Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Secretary-General

We are living in the age of travel.

In 2016 over 1.2 billion people travelled internationally for tourism purposes in one single year.

By 2030, this 1.2 billion will have become 1.8 billion.

Tourism today accounts for 10% of global GDP, 30% of the world’s exports of services and one in every 10 jobs. 

And every tourist is an opportunity for socio-economic growth, for peace and intercultural understanding, for the renewal of urban and rural areas, and for the protection of natural and cultural heritage. 

40% of international arrivals are considered cultural tourists.

Cultural tourism is growing, in popularity, in importance and in diversity embracing innovation and change.

If culture is the story tourism is the publisher and distributor of that story.

Yet, with growth comes increased responsibility, responsibility to protect our cultural and natural assets,the very foundation of our societies and our civilizations.

On the occasion of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017, UNWTO and UNESCO invite you to join the Second World Conference on Tourism and Culture: Fostering Sustainable Development, in Muscat, Oman on 11 and 12 December 2017.

Together we can strengthen the links between tourism and culture, a partnership that can greatly help travel and tourism lead in providing opportunities for a better world.

A world of respect for our culture, our values, our heritage.

I look forward to welcoming you in Muscat.

Thank you.