The next ten years look set to be “the decade of travel and tourism”,says UNWTO Secretary-General opening the ITB Travel Trade Show (Berlin, Germany,9-13 March)

“The first decade of the twenty first century was a decade ofextraordinary tourism growth, but also of severe shocks: a decade that beganwith September 11 and ended with global economic crisis,” said Mr. Rifai. “Now –with recovery underway and international tourist arrivals up by 7% in 2010 – isthe time to look forward and ask what the next ten years hold for oursector”.Meeting at ITB against a “background of a recovering economy andsignificant geopolitical shifts”,the world is faced with the diverse andcomplex challenges of unbalanced economic growth, high unemployment, rising oilprices and the environmental imperative. As world leaders face up to thesechallenges, tourism can lead “a new decade of fairer, stronger and moresustainable growth” said Mr. Rifai, “and be one of the most effective agents ofdevelopment”.

“As traditional economic sectors lose dynamism, it is clear that asecond wave of service sectors, including tourism, are emerging. These are the industries that have exhibited particularly stronggrowth over the past few years. And these will be some of the most dynamic andeconomically significant industries and development agents of this decade,” headded.