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Abu-Ghazaleh: Smart Tourism is the Future of Tourism

31-Dec-2017 | Source : AG-IP News | Visits : 7966
Abu-Ghazaleh: Smart Tourism is the Future of Tourism
Special to ag-IP-news Agency

GENEVA- The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Official Closing Ceremony of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017 concluded with HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh calling for embracing ICT to transform Tourism into a smart industry.  

Speaking on behalf of all Special Ambassadors of Tourism and Sustainable Development Goals designated by the UNWTO at the Palace of Nations, in Geneva, Switzerland, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh said: “I personally believe that the future of tourism lies in enabling ICT capacities. Accordingly, we should harness those powers for smart tourism… I believe that the way forward in our journey to 2030, is smart tourism. I call on all of you to guide me and support me in this endeavor.”

In addition to Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh, the Tourism and SDGs Ambassadors designated on the occasion include HE Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, President of Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, the President of Costa Rica, HE Luis Guillermo Solís, Mr. Huayong Ge, President of UnionPay China; and Dr. Michael Frenzel, President of the Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry.

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh expressed his appreciation for the effort and work of HE Mr. Taleb Refai, Secretary General of the UNWTO saying "Mr. Secretary-General at our meeting in China you mandated TAG-Org to establish the UNWTO “Global Smart Tourism Center” (UNWTO - GSTC). This center will be supported by: TAG University for Applied Business and IT, TAG Training Academy and our 110 offices worldwide and we hope you will accept to be the honorary chair of the center. We need you."

"I also call on my honorable colleagues, the Special Ambassadors, to accept my invitation to be founding members of the High-Level Advisory Board of the Center," he added.

Participants from around the world joined the Official Closing ceremony of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017. The event reviewed the year’s main achievements and discussed the roadmap for advancing the contribution of tourism towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh's involvement in the tourism sector resulted in signing a MoU with the UNWTO to establish the first International Smart Tourism Center with headquarters in Amman and hosted by Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization. 

It is worth noting that Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh has chaired more than 14 UN taskforces and initiatives and he was Vice Chair with Their Excellencies Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon of the UN Global Compact as well as being a member of several UN programs, most recently being named a member of the United Nations Social Impact Fund High Level Advisory Board (UNSIF-HLAB).
 
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