The fifth and largest UNWTO Ministers’ Summit held in cooperation with World Travel Market will look at how the travel and tourism sector can prosper following the global downturn (London, UK, 8 November 2011). Tourism Ministers and industry leaders attending the November 8 Summit – How Tourism Can Prosper Following the Global Downturn – will discuss and agree actions and principles the sector should take moving forward to consolidate recovery.

Seoul congratulates the city of Pyeongchang over its successful bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics, an event expected to bring widespread economic gains to the nation as a whole and to the South Korean capital as the country’s principal tourism destination. Seoul anticipates a steady growth in inbound tourism over the coming decade as a result of the Olympics, not only due to its position as Korea’s entry-point, but also for its many tourism attractions, accommodation options and position as a high-speed transport hub for the entire region.

After a year of phenomenal accolades in 2010, the Sofitel Legend Metropole scored its most prestigious award yet, moving into the ranks of the world’s most rarified hotels. In its August issue, the world’s highest circulating travel magazine, Travel + Leisure, called out the Metropole as one of the top three city hotels in Asia, bested only by the Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok and the Ritz-Carlton in Beijing. Last year, the Metropole ranked #14 on the same list, determined by Travel + Leisure readers.

In a move that will open new doors for IT&CM China, the MICE company of CITS has officially partnered the event as co-organiser. TTG Asia Media and MP International – the pioneering organisers of China’s leading professional Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) business and networking event, IT&CM China – are confident that the joint venture with CITS International M.I.C.E. will strengthen the quality and reputation of the event in both, the international and domestic market.

In a press interview, Mr. Freddy Elhers, Minister of Tourism of Ecuador, said that “CULTOUR was an important event, which he hopes to generate a high tourism activity from now on”. “Tourism can do much for the world’s peace, for the understanding between humans”. The Minister believes that “a travel trade fair dedicated to cultural tourism as CULTOUR, can be suitable for a country’s greater development and it is recommended for other nations that want their culture to be a source of tourism revenue”.

Connection Plus is Thailand’s flagship annual familiarization trip presenting the best resources and exciting new developments for staging quality meetings and incentives trip in Thailand. Each year, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) qualify executives of internationally recognized corporations, and industry media representatives and invite them to join its annual Connection Plus Programme. Each year, the Bureau will identify key destinations within Thailand to showcase to the visiting delegates. Not only would the delegates learn about new products and gain insight into new trends through seminar and meetings with private sector, they would enjoy special privilege for their companies when they return to Thailand to organize MICE activities.