3rd FEMIP Conference: "Promoting sustainable tourism in the Mediterranean: how to address the economic and environmental challenges"

The European Investment Bank will host on Thursday 6 March 2008 in the framework of the ITB, the world’s largest tourism fair, a conference on the development of sustainable tourism in the Mediterranean focusing on economic and environmental challenges.

Who should attend:
The half-day conference is designed to bring together representatives from the tourism sector - both public and private actors- , financial institutions and media representatives.

What will participants learn:
The Conference will examine the conditions for sustainable tourism in the Mediterranean region and look at how it is to be developed and financed. It will further explore trends and developments in other countries demonstrating and promoting good practice.

Programme & speakers:
The opening session will be followed by three sessions looking at:

    * The Position and Trends of Mediterranean Tourism in the Global Market;
    * Strategies for Sustainable Tourism in the Mediterranean;
    * Financing Sustainable Tourism in the Mediterranean and the Private Sector’s Role.

Confirmed speakers include Henry Giscard d’Estaing, CEO, Club Med; Khelil Lajimi, Minister of Tourism Tunisia; Mohammed Boussaid, Minister of Tourism, Handicraft and Social Economy, Morocco as well as Koray Yetik, Secretary General of the Turkish Tourism Investors Association.

Background:
The annual average growth rate of tourist arrivals in FEMIP countries was above 12% in 2001-2006 – more than double the world average, with tourist expenditure increasing even faster. Tourism therefore represents a vital resource for countries on the southern rim of the Mediterranean to achieve growth rates of 6 to 7% per year, which are needed in order to curb unemployment, finance structural reforms and participate successfully in the globalised economy. Ultimately, the rate of growth in the tourism sector will depend on how governments address the need for institutional change and for giving a role to the private sector. However, for there to be longer-term growth, the industry has to be sustainable. In addition to the obvious concern for the natural environment, other key issues such as the carrying capacity of cultural, social and human resources are fundamental for the development of sustainable tourism.