US Travel Header Utility Menu

  • Future of Travel Mobility
  • Travel Action Network
  • Journey to Clean

Header Utility Social Links

  • Follow us on FOLLOW US
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on LinkedIn
  • Follow us on Instagram
  • Follow us on Facebook

User account menu

Congress passes much-awaited funding for assistant secretary for travel and tourism.

PRESS RELEASE March 08, 2024

WASHINGTON -

U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman issued the following statement on the U.S. Senate passage of six government funding bills , which include funding for the office of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism—following months of persistent advocacy from the U.S. travel industry:

“Funding this critical position is a step in ensuring the long-term global competitiveness of the United States. While other countries are laser-focused on growing their share of global travel, the U.S. has been stuck in neutral—in part due to a lack of a coordinated, whole-of-government approach to increasing travel. “The Assistant Secretary will play a valuable role in coordinating across the government to help innovate travel facilitation and address persistent challenges that stand in the way of growth. This position will also be integral as the U.S. prepares to host significant international events over the next decade—including the World Cup—and compete for a greater share of the global travel market. “U.S. Travel thanks congressional leaders for funding this key government position. We also urge the Biden administration to immediately fill the role and prioritize the travel economy to benefit American workers and all regions across the United States.”

The Assistant Secretary role was established in 2022 through the passage of the Visit America Act. The position was created to ensure travel issues receive more high-level government focus. The Assistant Secretary is tasked with maximizing travel’s economic potential—including helping communities across the country compete for valuable international visitors, conferences and events. The recently enacted FY24 funding bill bundle removes the last barrier to filling the position.

U.S. Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing the $1.2 trillion travel industry, an essential contributor to our nation's economy and success. U.S. Travel produces programs and insights and advocates for policies to increase travel to and within the United States. Visit ustravel.org for information and recovery-related data.

Greg Staley

Senior Vice President, Communications

202.408.2162

  • Subscribe Now

Tourism to account for 20% of jobs by 2016: official

Already have Rappler+? Sign in to listen to groundbreaking journalism.

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

MANILA, Philippines – The tourism sector is expected to account for as much as 18% to 20% of the country’s total employment by 2016. 

At the Philippine Yearend Economic Briefing on Wednesday, February 13, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. added that this will allow the sector to increase its share to 11% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from the current level of 7%.

In the October 2012 Labor Force Survey, there were 37.67 million employed Filipinos. If this is the same number of employed Filipinos by 2016, an 18% to 20% share translates to about 6.8 million to 7.5 million workers the tourism industry will employ. 

“The domestic market, for now, is what is holding everything up. Revenue from international arrivals by 2016 will already be within the vicinity of close to about $850 million (or) close to a billion by that time. The effect of that is of course, tourism will account for 10% or maybe 11% of GDP making it finally a very important pillar of (growth) in the Philippines,” Jimenez said. 

“The even more important figure here is that by 2016, it will account for a little over 18% of employment, or between 18% to 20% of employment in the country,” he added. 

44 million domestic tourists by 2016

The year 2012 marks the first time the Philippines saw its foreign tourist arrivals go beyond the 4-million mark . Despite hitting an all-time high, however, the  total number of tourists missed the year’s 4.6 million goal .

A total of 4,272,811 foreign tourists visited the Philippines in 2012, up 9.07%. 

But Jimenez stressed at the yearend briefing that domestic tourist arrivals is driving the growth of the industry. To date, Jimenez said domestic tourism have exceeded the 2016 target of 35.5 million by around two million travelers. 

This is expected to grow, prompting the government to increase its domestic tourist arrival target to 44 million by 2016. 

Lacking 20,000 rooms 

This growth trajectory would result in a shortage of hotel rooms by 2016. Jimenez said the country is on target to increase the number of rooms by 7,000 in 2014. 

But if the steady increase would continue for both domestic and foreign tourists, the Philippines will be faced with a 20,000-room shortage by 2016. 

“Creating the demand turned out to be the easy part of the job or as people refer to it today as the “fun” part of the job. The hard part is actually being ready to be worthy of that demand,” Jimenez said.

Jimenez said one of the ways the government is addressing this problem is through a tourism infrastructure-focused fund that was set aside for the sector. 

He said the DOT is working with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the construction of tourism-specific roads and infrastructure. But, he said more needs to be done, specially by Local Government Units (LGUs). 

Jimenez said LGUs must increase support for tourism by “creating the capacity to realize that demand.”

“The most important change is actually happening on the ground. The development finally of LGU support around tourism development plans will determine the success or the failure of Philippine tourism,” he explained. – Rappler.com

Add a comment

Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines .

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

How does this make you feel?

Related Topics

Recommended stories, {{ item.sitename }}, {{ item.title }}, ‘embarrassed’ marcos admits ph athletes lack support; doubles sea games incentive.

‘Embarrassed’ Marcos admits PH athletes lack support; doubles SEA Games incentive

SEA Games, ASEAN Para Games medalists to receive cash incentives soon

SEA Games, ASEAN Para Games medalists to receive cash incentives soon

PH wraps up best ASEAN Para Games campaign as chess, swimming, athletics shine

PH wraps up best ASEAN Para Games campaign as chess, swimming, athletics shine

Bernardo powers chess surge as PH secures biggest gold haul in ASEAN Para Games

Bernardo powers chess surge as PH secures biggest gold haul in ASEAN Para Games

PH chess, swimming step up in huge 9-gold Para Games haul

PH chess, swimming step up in huge 9-gold Para Games haul

Checking your Rappler+ subscription...

Upgrade to Rappler+ for exclusive content and unlimited access.

Why is it important to subscribe? Learn more

You are subscribed to Rappler+

  • Top Stories
  • Pinoy Abroad
  • #ANONGBALITA
  • Economy & Trade
  • Banking & Finance
  • Agri & Mining
  • IT & Telecom
  • Fightsports
  • Sports Plus
  • One Championship
  • TV & Movies
  • Celebrity Profiles
  • Music & Concerts
  • Digital Media
  • Culture & Media
  • Health and Home
  • Accessories
  • Motoring Plus
  • Commuter’s Corner
  • Residential
  • Construction
  • Environment and Sustainability
  • Agriculture
  • Performances
  • Malls & Bazaars
  • Hobbies & Collections
  • Travel Features
  • Travel Reels
  • Travel Logs

Logo

Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Tulfo-Teo on Friday cited the agency’s accomplishments in the first 50 days of the Duterte administration.

Among the Tourism Department’s achievements since June 30 were the the scrapping of the “processing fee” for the issuance of certificates of travel tax exemption and reduced travel tax that took effect on July 25, 2016, according to Teo.

She also announced an on-going inter-agency exploratory discussion on the proposal to integrate the airport terminal fee into the passenger’s airline ticket payment and a department proposal to remove unnecessary barriers and simplify travel regulations, to ease crowding and congestion at the airport terminals.

The department also announced the holding of the Miss Universe pageant in the Philippines next year, after President Rodrigo Duterte approved Teo’s proposal.

The Philippines also embarked on an “exchange tourism” agreement with Thailand.

The Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports  offered to create collaboration between the two countries on farm tourism, youth development and women and indigenous community projects.

Teo met with the Thai Travel Agents Association at Tawana Ramada Hotel where she personally encouraged the tour operators to send more Thai tourists to the Philippines.

Teo, in a recent visit to a Fil-Am community in New Jersey, also asked the help of the community in promoting the Philippines including her advocacy of one-town-one product.

She also cited medical tourism as a prime magnet for East Coast Fil-Am and non-Filipino tourists, the enhancement of Filipino cuisine’s profile as  tourist attraction and the local governments’ participation in boosting tourism.

Teo said DOT aimed to promote both domestic tourism and international tourism.

“Filipinos should not be strangers in their own country. They should be able to see with their own eyes the bountiful beauty God has endowed this country,” she said.

  • Duterte administration
  • Secretary Wanda Corazon-Tulfo

LATEST NEWS

Pnr to suspend metro operations starting march 28, 6.1-magnitude offshore quake strikes davao oriental, psa reports 4.5% ph unemployment rate in january, countries urged to enhance teachers’ wages, working conditions amid fears of shortage, google opens new cyberdefense hub in tokyo amid china threats, bir issues 20 additional vat-exempt medicines for cancer, hypertension, mental illness, popular articles, tear gas battle as greek students protest university reform, natalie portman, benjamin millepied divorce after 11-year marriage, tokyo-cebu flights via united airlines take off by july 31, how some nations around the world marked international women’s day, sam altman returns to openai board months after crisis, singkil dance, cancer center, prepare for conflicts, xi orders chinese military.

  • Economy & Trade
  • Banking & Finance
  • Agri & Mining
  • IT & Telecom

On the Road

  • Monitoring Plus
  • Commuter's Corner
  • Malls & Bazaars
  • Hobbies & Collections
  • Entertainment
  • TV & Movies
  • Music & Concerts
  • Culture & Media

Home & Design

  • Environment & Sustainability
  • Users Agreement

© All Rights Reserved, Newspaper Theme.

  • Special Pages

Secretary of Tourism (Philippines)

The secretary of tourism ( Filipino : Kalihim ng Turismo ) is the head of the Department of Tourism and is a member of the president's Cabinet . [1]

List of secretaries of tourism

External links.

The current secretary is Christina Frasco , who assumed office on June 30, 2022. [2] [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gloria Macapagal Arroyo</span> President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010

Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal Arroyo , often referred to by her initials PGMA and GMA , is a Filipino academic and politician who previously served as the 14th president of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010. She is currently serving in the congress as a Deputy Speaker since 2022. She is the longest serving president of the Philippines since Ferdinand Marcos. Before her accession to the presidency, she served as the 10th vice president of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001 under President Joseph Estrada, making her the country's first female vice president, despite having run on an opposing ticket. She was also a senator from 1992 to 1998. After her presidency, she was elected as the representative of Pampanga's 2nd district in 2010 and later became the speaker of the House of Representatives from 2018 until her retirement in 2019. She later came out of retirement to be elected as representative of the same district in 2022. She is one of the only 2 Filipinos to hold at least three of the four highest offices in the country: vice president, president, and house speaker, alongside former President Sergio Osmeña.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bongbong Marcos</span> President of the Philippines since 2022

Ferdinand " Bongbong " Romualdez Marcos Jr. , commonly referred to by the initials PBBM or BBM , is a Filipino politician who is the 17th and current president of the Philippines. Marcos is also the secretary of agriculture, holding the post in concurrent capacity. He previously served as a senator from 2010 to 2016. He is the second child and only son of 10th president, kleptocrat and dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and former first lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maria Ressa</span> Filipino and American journalist (born 1963)

Maria Angelita Ressa is a Filipino and American journalist. She is the co-founder and CEO of Rappler. She previously spent nearly two decades working as a lead investigative reporter in Southeast Asia for CNN. She will become Professor of Professional Practice in the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University on July 1, 2024, and will be a Distinguished Fellow at Columbia's new Institute of Global Politics beginning in the fall of 2023.

The Department of Tourism is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for the regulation of the Philippine tourism industry and the promotion of the Philippines as a tourist destination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gwendolyn Garcia</span> Filipina politician

Gwendolyn Fiel Garcia is a Filipina politician serving as the governor of Cebu since 2019, a position she previously held from 2004 and 2013—being the first woman to hold that office. She was the representative of Cebu's 3rd congressional district from 2013 to 2019 and concurrently served as a House Deputy Speaker from 2016 to 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erwin Tulfo</span> Former Secretary of Department of Social Welfare and Development of the Philippines

Erwin Teshiba Tulfo is a Filipino politician, a former news anchor, broadcaster, and columnist. He currently serves as a representative for ACT-CIS Partylist and a Deputy Majority Leader of the Philippine House of Representatives since 2023. He previously served as the Secretary of Social Welfare and Development from June 30 to December 27, 2022, when his appointment was blocked and bypassed by the Commission on Appointments, during the presidency of Bongbong Marcos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Secretary of Social Welfare and Development</span>

The secretary of social welfare and development is the head of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and is a member of the President's Cabinet.

The Secretary of Public Works and Highways is the head of the Department of Public Works and Highways in the national government of the Philippines, and is a member of the president's Cabinet.

Rappler is a Filipino online news website based in Pasig, Metro Manila, the Philippines. It was founded by 2021 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa along with a group of fellow Filipino journalists as well as technopreneurs. It started as a Facebook page named MovePH in August 2011 and evolved into a website on January 1, 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sara Duterte</span> Vice President of the Philippines since 2022

Sara Zimmerman Duterte-Carpio , commonly known as Inday Sara , is a Filipina lawyer and politician who is the 15th and current vice president of the Philippines. She is the third female vice president, the third vice president to come from Mindanao, and the youngest vice president in Philippine history. Duterte is also the secretary of education, holding the post in a concurrent capacity. A daughter of 16th president Rodrigo Duterte, she previously served as the mayor of Davao City from 2016 to 2022, and from 2010 to 2013. She was also Davao City's vice mayor from 2007 to 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Presidential transition of Rodrigo Duterte</span>

The presidential transition of Rodrigo Duterte started when then-Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte won the Philippine presidential election on May 9, 2016. Duterte topped the official count by the Congress of the Philippines on May 27, 2016, with 16,601,997 votes, 6.6 million more than his closest rival. The joint bicameral Congress proclaimed Duterte as the President-elect and Leni Robredo as the Vice President-elect on May 30, 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wanda Tulfo Teo</span> Filipino travel agent

Wanda Corazon Teshiba Tulfo-Teo is a Filipino travel agent who served as Secretary of the Philippines' Department of Tourism under the Duterte administration from July 2016 until her resignation on May 8, 2018.

The 19th Congress of the Philippines , composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives, convened on July 25, 2022. The 19th Congress is meeting during the first three years of Bongbong Marcos's presidency, and will end on June 6, 2025. The convening of the 19th Congress followed the 2022 general elections, which replaced half of the Senate membership and the entire membership of the House of Representatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christina Frasco</span> Filipino politician

Ma. Esperanza Christina Codilla Frasco , also known as Christina Garcia Frasco , is a Filipino politician serving as Secretary of Tourism since June 30, 2022. She was the mayor of Liloan, Cebu from 2016 to 2022.

