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Global Travel & Tourism Summit Special Edition
Tuesday 22 April 2008
www.breakingtravelnews.com
S P E C I A L R E P O R T
Emirates Emirates: The Flight of the Innovators pages 20-21
Dubai Dubai Tourism, Dubai Commerce, Dubai Wisdom pages 25-27
Nakheel
Jumeirah
The Nakheel Appeal pages 29-31
The Jumeirah Group’s Vision pages 36-37
Prospects bright despite tough challenges Over 1,100 delegates from 75 countries enjoyed a first day of thought-provoking debate and presentations at the 8th Global Tourism & Travel Summit in Dubai, highlighted by a special inauguration ceremony attended by its patron, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister, UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Geoffrey Kent, Chairman & CEO of Abercrombie and Kent and Chairman of WTTC and HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and the Ruler of Dubai
Dubai UAE President of the WTTC, Geoffrey Kent, welcomed His Highness Sheikh Mohammed at what is proving to be the most successful and influential WTTC Summit in its eight-year history. The two topics ruminating most around delegates’ minds were how best the travel industry should weather the storm clouds of a global economic slowdown, and how it can most appropriately meet the need for growth, with that for environmental sustainability. In his address to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, Mr. Kent
said: “Undoubtedly, there will be challenges in the short term due to the US economic slowdown, the stock markets’ volatility, higher fuel costs and concerns about climate change. However, the continued strong expansion in emerging countries – both as tourism destinations and as an increasing source of international visitors – means that the industry’s growth prospects remain bright into the medium term.” The decision to host the summit in Dubai was both fitting and well-timed, its
transformation in a few short years into one of the world’s most incredible tourist destinations mirroring the meteoric rise of the trade and tourism industry into one of the world’s most important industries. Mr. Kent said: “We stand to learn much about the remarkable journey of this Emirate, about the vision, leadership and commitment that continues to propel Dubai into the future as world citizens.”
agreed universally, comes the need to take responsibility to protect the environment on which their industry so implicitly relies. And many of the exchanges of ideas throughout the day were dominated by how the decisionmakers gathered can shape and lead the way for more sustainable travel – an issue that will become ever more inescapable as the growth of tourism continues. Or as the closing topic of day one poignantly put it: “The questions are tough – and they’re getting tougher”.
With the success, as delegates
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