“We have only six years left to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals. A stronger concerted effort is needed from all sectors of activity and in all countries to make this happen”, said UNWTO Secretary-General ad interim, Taleb Rifai, in an official message to the Members of the Organization. UNWTO underscores the importance of raising awareness and calling for action in support of the MDGs, aimed at reducing extreme poverty and fostering sustainable development.

“Stand Up, Take Action against Poverty and for the MDGs” - What can the tourism community do?

Madrid, Spain, 15 October 2009

The international community, through the Heads of State and governments gathered at the United Nations in the year 2000, agreed on a set of objectives to be reached by 2015, known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In this time of global crisis that may have negative impacts on the positive results already attained since 2000, we have only six years left to achieve the MDGs. A stronger concerted effort is needed from all sectors of activity and in all countries to make this happen.

The MDGs are the following eight goals, conceived to respond to the world's main development challenges:

• Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger • Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education • Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women • Goal 4: Reduce child mortality • Goal 5: Improve maternal health • Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases • Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability • Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development

Tourism and the MDGs:

UNWTO strongly believes that tourism can be an important contributor to several of these goals, especially the first one on poverty alleviation, the third one on gender equality and the seventh one on environmental sustainability. Through various activities, many tourism stakeholders from the public and private sectors have already demonstrated the sector’s capacity to create jobs and provide many other social and economic benefits to the poorest layers of the population, especially women, while helping to protect delicate ecosystems.

The United Nations’ initiative:

“Stand Up, Take Action against Poverty and for the MDGs”

Every year, the United Nations invites all its agencies and civil society organizations to take action in a campaign, offering a platform for engagement in support of the MDGs. Last year, 116 million people took part in this initiative. This year, the Stand Up mobilization will take place over three days, from 16 to 18 October 2009. More information on this Campaign is available on the following website: www.standagainstpoverty.org

Tourism and the Stand Up initiative:

As tourism can be a key driver of economic recovery, UNWTO encourages the entire tourism community to actively participate this year in the UN Stand Up initiative.

UNWTO has suggested the following ideas for direct action by tourism administrations or the dissemination among their national tourism stakeholders:

Messages by the Minister in charge of tourism, disseminated through the mass media, on the UN Campaign in general and on the role of tourism within it.
Incentives by NTAs in order to actively encourage their staff and external partners (public and private) to raise the general awareness on the campaign and to further promote their engagement.
Conferences, seminars, academic presentations on sustainable development of tourism, highlighting its contribution to MDGs, in schools and universities, especially at those with tourism and hotel education programmes.
Establishment of campaigns for voluntary cash contributions by tourists to help specific poverty reduction initiatives or projects in poverty-stricken areas close to tourism destinations.
Distribution of ad-hoc material prepared by NTAs on this occasion (stickers, flags, banners) at major tourism sites, airports, tourism information offices and destinations.
Special welcome reception for tourists during the 3 days of the Campaign, with the cooperation of airports’ staff, hoteliers, restaurateurs and tourist guides, aiming at raising awareness among visitors.
Poster and crafts exhibitions in public buildings (information desks, city halls, bus & train stations, airports, etc.) to publicize the contribution of tourism to the MDGs.
Publication of special issues or reports related to tourism and poverty alleviation, or other MDGs o Any other actions you may think appropriate.

Mr. Rifai called upon UNWTO Members to inform about any action their Administration decides to undertake in respect of the above, with a view to give it the appropriate coverage worldwide

Contact information:

Assistant Secretary-General & Spokesperson: Geoffrey Lipman

Media Officer: Marcelo Risi

T: +34 91-567-8178 / +34 91-567-8100 / F: +34 91-567-8218