai praised Slovenia using the following wording: "If you have not visited Slovenia, you have not lived." 

Signing the UNWTO Act

During this year's Tourism Panel taking place within the Bled Strategic Forum, the participants, many high ranking officials, and experts on tourism and sustainable development, will witness the signing of the UNWTO Act on the commitment of the private sector to a global ethical code in tourism. 

Six of the seven Slovenian signatories who are included in the Slovene Tourism Green Scheme each hold one of the environment marks as well as the Slovenia Green Accommodation mark. These signatories include the Koren Kobarid Camp, 'Pr'Gavedarjo’ Rooms with a Story from Kranjska Gora, Snovik Thermal Spa Centre, Urška Tourist Farm, Celica Hostel Hotel Park Ljubljana, and the Olimia Thermal Spa Complex.

The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) was awarded the World Ethical Codex for Tourism in 1999 as a fundamental framework for responsible and sustainable tourism. In 2011, they started with a campaign to raise awareness and attract members of the private tourism sector to sign the codex.

Signing the codex dictates a commitment that the signatories will support a series of general and fundamental ethical principles regarding sustainable, and especially responsible tourism development, such as respect for the human rights, fight against the abuse of people and the environment, and respect for local community rights as well as employee rights. The commitment means spreading and encouraging the use of the global ethical codex in tourism among partners, suppliers, buyers, employees and shareholders. The companies/associations who decide to sign the codex must completely understand the principles of corporate social responsibility and have adequate measures in this field implemented.

More information about the codex is available here.

The sustainability concept more topical than ever before

Slovenia is a green tourist destination committed to supporting sustainable development. This is why the topic of this year's Tourism Panel is about sustainability, especially since Ljubljana is the 2016 European Green Capital and since the Global Green Destinations Day will take place in Slovenia this year.

The Green Slovenian Tourism Scheme – SLOVENIA GREEN is a national program for accelerating the introduction of sustainable tourism, which is based on the ETIS European and GSTC global criteria; it allows a comparison with other green destinations around the world, while also including the national character, which allows Slovenia to stand out. Up until now, 12 destinations and 10 providers have been granted the Slovenia Green mark. Up until now, 12 destinations and 10 providers have been granted the Slovenia Green mark. As many as 16 destinations and 24 municipalities are currently being assessed; the announcement and the granting of new marks will be held on 27 September during the prestigious global event in sustainable tourism called Global Green Destinations Day.

Open Letter to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia

Today (5 September), Dr. Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of the WTO, and Gerald Lawless, president of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) will submit an open letter to Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia Dr. Miro Cerar, who will, by accepting this letter, join the other world leaders in their joint effort. By receiving this letter, Prime Minister will emphasise the importance of the travel and tourism sector for the economic development of Slovenia.

TOURISM Panel program, 6 September 2016 (10 am 12.30 pm):

9. to 10 am CHECK-IN

10 am OPENING EVENT

Zdravko Počivalšek, Minister of Economic Development and Technology of the Republic of Slovenia

Maja Pak, Director of the Slovenian Tourist Board

10.15 am MAIN SPEAKER

Dr Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of WTO

10.30 am SPEAKERS: Importance of Safety and Sustainability in Tourism

Helen Marano, WTTC, Senior Vice President for government and industry affairs of the World Travel & Tourism Council

10.45 am ROUND TABLE: Global challenges for security and the potentials of sustainable tourism

(coordinated by: Igor E. Bergant)

Mario Hardy, PATA, Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific-Asian Travel Association

Eva Štravs Podlogar, Director General, the Directorate for Tourism and Internationalisation at the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology of the Republic of Slovenia

Irena Gueorguieva, Deputy Minister of Tourism, the Republic of Bulgaria

Professor Dr. Terry Stevens, Chief Executive Officer, Stevens & Associates

Tatjana Juriševič, President of the Management Board and Chief Executive Officer, Kompas d.d.

Ambassador Dr. Gusztav Bienerth, Government Commissioner for Tourism, the Republic of Hungary

12.30 pm Signing of the UNWTO Act on the commitment of the private sector to a global ethical codex in tourism

12.45 pm END OF PANEL

Gourmet experience at the terrace of Grand Hotel Toplice with top Slovene chefs Simon Bertoncelj (Julijana GH Toplice Restaurant) and Igor Jagodic (Strelec Restaurant).

For more information about the Tourism Panel organised within this year's Bled Strategic Forum, click here, and for more information about the Bled Strategic Forum please click here.

Note: the official BSF language is English

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download