The National Parks Development Committee ( NPDC ) is an agency of the Department of Tourism (DOT) of the Philippines that is mandated to develop, preserve, and manage Rizal Park (Luneta) and Paco Park in Manila and other parks that may be assigned to it. Its main office is located in the Old Planetarium Building, Padre Burgos Avenue, Rizal Park, Ermita, Manila. Both the Executive Director and the Deputy Executive Director are appointed by the President of the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Presidency of Bongbong Marcos</span> Philippine presidential administration from 2022 to present

The presidency of Bongbong Marcos began at noon on June 30, 2022, following his inauguration as the 17th president of the Philippines, succeeding Rodrigo Duterte. His term is expected to expire six years later, on June 30, 2028. He entered into office amid the COVID-19 pandemic, an economic crisis, and the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love the Philippines</span> Tourism marketing campaign of the Philippines

Love the Philippines is the tourism marketing campaign of the Philippines since June 2023.

  • ↑ Audrey Morallo (May 8, 2018). "Duterte appoints DA usec as new Tourism chief" . Philippine Star . Retrieved February 19, 2020 .
  • ↑ "CA confirms Bernadette Romulo Puyat as tourism secretary" . Rappler. May 30, 2018 . Retrieved February 19, 2020 .
  • ↑ Mercado, Neil Arwin (May 30, 2022). "Erwin Tulfo to serve as DSWD secretary; 4 other Marcos Cabinet members named" . Inquirer.net . Retrieved May 31, 2022 .
  • ↑ Rivas, Ralf (July 11, 2023). "Frasco goes on leave; DOT says this was planned before rebranding mess" . Rappler . Retrieved October 29, 2023 .
  • ↑ Frasco took a leave of absence between July 13-21, 2023 amidst the rebranding controversy, with Undersecretary Elaine Bathan deputizing as OIC [5]
  • Department of Tourism Philippines website
  • DFPC website

Department of Commerce

Commerce.gov

Department of commerce, u.s. secretary of commerce penny pritzker delivers remarks at 2016 world travel & tourism council global summit.

Apr 06 2016

Posted at 4:39 PM

Office of Public Affairs

Penny Pritzker

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker delivered keynote remarks at the 2016 World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit. The Summit is an international forum for public and private sector leaders to discuss issues facing the travel and tourism sector.

During her remarks, Secretary Pritzker discussed the Obama Administration’s National Travel and Tourism Strategy and the Commerce Department’s role in making progress toward national travel and tourism goals. She also discussed the industry’s impact on the U.S. economy.

After delivering her remarks, Secretary Pritzker participated in a discussion on the United States' commitment to public-private partnerships in the travel and tourism sector with President and CEO of Marriott Arne Sorenson, who serves as the Vice-Chair of the President’s Export Council (PEC) and chair of Brand USA.

Remarks As Prepared For Delivery

Thank you, Nick Ross, for that warm introduction.  It is great to be here in Dallas. I have been coming here for almost 40 years, and I have seen this city transform into a real capital of the arts. If you have a free moment, make sure to visit the Dallas Museum of Art and the Nasher Sculpture Garden while you are here. Their collections are truly world class.

I am honored to join so many leaders of the global travel and tourism industry, including my good friend Arne Sorenson.  Arne and I have known each other for years. Our paths seem to cross all the time these days, most recently during President Obama’s historic trip to Cuba two weeks ago.  As vice-chair of the President’s Export Council and chair of Brand USA, he is a source of invaluable guidance to our Department.  It is because of private sector partners like Arne that this Administration has been able to ensure the United States remains the world leader in travel and tourism receipts.

Let me begin today by reminding us of the state of the travel and tourism industry 8 years ago. The global economy was in crisis. Faced with financial insecurity, people all over the world cancelled their business travel and their vacations. They just stayed home. In 2009, about 40 million fewer people globally visited another country.

Here in the United States, fewer Americans traveled abroad, and fewer visitors came to our shores. Overall international visitation to the U.S. fell 5 percent from 2008 to 2009. Furthermore, our country suffered from a global image problem, and we had no coordinated national travel and tourism branding efforts to combat this reality. By 2011, visa interview wait times were more than 100 days in certain high volume markets. Our international arrivals process created wait times as long as 4 hours at some airports.

President Obama knew this was unacceptable. He was focused on turning our economy around and saw travel and tourism as a strategic industry with tremendous potential for growth and for creating high-quality jobs. He made it a priority that travel and tourism would once again become a pillar of our economy.

In 2012, the President tasked the Department of Commerce and the Department of the Interior with developing the National Travel and Tourism Strategy. It is hard to believe that this was the first time ever the United States government had developed and implemented a thoughtful, comprehensive approach to attracting more visitors to our nation. Four years later, our efforts are paying huge dividends.

As part of this strategy, we set an ambitious goal of welcoming 100 million international visitors annually to our shores by the end of 2021. Today, I am pleased to report that we are on track to meet our goal. We estimate that 75.3 million people from around the world visited the United States in 2015, up from 55 million in 2009, a 37 percent increase. These visitors spent a record $217 billion on goods and services, supporting 1.1 million U.S. jobs and representing the United States’ number one services export.

Beyond the numbers, we are making it easier to travel to and through the United States and improving our customer service by: expanding Trusted Traveler programs like Global Entry and establishing preclearance agreements with multiple countries; lowering visa wait times from over 100 days to less than 5 in key markets such as China and Brazil; and extending visa validity with China from one to 10 years, leading to a 53 percent increase in visas in the first year alone. As I hope many of you noticed after your flights landed in the United States, we are significantly improving the arrivals process and working to provide a best in class experience.            

The National Travel and Tourism Strategy is working because it was developed, in part, with extensive input from the private sector. In the United States, our government and our private sector have long collaborated on travel and tourism. But in the past, we lacked a comprehensive approach. This time, we had a shared vision and a unified set of goals.

We knew the private sector needed a single point of contact within the federal government. So we created a National Travel and Tourism Office within the Department of Commerce and appointed a senior-level executive, Kelly Craighead, as our lead. We also reinvigorated the Tourism Policy Council, a group of nine federal agencies that I chair as Secretary. This lets us take a whole-of-government approach to travel and tourism and allows me to bring the voice of business to our policy making. Put simply, business thrives when government and industry work together.                                                         

One of President Obama’s first acts when he took office was to sign a bill he had supported as a senator: the Travel Promotion Act, which created Brand USA. Led by a board of industry leaders who work with my department, other federal agencies, and nearly 500 public and private partners, this first-of-its-kind organization uses innovative marketing approaches to show the world all the United States offers as a travel destination. Brand USA is promoting the United States as never before. They are working with the Commerce Department and our federal partners in extraordinary ways.

