Tsunami recovery on agenda at ITB

The World Tourism Organisation is seeking the help of tourism businesses from the private sector to aid the recovery of countries affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami. WTO is using its presence at next month’s ITB in Berlin to rally support from the private sector. It has scheduled a series of “high-level meetings” between WTO executives and industry leaders ahead of the international tourism trade fair. Following the meetings WTO is likely to unveil the next phase for its Phuket Action Plan, a recovery initiative launched on February 1 by WTO executive council to speed recovery of traveller confidence in the tsunami-hit countries and to help get smaller tourism-related businesses back on their feet. Among the items on the agenda, said WTO secretary-general, Francesco Frangialli, was to tackle the problem of countries issuing out-of-date travel advisories to holidaymakers. But he added that WTO was optimistic countries affected by the tsunami would bounce back soon and said it was important for the travel industry not to overlook tourism elsewhere in the world. The WTO meetings will be held on March 10, 11 and 12 at ITB. For more details go to www.world-tourism.org. Report by Ginny McGrath