The World Tourism Organisation (WTO) Programme Committee has outlined some of the key priorities for the Un affiliate organisation for the coming two years.

The main points to be tackled over the period 2005-2007 were put forward by a WTO evaluation task force, led by representatives of Seychelles, France and Lebanon.

The task force –represented for Seychelles by Philomaine Hollanda, Senior Quality and Standard Officer at the Ministry of Tourism and Transport– delivered its findings after a series of Impact Evaluation System seminars, which began in October 2002.

The primary recommendation taken onboard by the Programme Committee is a call for the WTO to move to a more management oriented role in the global tourism trade.

"The Committee accepts with satisfaction a shift in the Organisation's workings towards clear key priorities and even more determined activities, from mainly consultative to management oriented in favour of the Members," said the Committee Chairperson Angelika Liedler.

In addition the evaluations pointed to the need for a strengthening of sustainable tourism development, in particular the WTO initiative for poverty alleviation (ST-EP).

The task force also picked up on the importance of quality certification and standards, human resources development, destination management, market intelligence and communications, image building, raising awareness on positive impacts of tourism and rebuilding of consumer confidence in tourism.

The Programme Committee meets annually to monitor the implementation of the WTO programme of work and offers guidelines on preparation of the upcoming programme of work.

LINKS