The organization is now active in more than two dozen international markets and partners directly with destinations and attractions to inspire visitation to all 50 states, 5 territories, and the District of Columbia. Their innovative strategies include the production of a large-screen film on America’s National Parks to complement the National Park Services’ centennial year. This film will premiere this spring in theaters in all of our top markets. Brand USA is also playing a critical role in our efforts to bring more Chinese visitors to the United States as part of our U.S.-China Year of Tourism.

Along with marketing, our industry partners are essential to identifying and elevating issues that affect travel and tourism.  We rely on the expertise of our Department’s Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, comprised of 32 private sector leaders, many of whom are here today. This board provides our government with advice on travel and tourism matters. For example, they gave us invaluable advice on how to provide a best in class arrivals experience.

Guided by feedback from customer services experts from Marriott, Universal, and Enterprise, we developed ways to measure our progress. To speed up the arrival process, industry worked with the Department of Homeland Security to install new kiosks and implement mobile technology. And we created Airport-Specific Action Plans that simplify and streamline the entry process at our top 17 airports while maintaining the highest standards of national security.

That last point – security – is particularly salient given recent events such as the horrific terror attacks in Brussels. Everyone in this room understands how tourism is negatively impacted when visitors do not feel safe.  Hospitality and national security are not mutually exclusive. We cannot afford to let security challenges stop the great progress we have made in recent years. Providing a welcoming experience while ensuring safety and security requires all of us to work together.

Just as the private sector is making destinations and attractions more secure, our government is also evolving our policies and programs. One of the ways we are doing this in the United States is by strengthening and expanding the Visa Waiver Program. But we cannot do it alone. This program is at risk, and we need your help.

The Visa Waiver Program supports the efficient and secure visa-free movement of travelers across 38 partner countries. Indeed, travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries represent 60 percent of overseas visitors to the U.S., contributing significantly to both our economy and the economies of partner nations.  But given the presence of foreign fighters in visa waiver countries, it is clear that this program will have to evolve rapidly if it is to remain effective as a security program. We need your help to serve as advocates to your governments.  I ask you to push for changes that will strengthen and preserve the Visa Waiver Program, so it can continue to facilitate legitimate travel between our nations.

Partner governments must significantly advance their willingness and capabilities to collect, use, and share information to screen travelers. We must develop international systems to share data, including passenger name records, so that we can expedite processing of known and trusted travelers. We also need to ensure that our governments are taking advantage of systems already in place, such as checking documents against INTERPOL’s lost and stolen passport records. These changes are important not only to the visa waiver program but also to making legitimate travel as smooth and efficient as possible across all nations.

As I mentioned at the beginning, two weeks ago, Arne and I visited Havana with President Obama.  During his remarks to the Cuban people, the President said that we are encouraging more travel between our countries because – and I quote – travel will “build bridges between our people.” Travel builds bridges.  It strengthens economies.  It creates deeper ties between nations. It gives citizens all over the globe a new perspective.  And yes, travel can even work hand-in-hand with national security.

This Administration wants to see even more people visit our beautiful country. Working together with the private sector, we will continue to make sure the world knows that America is open for visitors and open for business. Thank you.

official_photo_secretary_penny_pritzker.jpg

Portrait of Secretary Penny Pritzker

Organizations and Groups

  • International Trade Administration
  • Secretary of Commerce

Related content

Feb 28 2014

U.S. Travel and Tourism Industry Sets New Export Record in 2013

Mar 25 2014

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker Announces New Travel and Tourism Advisory Board Members

Feb 13 2015

airport_sign.png

Report to the President on America&#039;s National Travel and Tourism Goal

Report to the President on America’s National Travel and Tourism Goal

Bureaus & offices.

  • Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
  • Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)
  • U.S. Census Bureau (Census)
  • Economic Development Administration (EDA)
  • Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA)
  • International Trade Administration (ITA)
  • Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
  • National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS)
  • National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
  • National Ocean Service (NOS)
  • National Weather Service (NWS)
  • Oceanic & Atmostpheric Research (OAR)
  • Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO)
  • National Technical Information Service (NTIS)
  • First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet)
  • United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
  • Office of the Chief of Staff
  • Shared Services
  • Office of General Counsel (OGC)
  • Office of Executive Secretariat
  • Office of Public Affairs (OPA)
  • Native American Affairs
  • Office of Business Liaison (OBL)
  • Office of Policy and Strategic Planning (OPSP)
  • Office of White House Liaison
  • Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships
  • Office of Inspector General (OIG)
  • Office of the Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary for Administration (CFO/ASA)
  • Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO)
  • Enterprise Services

Search Menu

Learn about commerce.

  • Environment
  • Operational Excellence
  • Trade and Investment
  • Organizational Chart
  • Commerce Leadership
  • Bureaus and Offices
  • Commerce Services & Offices Near You
  • Grant and Contract Opportunities
  • Career Opportunities and Internships
  • Commerce History
  • Frequently Asked Questions

Browse by Topic

Find offices, explore data.

  • Data Set Catalog
  • Commerce Data Service
  • Data Usability Tutorials
  • Information for Developers
  • Digital Strategy
  • Press Releases
  • The Commerce Blog
  • Secretary Speeches
  • Deputy Secretary Speeches
  • Opinion Editorials
  • Fact Sheets
  • Media Contacts

View Photos & Videos

Provide feedback, search form.

Person finder

Advanced search

Las Vegas News

  • Entertainment
  • Investigations
  • 2024 Election
  • What Are They Hiding?
  • Clark County
  • Nation and World
  • Science and Technology
  • Road Warrior
  • Las Vegas Weather
  • East Valley
  • North Las Vegas
  • Summerlin/Centennial Hills
  • Remembering Oct. 1, 2017
  • Deborah Wall
  • Natalie Burt
  • Remembering Jeff German
  • Police Accountability
  • Alpine Fire
  • 100 Years of Growth
  • Dangerous Driving
  • Raiders News
  • Golden Knights
  • UNLV Football
  • UNLV Basketball
  • Nevada Preps
  • Sports Betting 101
  • Las Vegas Sportsbooks
  • National Finals Rodeo
  • Where Are They Now?
  • On TV/Radio
  • MMA and UFC
  • Casinos & Gaming
  • Conventions
  • Inside Gaming
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Real Estate News
  • Business Press
  • Sheldon Adelson (1933-2021)
  • Debra J. Saunders
  • Michael Ramirez cartoons
  • Victor Joecks
  • Richard A. Epstein
  • Victor Davis Hanson
  • Drawing Board
  • Homicide Tracker
  • Faces of Death Row
  • Kats’ Cool Hangs
  • Arts & Culture
  • Home and Garden
  • Las Vegas Hiking Guide
  • RJ Magazine
  • Latest Headlines
  • Today’s Obituaries
  • Submit an obit
  • Dealer News
  • Classifieds
  • Place a Classified Ad
  • Provided Content
  • Real Estate Millions
  • Internships
  • Service Directory
  • Transportation
  • Merchandise
  • Legal Information
  • Real Estate Classifieds
  • Garage Sales
  • Contests and Promotions
  • Best of Las Vegas
  • Nevada State Bank
  • Verizon Business
  • P3 Health Partners
  • Adult Health
  • Star Nursery
  • Partner Articles
  • Ignite Funding
  • Supplements
  • Travel Nevada
  • Subscriptions
  • Newsletters
  • Advertise with Us

icon-x

  • >> Business
  • >> Tourism

Mexico’s tourism secretary ‘sets record straight’ on campaign rhetoric at Las Vegas meeting

As Mexico has been referenced on the U.S. campaign trail, the bordering nation has increased outreach to the U.S. through various ministers.

icon-x

As Mexico has been referenced on the U.S. campaign trail, the bordering nation has increased outreach to the United States through various ministers.

