International Forum on Tourism Legislation - Enhancing Responsible and Sustainable Tourism

1. INTERNATIONAL FORUM OF TRAVEL AND TOURISM ADVOCATES 19TH CONFERENCE Beja- Mértola- Tavira, Portugal, 11-14 October 2007 UNWTO-IFTTAInteractive Discussion Forum onTourism LegislationPatrice TEDJINI, Head, UNWTO Documentation Resources & Archives

2. Background and justification • UNWTO Mission for the New Millenium: • To encouragethe governments to assume a relevant role in tourism [...] • To encourage the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism • To play a central and decisive role in promoting the development of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism

3. Background and justification (cont.) • Demand from UNWTO Members for advisory assistance on tourism legislation issues

4. Background and justification (cont.) • UNWTO activities: • The World Committee on Tourism Ethics & the Sustainable Development of Tourism Committee • The “Sustainable Tourism-Eliminating Poverty” Programme (ST-EP) • Regional promotion projects and other Cooperation for Development activities • Activities of the Documentation Resources and Archives Section

5. Goals of the Interactive Discussion Forum • Promote the development and international harmonization of the national tourism legislation • Foster the institutional development of National Tourism Administrations (NTAs) and their relevance for the tourism sector • Promote the exchange of experiences and information with regard to tourism legislation among UNWTO Members by providing a space for the expression of opinions and debate among specialists around the world • Promote greater recognition of UNWTO as the world’s leading authority and frame of reference concerning national tourism legislation(implementation of the principles and recommendations from the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism; UNWTO Statement against organized sex tourism; Québec Declaration on Ecotourism,etc • Add value to the activities and services alreadeady provided by UNWTO such as the online LEXTOUR Database, the Technical Cooperation and establish mechanisms for mutual feedback

6. Goals of the Interactive Discussion Forum (cont.) • Promote greater recognition of UNWTO as the world’s leading authority and frame of reference for the National Tourism Legislation by implementing principles from major instruments such as the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, the Statement against Organized Sex Tourism,the Québec Declaration on Ecotourism,etc. • Add value to the activities and services offered by UNWTO such as the online LEXTOUR Database, the Technical Cooperation,etc and establish feedback mechanisms between them

7. Strategy • Exchange of letters to further cooperation withtheInternational Forum of Traveland Tourism Advocates (IFTTA)

8. Predicted benefits • For UNWTO • Greater presence, visibility and recognition of UNWTO as an authority in the field of national and international tourism legislation • Improved perception among Members and the international community of the usefulness of the services provided by the Organization • New synergies to strenghen UNWTO’s other activities, and, • New alliance with an international organization of recognized prestige and expertise in the tourism legislation

9. Predicted benefits(cont.) • For National Tourism Administrations (NTAs) • Free access to a new service of information and experience exchange with respect to topical issues related to legal aspects of tourism

10. Recommendations • The UNWTO-IFTTA letter of cooperation should clearly define the functions and responsibilities of both organizations in the Forum • Access to the Forum should be restricted to authorized and registered Members of both organizations • Intellectual property rights of the Forum: UNWTO-IFTTA • UNWTO-IFTTA should establish the procedures for user admission and registration as well as the Forum’s basic operating rules • All communications between users within the Forum should be public, and private messages and communications should be exchanged outside the Forum

11. Recommendations(cont.) • The working language for the Forum should be English • The content of the Forum should follow a list of priority issue areas on topical issues related to legal aspects of tourism • The functions of Forum Administrator and Moderator should be entrusted to a Member of IFTTA .The Forum should be moderated, but Member interventions should not require preapproval. • Responsability for regular monitoring and evaluation of the Forum should be assigned to a UNWTO official. • The Forum should be hosted by the UNWTO Web server, using thefree software currently available (PHPBB)

12. Functions and responsibilities • UNWTO • Logistic support and hosting in its web server • Integration of the Forum in its Webpage • Maintenance and operation • Technical advising and support to IFTTA Administrator & Moderator

13. Functions and responsibilities(cont.) • IFTTA • Administration and Moderation of the Forum • Following-up of the Forum

14. THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION E-mail: ptedjini@unwto.org web : www.unwto.org