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n messages to governments, discuss prospects for the climate. IAN TAYLOR reports from Madrid


MANIFESTO: ASSOCIATIONS TEAM UP TO DEMAND ACTION IN FOUR POLICY AREAS


The Global Travel Association Coalition (GTAC) unveiled a manifesto for growth at the summit.


Leaders of three GTAC members – the


WTTC, UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and airline association Iata – unveiled a series of joint commitments. The manifesto, Powering Travel and


Tourism into the Next Decade: An Agenda for Growth and Development, set out four policy areas for governments and industry, with calls to action on each – on visas, infrastructure, sustainability and “investment in human capital”. UNWTO secretary-general Taleb Rifai described it as “an agenda to align our advocacy”. He said: “We have dropped all barriers to working together. We repeat the same numbers in all our speeches.” WTTC president and chief executive David


Scowsill said: “The idea is to speak with one voice to governments. We know we are much more powerful if we combine resources and data and provide clear messages.” Iata director-general and chief executive


Tony Tyler added: “If we speak with one voice, we can be a lot stronger.” On visas, Rifai said: “Making travel easier is crucial to growth and job creation. Countries have a duty to protect their borders, but do we have to make it a nightmare? Security and friendliness are not at odds.” Addressing infrastructure development,


Tyler said: “Growth in the sector requires significant investment in infrastructure.


CLIMATE: WORLD WILL REACH TIPPING POINT IN 15 YEARS


The world will reach an environmental tipping point by 2030, when the number of travellers is forecast to reach 1.8 billion, Harvard professor Jack Spengler warned. Spengler, professor of public health and


director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment, told the summit: “We will be at a tipping point and that will mean huge climate disruption, a rise in sea levels,


Taleb Rifai


“We know we are much more powerful if we combine data and provide clear messages”


The problem of aviation infrastructure is especially acute in Europe.” On sustainability, he added: “Tourism


growth needs to be decoupled from resource use. If travel and tourism is to obtain a licence to grow from governments, it is essential we address sustainability.” Rifai said: “Every job in tourism creates,


on average, four jobs down the line. We need to ensure tourism jobs are decent jobs – by that, we mean jobs that parents would be proud to have their children occupy.” The GTAC also comprises Airports Council


International, cruise line body Clia, the International Civil Aviation Organisation, the Pacific Asia Travel Association and the World Economic Forum.


acid sea water and coral reef destruction.” But he suggested tourism could be part of a solution, saying: “It’s through tourism that people might begin to understand that their health and the health of their children depend on addressing this.” Darrell Wade, chief executive


of Peak Adventure Travel, said: “As an industry, we don’t take this anywhere near seriously enough. The WTTC is increasingly successful at portraying travel as a huge industry. The negative side of that is that we could


By STEPHEN D’ALFONSO, head of public affairs, Abta


TWOWEEKS TO GO: MAXIMISE OUR CLOUT


With a fortnight till polling day, the general election campaign is increasing in intensity. Abta’s #ValueTourism campaign has spoken


to more than 500 parliamentary candidates across the UK, leading to increased recognition of tourism’s economic value, with candidates expressing the contribution it makes locally. Last week, Abta reached out to candidates


standing in Bermondsey and Old Southwark, where Abta’s office is located. Labour candidate Neil Coyle signed up as a #ValueTourism supporter and popped into the office to learn more about the industry and our policy views. We’re seeking meetings with the other candidates in the constituency and would urge members around the country to do the same. The news has been dominated by manifesto launches in the past week. It was good to see the Conservatives and Labour say they would respond quickly to the Airports Commission’s recommendations. But it is disappointing that most other parties outlined their opposition to expanding aviation capacity in the southeast. Whatever the makeup of the next government, the #ValueTourism initiative has laid the groundwork for understanding among new and returning MPs, which will help us make our case to government after May 7. There is still time to maximise our influence across the political


spectrum. If you haven’t already done so, you can show your support for #ValueTourism. For more information, visit abta.com/electionhub


become a target for governments, NGOs and shareholder activists.” Seychelles tourism and culture minister Alain St Ange said: “It is not just tourism that is the problem. We depend on tourism and are not responsible for the problem.” Spengler agreed: “The fault goes wider. Since the first conference [in Rio in 1992], we’ve learned the word ‘sustainable’. “But the Earth’s systems


are not getting better. The mountain we have to climb is steeper because we have wasted time.”


23 April 2015 — travelweekly.co.uk • 79


“As


an industry, we don’t take


this anywhere near seriously enough”


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