Enrique de la Madrid Cordero, Mexico’s secretary of tourism, met with Las Vegas business owners, politicians and members of the media last week to emphasize the relevance of the U.S.-Mexico relationship and “set the record straight” regarding certain campaign rhetoric.

Madrid Cordero did not name any U.S. presidential candidates but said that Mexico wanted to build bridges, not “build walls.”

“We realized because of the (U.S.) election that the image that the American people have of Mexico is not fair, that it has been portrayed as if we’re an enemy or part of a problem,” Madrid Cordero said during an interview at the Mexican consul’s office in Las Vegas. “Many of the references with respect to Mexico are not correct and so we have to set the record straight.”

Cordero added that Mexican companies are becoming more visible in the U.S., referencing the Mexican company Grupo Bimbo, which owns bread brands Sara Lee and Thomas, common on U.S. supermarket shelves.

“We’re not only recipients of investment on the side of the U.S. but we’re also now investing in the U.S., and we’re also investing in providing jobs for the American people,” said Madrid Cordero.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has often referenced the North American Free Trade Agreement in speeches as a catastrophe for U.S. workers.

While acknowledging that more than 4.5 million U.S. manufacturing jobs have been lost since the implementation of NAFTA in 1994, Madrid Cordero said most of the jobs have been lost to automation on the part of companies and not because plants are moving to Mexico.

Madrid Cordero expressed concern that negative campaign rhetoric could affect tourism to and from Mexico.

According to data from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Mexico is the second largest market for international visitation after Canada. In 2015, Las Vegas welcomed 2,785,250 visitors from Mexico.

“For Mexicans to continue coming to Nevada or to Las Vegas for tourism, we have to perceive that we are being treated fairly,” said Madrid Cordero.

Mexico’s growing population and middle class would result in more tourism for the U.S., he said.

“This is a good business opportunity on both sides of the border.”

Contact Alexander S. Corey at [email protected] or 702-383-0270. Follow @acoreynews on Twitter.

Wave goodbye to most limits on US-Mexico flights

Southwest to offer one-stop flights from Las Vegas to Mexico

Big residential development may be coming to south Las Vegas

Wendy Womack of Texas inserts $1 coins into a machine in Slots A Fun, the revamped slots area h ...

The casino is hoping to lure gamblers from other properties on the Las Vegas Strip with its revamped area for coin-operated slot machines.

tourism secretary 2016

You have a chance to own a piece of the Las Vegas Strip, if you have millions of dollars lying around.

Spy Ninja HQ, the World's First YouTuber Theme Park, pictured, on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in L ...

Chad Wild Clay and Vy Qwaint have 44 million YouTube fans between them. Now, they’ve opened an indoor theme park to bring the show to life for fans.

tourism secretary 2016

The Transportation Security Administration demonstrated a prototype passenger screening system being tested this year at Harry Reid International Airport.

The fountains of Bellagio erupt along the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas in April. (AP Photo/John ...

Somebody is going to get to choreograph a Bellagio fountains show thanks to a long-delayed licensing partnership between MGM Resorts International and Marriott International.

tourism secretary 2016

Room rates for the 66-year-old Tropicana, set to close on April 2, are at a premium for the last four days in operation.

This undated illustration provided by Brightline West shows the Brightline West High Speed Rail ...

Former Nevada Sen. Harry Reid — the same person for whom our airport is named — had a pivotal role in backing high-speed rail instead of an innovative maglev project.

tourism secretary 2016

The ride, which is now open, was designed to appeal to both children and adults, according to Circus Circus.

tourism secretary 2016

The CES, World of Concrete and SHOT shows helped attract 557,200 people to Southern Nevada to boost January visitation to 3.4 million.

tourism secretary 2016

Toronto-based Porter Airlines began flying to the U.S. West Coast in January and soon starts daily round-trip nonstop flights to Harry Reid International.

Police identify teen who died in double-fatal crash in east Las Vegas

Sustainable tourism

Related sdgs, promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable ....

tourism secretary 2016

Description

Publications.

Tourism is one of the world's fastest growing industries and an important source of foreign exchange and employment, while being closely linked to the social, economic, and environmental well-being of many countries, especially developing countries. Maritime or ocean-related tourism, as well as coastal tourism, are for example vital sectors of the economy in small island developing States (SIDS) and coastal least developed countries (LDCs) (see also: The Potential of the Blue Economy report as well as the Community of Ocean Action on sustainable blue economy).

The World Tourism Organization defines sustainable tourism as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities".

Based on General assembly resolution 70/193, 2017 was declared as the  International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.

In the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development SDG target 8.9, aims to “by 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products”. The importance of sustainable tourism is also highlighted in SDG target 12.b. which aims to “develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products”.

Tourism is also identified as one of the tools to “by 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries” as comprised in SDG target 14.7.

In the Rio+20 outcome document The Future We want, sustainable tourism is defined by paragraph 130 as a significant contributor “to the three dimensions of sustainable development” thanks to its close linkages to other sectors and its ability to create decent jobs and generate trade opportunities. Therefore, Member States recognize “the need to support sustainable tourism activities and relevant capacity-building that promote environmental awareness, conserve and protect the environment, respect wildlife, flora, biodiversity, ecosystems and cultural diversity, and improve the welfare and livelihoods of local communities by supporting their local economies and the human and natural environment as a whole. ” In paragraph 130, Member States also “call for enhanced support for sustainable tourism activities and relevant capacity-building in developing countries in order to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development”.

In paragraph 131, Member States “encourage the promotion of investment in sustainable tourism, including eco-tourism and cultural tourism, which may include creating small- and medium-sized enterprises and facilitating access to finance, including through microcredit initiatives for the poor, indigenous peoples and local communities in areas with high eco-tourism potential”. In this regard, Member States also “underline the importance of establishing, where necessary, appropriate guidelines and regulations in accordance with national priorities and legislation for promoting and supporting sustainable tourism”.

In 2002, the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg called for the promotion of sustainable tourism development, including non-consumptive and eco-tourism, in Chapter IV, paragraph 43 of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.

At the Johannesburg Summit, the launch of the “Sustainable Tourism – Eliminating Poverty (ST-EP) initiative was announced. The initiative was inaugurated by the World Tourism Organization, in collaboration with UNCTAD, in order to develop sustainable tourism as a force for poverty alleviation.

The UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) last reviewed the issue of sustainable tourism in 2001, when it was acting as the Preparatory Committee for the Johannesburg Summit.

The importance of sustainable tourism was also mentioned in Agenda 21.

