World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.
As the leading international organization in the field of tourism, UNWTO promotes tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability and offers leadership and support to the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide.
Accessible Tourism
There is no single, universally
accepted definition of "accessible tourism". Here we refer to some of
the ways in which the term is defined and used. The concept is certain to
evolve as it is applied in more and more contexts around the world. Tourism is
an important source of growth for the economy in Europe, representing today 1.8
million businesses and approximately 9.7 million jobs. However, travelling can
still be a real challenge for some people as finding the information on
services, checking luggage on a plane, booking an accessible room often prove
to be difficult, costly and time consuming.
On December 3rd, the conference will examine access and accessibility
for tourists and residents from the users’ perspective. Examples of good
practices in Accessible Tourism for All and possible solutions for the
obstacles most frequently encountered will be discussed.
Responsible tourism
Responsible tourism can apply to any type of
holiday, from a luxury beach villa to a volunteering project. Responsible
tourism simply means holidays that care about local communities & culture
as well as wildlife conservation & the environment.
Sustainable tourism
Attempting to make as low an impact
on the environment and local culture as possible, while helping to generate
future employment for local people. The aim of sustainable tourism is to ensure
that development brings a positive experience for local people, tourism
companies and the tourists themselves. Sustainable tourism is an adopted practice
in successful ecotourism.Global Code of
Ethics for Tourism The Global Code of Ethics for
Tourism sets a frame of reference for the responsible and sustainable
development of world tourism. It draws inspiration from many similar
declarations and industry codes that have come before and it adds new thinking
that reflects our changing society at the beginning of the 21st century. With
international tourism forecast to reach 1.6 billion arrivals by 2020, members
of the World Tourism Organization believe that the Global Code of Ethics for
Tourism is needed to help minimize the negative impacts of tourism on the
environment and on cultural heritage while maximizing the benefits for
residents of tourism destinations. The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism is
intended to be a living document. Read it. Circulate it widely. Participate in
its implementation. Only with your cooperation can we safeguard the future of
the tourism industry and expand the sector's contribution to economic
prosperity, peace and understanding among all the nations of the world. Among
all the nations of the world.
Welcome to Thailand
Among the reasons for the increase
in tourism in the 1960s were the stable political atmosphere and the
development of Bangkok as a crossroads of international air transportation. The
hotel industry and retail industry both expanded rapidly due to tourist demand.
It was also boosted by the presence of US soldiers who started to arrive in the
1960s for Rest and Recuperation (R&R) during the Vietnam War period.[3] Coinciding,
international mass tourism sharply increased during the same period due to the
rising standard of living, more people acquiring more free time and due to
improvements in technology making it possible to travel further, faster,
cheaper and in greater numbers, epitomized by the Boeing 747 which first flew
commercially in 1970.[4] Thailand was one of the major players in Asia to capitalize
on this then-new trend. 
Thailand has been receiving
increased competition ever since Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam opened up to
international tourism in the 1980s and 90s. Destinations like Angkor Wat, Luang
Probing and Halong Bay now contest Thailand's former monopoly in the Indochina
region. To counter this, Thailand is actively targeting niche markets such as
golf holidays, or holidays combined with medical treatment. Thailand has also
plans on becoming the hub for Buddhist tourism in the region.[15] According to
Lonely Planet, Thailand ranks second of "Best-value destinations for
2010" after Iceland; the latter having been hit very hard by the subprime
mortgage crisis.
