Around 360 delegates representing 112 countries meet this week in Astana, Kazakhstan, on the occasion of the XVIII session of the UNWTO General Assembly. The gathering convened by the UN specialized agency for tourism will set the ground for how the travel and tourism sector can face the current economic downturn while staying on track with the twin challenges of climate change response and poverty alleviation. This Assembly will also initiate a far-reaching internal reform, starting with the election of a new Secretary-General.

The conditions of the tourism market are starting to indicate stronger prospects for a recovery in 2010. These include macroeconomic upward revisions from the IMF together with preliminary international tourism figures until August this year. This suggests some moderation in the declining results of the first half of this year. In addition, the UNWTO Panel of Experts Confidence Index reflects stronger confidence in market conditions. International arrivals declined by 4% in July this year, a relative improvement when compared to decreases of 10% in May and 7% in June. Many destinations show a similar pattern of a gradual change for the better, particularly in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Tourism ministers and professionals heard with sadness the shocking news of the earthquake and the ensuing tsunami that struck several Pacific islands of Samoa, Tonga and also Indonesia as well as the typhoon that swept through Southeast Asia including the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand. “We would like to express our deepest condolences to the peoples of these affected nations for their loss of lives and properties” said Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Secretary-Genera ad interim.