World Tourism Network is now four years old, and 26,000+ ordinary travel and tourism stakeholders in 133 countries have joined this initiative, first known during COVID-19 as Rebuilding Travel. It was founded by eTurboNews publisher Juergen Steinmetz together with PATA, Dr. Taleb Rifai, Dr. Peter Tarlow, and Alain St. Ange on the sidelines of a canceled ITB trade show in Berlin in 2020.
These 26,000+ members, mostly Small and Medium-Sized Businesses, together with known tourism leaders, tourism boards, and ministers of tourism, are supporting this initiative that had been running the sidelines and in the backroom of big tourism politics and developments.
For World Tourism Day, celebrated today, also by numerous WTN Chapters around the world with a special initiative, Dr. Alain St. Ange, the outspoken former Minister of Tourism from Seychelles, is sharing his thoughts on this important day. He was trying to speak from a roller bike while driving the streets of the smallest capital city in the world, Victoria, in this sunny Indian Ocean paradise, away from the world’s trouble spots.
Of course, the roller bike message started at the Carnival celebrations in Victoria years ago. However, it still gives Seychelles an image of a fun and peaceful place to celebrate and a country with no enemies but only friends.
St. Ange said, “As the World at large marks Tourism Day 2024, it remains important to reflect that distractions are thrown out the window and let the industry professionals dig to consolidate their industry.”
“Tourism is an Industry and not an Activity,” said Alain St.Ange. We need to see tourism professionals rally to ensure it works, from the highest Office as Secretary General of World Tourism to those working in the private sector, including our beach boys, lifeguards, taxi drivers, GMs, and regional and national tourism leaders. This is one of the largest industries in the world .”
“Tourism & Peace is the tagline dedicated to Tourism Day 2024, and this line is, of course, timely with wars raging on between Ukraine and Russia, between Gaza, Lebanon, and Israel, and also here in Africa in Sudan.
“A new tagline will do little to send the right message into the needed arena. The world of tourism needs more. It needs its tourism professionals to be heard on a wider geopolitical network and to lead the industry, and then a new tagline of Tourism & Peace will be heard clearly and very loudly.”
Commenting on St.Anges’ words, WTN Founder and Chairman Juergen Steinmetz added: “We’re small, not yet on the level of the big, powerful organizations, but we’re proud to be part of this important global community of leaders and able to speak out when necessary. I am equally proud of my team here at eTurboNews, which provides an undisputed independent and sometimes critical voice for those who don’t always have a voice.
We need your support.
Being independent and outspoken has cost us tremendously in lost advertising and being banned at UNWTO events, but it’s worth every dime. I would like to encourage everyone who appreciates our work in this industry, which includes striving for peace and communication, to support us with advertising and sponsorship and join the World Tourism Network as a paying member.
Alain has shared our vision from the beginning, and we’re privileged to have him address our global members and supporters with his thoughts and guidance.