For more information and documents on this topic,  please visit this link

UNWTO Annual Report 2015

2015 was a landmark year for the global community. In September, the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a universal agenda for planet and people. Among the 17 SDGs and 169 associated targets, tourism is explicitly featured in Goa...

UNWTO Annual Report 2016

In December 2015, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. This is a unique opportunity to devote a year to activities that promote the transformational power of tourism to help us reach a better future. This important cele...

Emerging Issues for Small Island Developing States

The 2012 UNEP Foresight Process on Emerging Global Environmental Issues primarily identified emerging environmental issues and possible solutions on a global scale and perspective. In 2013, UNEP carried out a similar exercise to identify priority emerging environmental issues that are of concern to ...

Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

This Agenda is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. It also seeks to strengthen universal peace in larger freedom, We recognize that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for su...

15 Years of the UNWTO World Tourism Network on Child Protection: A Compilation of Good Practices

Although it is widely recognized that tourism is not the cause of child exploitation, it can aggravate the problem when parts of its infrastructure, such as transport networks and accommodation facilities, are exploited by child abusers for nefarious ends. Additionally, many other factors that contr...

Towards Measuring the Economic Value of Wildlife Watching Tourism in Africa

Set against the backdrop of the ongoing poaching crisis driven by a dramatic increase in the illicit trade in wildlife products, this briefing paper intends to support the ongoing efforts of African governments and the broader international community in the fight against poaching. Specifically, this...

Status and Trends of Caribbean Coral Reefs: 1970-2012

Previous Caribbean assessments lumped data together into a single database regardless of geographic location, reef environment, depth, oceanographic conditions, etc. Data from shallow lagoons and back reef environments were combined with data from deep fore-reef environments and atolls. Geographic c...

Natural Resources Forum: Special Issue Tourism

The journal considers papers on all topics relevant to sustainable development. In addition, it dedicates series, issues and special sections to specific themes that are relevant to the current discussions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD)....

Thailand: Supporting Sustainable Development in Thailand: A Geographic Clusters Approach

Market forces and government policies, including the Tenth National Development Plan (2007-2012), are moving Thailand toward a more geographically specialized economy. There is a growing consensus that Thailand’s comparative and competitive advantages lie in amenity services that have high reliance...

Road Map on Building a Green Economy for Sustainable Development in Carriacou and Petite Martinique, Grenada

This publication is the product of an international study led by the Division for Sustainable Development (DSD) of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) in cooperation with the Ministry of Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs and the Ministry of Environment, Foreig...

Natural Resources Forum, a United Nations Sustainable Development Journal (NRF)

&nbsp; Natural Resources Forum, a United Nations Sustainable Development Journal,&nbsp;seeks to address gaps in current knowledge&nbsp;and stimulate relevant policy discussions, leading to the implementation of&nbsp;the sustainable development agenda&nbsp;and the achievement of&nbsp;the Sustainable...

UN Ocean Conference 2025

Our Ocean, Our Future, Our Responsibility “The ocean is fundamental to life on our planet and to our future. The ocean is an important source of the planet’s biodiversity and plays a vital role in the climate system and water cycle. The ocean provides a range of ecosystem services, supplies us with

UN Ocean Conference 2022

The UN Ocean Conference 2022, co-hosted by the Governments of Kenya and Portugal, came at a critical time as the world was strengthening its efforts to mobilize, create and drive solutions to realize the 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

58th Session of the Commission for Social Development – CSocD58

22nd general assembly of the united nations world tourism organization, world tourism day 2017 official celebration.

This year’s World Tourism Day, held on 27 September, will be focused on Sustainable Tourism – a Tool for Development. Celebrated in line with the 2017 International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, the Day will be dedicated to exploring the contribution of tourism to the Sustainable Deve

World Tourism Day 2016 Official Celebration

Accessible Tourism for all is about the creation of environments that can cater for the needs of all of us, whether we are traveling or staying at home. May that be due to a disability, even temporary, families with small children, or the ageing population, at some point in our lives, sooner or late

4th Global Summit on City Tourism

The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the Regional Council for Tourism of Marrakesh with support of the Government of Morroco are organizing the 4th Global Summit on City Tourism in Marrakesh, Morroco (9-10 December 2015). International experts in city tourism, representatives of city DMOs, of

2nd Euro-Asian Mountain Resorts Conference

The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and Ulsan Metropolitan City with support of the Government of the Republic of Korea are organizing the 2nd Euro-Asian Mountain Resorts Conference, in Ulsan, Republic of Korea (14 - 16 October 2015). Under the title “Paving the Way for a Bright Future for Mounta

21st General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization

Unwto regional conference enhancing brand africa - fostering tourism development.

Tourism is one of the Africa’s most promising sectors in terms of development, and represents a major opportunity to foster inclusive development, increase the region’s participation in the global economy and generate revenues for investment in other activities, including environmental preservation.

  • January 2017 International Year of Tourism In the context of the universal 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the International Year aims to support a change in policies, business practices and consumer behavior towards a more sustainable tourism sector that can contribute to the SDGs.
  • January 2015 Targets 8.9, 12 b,14.7 The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development commits Member States, through Sustainable Development Goal Target 8.9 to “devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products”. The importance of sustainable tourism, as a driver for jobs creation and the promotion of local culture and products, is also highlighted in Sustainable Development Goal target 12.b. Tourism is also identified as one of the tools to “increase [by 2030] the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries”, through Sustainable Development Goals Target 14.7.
  • January 2012 Future We Want (Para 130-131) Sustainable tourism is defined as a significant contributor “to the three dimensions of sustainable development” thanks to its close linkages to other sectors and its ability to create decent jobs and generate trade opportunities. Therefore, Member States recognize “the need to support sustainable tourism activities and relevant capacity-building that promote environmental awareness, conserve and protect the environment, respect wildlife, flora, biodiversity, ecosystems and cultural diversity, and improve the welfare and livelihoods of local communities” as well as to “encourage the promotion of investment in sustainable tourism, including eco-tourism and cultural tourism, which may include creating small and medium sized enterprises and facilitating access to finance, including through microcredit initiatives for the poor, indigenous peoples and local communities in areas with high eco-tourism potential”.
  • January 2009 Roadmap for Recovery UNWTO announced in March 2009 the elaboration of a Roadmap for Recovery to be finalized by UNWTO’s General Assembly, based on seven action points. The Roadmap includes a set of 15 recommendations based on three interlocking action areas: resilience, stimulus, green economy aimed at supporting the tourism sector and the global economy.
  • January 2008 Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria The Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria represent the minimum requirements any tourism business should observe in order to ensure preservation and respect of the natural and cultural resources and make sure at the same time that tourism potential as tool for poverty alleviation is enforced. The Criteria are 41 and distributed into four different categories: 1) sustainability management, 2) social and economic 3) cultural 4) environmental.
  • January 2003 WTO becomes a UN specialized body By Resolution 453 (XV), the Assembly agreed on the transformation of the WTO into a United Nations specialized body. Such transformation was later ratified by the United Nations General Assembly with the adoption of Resolution A/RES/58/232.
  • January 2003 1st Int. Conf. on Climate Change and Tourism The conference was organized in order to gather tourism authorities, organizations, businesses and scientists to discuss on the impact that climate change can have on the tourist sector. The event took place from 9 till 11 April 2003 in Djerba, Tunisia.
  • January 2002 World Ecotourism Summit Held in May 2002, in Quebec City, Canada, the Summit represented the most important event in the framework of the International Year of Ecosystem. The Summit identified as main themes: ecotourism policy and planning, regulation of ecotourism, product development, marketing and promotion of ecotourism and monitoring costs and benefits of ecotourism.
  • January 1985 Tourism Bill of Rights and Tourist Code At the World Tourism Organization Sixth Assembly held in Sofia in 1985, the Tourism Bill of Rights and Tourist Code were adopted, setting out the rights and duties of tourists and host populations and formulating policies and action for implementation by states and the tourist industry.
  • January 1982 Acapulco Document Adopted in 1982, the Acapulco Document acknowledges the new dimension and role of tourism as a positive instrument towards the improvement of the quality of life for all peoples, as well as a significant force for peace and international understanding. The Acapulco Document also urges Member States to elaborate their policies, plans and programmes on tourism, in accordance with their national priorities and within the framework of the programme of work of the World Tourism Organization.

