News & Analysis

Thomas Cook chief executive Manny Fontenla-Novoa will address the annual United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Ministers' Summit at World Travel Market (WTM).

This year's summit is set to be the biggest yet, with more than one hundred ministers attending, including tourism ministers from Italy, South Africa, Russia and India

Fontenla-Novoa will share his thoughts on how the industry can respond to the challenges of the global economic crisis in the first of three panel debates. Fontenla-Novoa will identify innovative solutions implemented by governments and the industry in response to these challenging times.

WTM chairwoman Fiona Jeffery said: I'm am delighted that such a well respected senior industry professional as Manny Fontenla-Novoa will address the UNWTO Ministers' Summit at WTM.

"Manny heads a high-profile, high-level line-up of private sector speakers, this shows the importance of the summit, which will help to secure a roadmap for the future of the industry."

There will be three interactive sessions:

Tourism: Tackling the Global Economic Crisis

Panellists include:

• Khélil Lajimi, minister of tourism for Tunisia
• Zoheir Garranah, minister of tourism for Egypt 
• Geoffrey Lipman, assistant secretary-general of the UNWTO, and session moderator

Positioning Travel and Tourism in the Global Agenda

World Travel and Tourism Council president Jean-Claude Baumgarten headlines the second session, which will debate the role tourism can play to stimulate the global economy, support poor countries facing the crisis and prepare for a green economic transformation.

Panellists include:

• Dr Ng Yen Yen, tourism minister, Malaysia
• Predrag Nenezic, minister of tourism Montenegro
• Ahmed Abdullah Al-Nuaimi, chairman, Qatar Tourism and Exhibitions Authority Qatar 
• José Luis Zoreda, executive vice-president, Exceltur, moderating the session

The Way Forward: Future Challenges and the Transformation to a Green Economy

Caribbean Tourism Organization secretary-general Hugh Riley leads the third session, which will focus on the need for the sector to begin its transformation towards being a green economy.

Panellists include:

• Maha Khatib, minister of tourism and antiquities for Jordan 
• Jonathan Tourtellot, director of the National Geographic Centre for Sustainable Development and Geotourism editor, National Geographic will moderate the session

The high-level third annual UNWTO Ministers' Summit will be held on Tuesday 10 November at Platinum Suite 4, Level 3, ExCeL, London. Delegates will be able to follow the talks on giant TV screens in the Central Boulevard.