We’re sorry, this site is currently experiencing technical difficulties. Please try again in a few moments. Exception: request blocked

Tourism secretary: No more 'mall cops' at state museums

BATON ROUGE — Do you want “Barney Fife” guarding Napoleon’s death mask at the Cabildo museum in New Orleans, the site of the Louisiana Purchase transfer ceremony in 1803?

Louisiana Tourism Secretary Robert Barham said he wants “real police” protecting the state’s most valuable exhibits at the Cabildo and the other state museums under his watch.

Senate Bill 277 by Sen. Wesley Bishop, D-New Orleans, authorizes the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, an agency within the lieutenant governor’s office, to hire law enforcement officers to protect visitors and displays at the museums.

READ MORE :  Still on candid camera: Body camera bill watered down

“No offense, but I don’t think mall cops are sufficient,” Barham said in an interview before Bishop’s bill was reported favorably by the Senate Judiciary B Committee here Tuesday.

Barham repeated his “mall cops” characterization again during testimony at the committee hearing on the bill.

“We store and display the state’s most priceless artifacts and have more than a quarter million visitors a year in these museums,” Barham said. “We take that responsibility very seriously.”

Barham assured committee members the request isn’t designed to cost the state more money. “We already have authorized law enforcement rangers in our parks; we should have them in our museums,” the secretary said.

The bill next moves to the full Senate.

Follow Greg Hilburn on Twitter @GregHilburn1

More from the legislature

  • $184M in cuts to contracts to fund TOPS pushed through committee
  • Discussion on anti-LGBT discrimination bill deferred
  • Surprise: Deficit drops from $750M to $600M

We’re sorry, this site is currently experiencing technical difficulties. Please try again in a few moments. Exception: request blocked

Donald Trump wins the Republican presidential primary in Minnesota

WASHINGTON -- Donald Trump wins the Republican presidential primary in Minnesota.

Top Stories

tourism secretary 2016

Southwest defends new seat redesign after social media backlash

  • Mar 7, 10:19 AM

tourism secretary 2016

Senate averts partial government shutdown, advances 6 major funding bills

  • 3 hours ago

tourism secretary 2016

3 killed, 1 injured in National Guard copter crash near US-Mexico border: Officials

  • 39 minutes ago

tourism secretary 2016

'Nightmare': Sen. Katie Britt paints bleak picture of America in GOP response

  • Mar 8, 12:54 AM

tourism secretary 2016

Fulton County prosecutor Fani Willis and judge in Trump 2020 election case draw primary challengers

  • Mar 8, 2:51 PM

ABC News Live

24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events

UN Tourism | Bringing the world closer

  • All Regions

Thailand and Qatar official hosts of World Tourism Day 2016 and 2017

Share this content.

  • Share this article on facebook
  • Share this article on twitter
  • Share this article on linkedin

PR No. : PR15062_2

Thailand and Qatar have been selected to be the official host countries for World Tourism Day (WTD) in 2016 and 2017 respectively, at the 21st UNWTO General Assembly in Medellín, Colombia (17 September 2015).

“I am looking forward to celebrating World Tourism Day in collaboration with these two prominent UNWTO Member States: Thailand, one of the world’s most visited destinations where tourism is a rooted part of society and Qatar, a prominent, emerging tourism destination ”, said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai.

“Tourism must be in the forefront of national development plans. In 2017 we will arrange an event that will carry this message to the world”, said the representative of the Qatar Tourism Authority.

“The Thai government would like to express sincere thanks to the Assembly for the opportunity to host World Tourism Day in 2016 and we will do our best to live up to our slogan and show you the Amazing Thailand”, said the representative of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Thailand. Celebrated annually on 27 September, World Tourism Day aims to foster awareness among the global community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value.

WTD 2015 will be celebrated under the theme “One billion tourists, one billion opportunities”, highlighting the tourism sector’s vast potential to be an agent for positive change in countries and communities around the world.

Useful links:

World Tourism Day

21st UNWTO General Assembly  (available in English and Spanish)

UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme

Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218

Related Content

no img

Kingdom of Morocco Wins High-Level Vote To Host Next Wo...

no img

Tourism has ‘Life-Changing Potential’ - World Tourism O...

no img

The World Tourism Organization and Globalia launch the ...

no img

World Tourism Organization General Assembly Opens With ...

IMAGES

  1. New Philippine tourism secretary Frasco to go on a 'listening tour

    tourism secretary 2016

  2. TTG

    tourism secretary 2016

  3. V Vidyavath is the new Tourism Secretary

    tourism secretary 2016

  4. PROFILE: Tourism Secretary Cristina Frasco

    tourism secretary 2016

  5. STATEMENT OF TOURISM SECRETARY CHRISTINA GARCIA FRASCO ON THE LIFTING

    tourism secretary 2016

  6. Tourism secretary gets more support

    tourism secretary 2016

COMMENTS

  1. Wanda Tulfo Teo

    St. Theresa's College (Quezon City) Occupation. Businessperson. Wanda Corazon Teshiba Tulfo-Teo [1] ( Tagalog: [ˈtulpɔ ˈteɔ]; born November 4, 1952) is a Filipino travel agent who served as Secretary of the Philippines ' Department of Tourism under the Duterte administration from July 2016 until her resignation on May 8, 2018.

  2. Bernadette Romulo-Puyat

    Bernadette Fatima Tecson Romulo-Puyat (born May 14, 1971) is a Filipino government official, economist, and academic who served as the Secretary of Tourism under the Duterte administration from May 2018 to June 2022, heading the Philippines' Tourism industry through the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines.She has since been appointed Deputy Governor of the Bangko ...

  3. Secretary of Tourism (Philippines)

    Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article. (July 2012) The secretary of tourism ( Filipino: Kalihim ng Turismo) is the head of the Department of Tourism and is a member of the president's Cabinet. [1] The current secretary is Christina Frasco, who assumed office on June 30, 2022.

  4. Congress Passes Much-Awaited Funding for Assistant Secretary for Travel

    U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman issued the following statement on the U.S. Senate passage of six government funding bills, which include funding for the office of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism—following months of persistent advocacy from the U.S. travel industry: "Funding this critical position is a step in ensuring the long-term global ...

  5. UNWTO Annual Report 2016

    2016 was a momentous year for tourism. International tourist arrivals continued their upward trajectory in their seventh straight year of above-average growth despite many challenges, reaching 1.2 billion. Download the 2016 UNWTO Annual Report to learn more about what we did to promote and advance tourism's contribution to sustainable ...

  6. Tourism to account for 20% of jobs by 2016: official

    Tourism is expected to contribute 11% to the Philippines' GDP and provide up over 18% of total jobs by 2016, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. says

  7. Cesar Montano sworn in as Tourism Promotions Board head

    In this Dec. 20, 2016 photo, Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo swears in Cesar Montano as Tourism Promotions Board COO. Department of Tourism/Released. MANILA, Philippines — Actor Cesar Montano is ...

  8. Interview: UNWTO Secretary-General on the World-Changing Power ...

    Only last year, we had a 4.5% growth, which means an additional 15 million over the year 2014, to make the total number 1.2 billion international travelers crossing boarders every year. It's ...

  9. New tourism secretary cites accomplishments in first 50 days

    Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Tulfo-Teo on Friday cited the agency's accomplishments in the first 50 days of the Duterte administration. Among the Tourism Department's achievements since June 30 were the the scrapping of the "processing fee" for the issuance of certificates of travel tax exemption and reduced travel tax that took effect on July 25, […]

  10. world tourism organization

    2016 was a momentous year for tourism. International tourist arrivals continued their upward trajectory in their seventh straight ... Secretary-General, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) 5. Tourism and the SDGs In late 2015, world leaders agreed upon 17 Sustainable

  11. Secretary-General's message to First World Conference on Tourism for

    Beijing, China 18 May 2016 Secretary-General's message to First World Conference on Tourism for Development [delivered by Mr. Wu Hongbo, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs]

  12. Secretary of Tourism (Philippines)

    The secretary of tourism (Filipino: Kalihim ng Turismo) is the head of the Department of Tourism and is a member of the president's Cabinet. Secretary of Tourism (Philippines) - WikiMili, The Best Wikipedia Reader ... presidential election on May 9, 2016. Duterte topped the official count by the Congress of the Philippines on May 27, 2016, with ...

  13. World Tourism Day 2016: Tourism leaders commit to advance ...

    On the occasion of World Tourism Day 2016 participants adopted the Bangkok Declaration on Tourism For All, a document resulting from a consultation process involving governments, the private sector, civil society organizations and accessibility experts. The Declaration calls upon all stakeholders to advance policies and business actions that ...

  14. Ramon Jimenez Jr.

    Ramon Reyes Jimenez Jr. (July 14, 1955 - April 27, 2020) sometimes known as Monet or Mon Jimenez, was a Filipino advertising executive who previously served in the Cabinet of the Philippines as Secretary of Tourism from 2011 to 2016 during the presidency of Benigno Aquino III. He was appointed as the country's tourism chief following the resignation of Alberto Lim, and during his six-year ...

  15. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker Delivers Remarks at 2016

    Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker delivered keynote remarks at the 2016 World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit. The Summit is an international forum for public and private sector leaders to discuss issues facing the travel and tourism sector.

  16. Where's that U.S. tourism secretary? Travel groups push to see role

    Both U.S. Travel and ASTA, two groups that lobbied hard to get the position created, say members of the travel industry should continue to keep the position at the forefront of their advocacy ...

  17. Mexico's tourism secretary 'sets record straight' on campaign rhetoric

    Secretary of Tourism for Mexico Enrique de la Madrid Cordero speaks with a reporter inside the Mexican Consulate in downtown Las Vegas on Monday, Oct. 24, 2016.

  18. Sustainable tourism

    World Tourism Day 2016 Official Celebration. Accessible Tourism for all is about the creation of environments that can cater for the needs of all of us, whether we are traveling or staying at home. ... A/70/224 - Report of the Secretary-General on Global code of ethics for tourism: Secretary-General Reports : 31-Jul-2015 : A/70/215 ...

  19. Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the UN Tourism

    Zurab Pololikashvili has been Secretary-General of the UN Tourism since January 2018.Prior to this, he worked in a number of high-level roles in both the private and public sectors. After graduating with a degree in banking, Mr. Pololikashvili gained extensive experience in the private sector, including with a prominent role in one of Georgia's biggest banks and as CEO of the country's ...

  20. Readout of Meeting of the 2024 U.S.-Turkiye Digital Dialogue

    Secretary Blinken's Travel to Türkiye, Greece, Jordan, Qatar, U.A.E., Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank, and Egypt; Number of Turkish Students in the United States Continues to Grow; U.S. Astronaut Inspires Turkish Students to "Reach for the Stars" in STEM Fields Speeches

  21. UN Tourism

    UN Tourism (UNWTO until 2023) is a specialized agency of the United Nations which promotes responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.Its headquarters are based in Madrid, Spain.Other offices include: a Regional Support Office for Asia and the Pacific in Nara, Japan and a Regional Office for West Asia in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.. UN Tourism promotes tourism and serves as a global ...

  22. Tourism secretary: No more 'mall cops' at state museums

    Louisiana Tourism Secretary Robert Barham said he wants "real police" protecting the state's most valuable exhibits at the Cabildo and the other state museums under his watch. Senate Bill ...

  23. Secretary Blinken's Call with Haitian Prime Minister Henry

    Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Haitian Prime Minister Dr. Ariel Henry on March 7 to discuss the ongoing political, security, and humanitarian crisis in Haiti. For more than a year, the United States has encouraged Prime Minister Henry and other key stakeholders in Haiti to reach a compromise that will end the ongoing political ...

  24. World Tourism Day 2016: Promoting Universal Accessibility

    Message by UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai: "Tourism for all!" ... On the occasion of World Tourism Day 2016, which falls annually on the 27th of September, on behalf of the Royal Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Thai people, by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, I would like to express my sincerest thanks to the UNWTO for ...

  25. Kat de Castro

    Kat de Castro. Katherine Chloe Sinsuat de Castro-Cruz, [1] (born October 18, 1978) [2] also known as Kat de Castro, is a Filipino journalist, and former television personality, who was formerly the Undersecretary of Tourism Advocacy and Public Affairs of the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) under Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo. [3]

  26. Donald Trump wins the Republican presidential primary in Minnesota

    Nikki Haley exits race with a message Trump may not want to hear: ANALYSIS

  27. Thailand and Qatar official hosts of World Tourism Day 2016 and ...

    PR No.: PR15062_2. Thailand and Qatar have been selected to be the official host countries for World Tourism Day (WTD) in 2016 and 2017 respectively, at the 21st UNWTO General Assembly in Medellín, Colombia (17 September 2015). WTD 2016 will be celebrated under the theme of "Tourism for All - promoting universal accessibility" and WTD 2017 ...