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Seminarâ€ Impact of Economic crisis on European tourism: Challenges and Response Measuresâ€ organized in Baku

25 March 2009 12:32 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijani Culture and Tourism Minister Abulfas Garayev and UNWTO Deputy Secretary General Taleb Rifai addressed the seminar. Robert C. Shelburne, Chief Economist and Expert at United Nations Economic Commission for Europe made a keynote speech on European prospects of current global economic crisis and noted that 2009-2010 would be difficult years for tourism in the world. To him, the competition will increase in this sphere, the travels will shorten and tourists will prefer cheapest hotels. . The expert added that there will be many tourists in West Europe, because of cheap travels and the number of travels to East Europe and the US will decrease. He stressed that the crisis had not more impact on tourism of Brasilia and China.
Sandra Carvao, Deputy Chief of Market Trends and Competitiveness of UNWTO said that world travels decreased by 1% during last year. It was high in Europe. It will decrease by 1-3% this year.
â€œThe crisis had positive impact on tourism as well. The price of tickets cuts, because of falling oil price. The prices of reservation become cheaper in hotels. The proposals on decreasing VAT, which were not approved during 17 years, have been adopted at present. VAT changes between 3% -25% in Europe depending on the country,â€ she said.
Carvao added that the level of tourism fell 11% in Europe in January, 2009 and stressed that European countries would take steps to eliminate the crisis in 2010.
The seminar covered measures taken by European countries to eliminate the results of the crisis. Switzerland strengthens domestic market, allocates additional capitals for advertisements to eliminate the crisis.
The situation is more difficult in Slovenia. There are neighbor countries such as Italy and Hungary. It will be difficult to develop domestic market.
As regards Azerbaijan, measures are taken to establish skiing in the north of the country and local personnel participate in proper trainings within the framework of the project. Moreover, allocation of capital on propagating tourism increases year by year and as a result of it the tourism of the country has developed recently . Culture and Tourism Ministry plans to increase tourism and involve tourists from Turkey, Russia and Georgia. Moreover, Azerbaijan carries out project â€œWay of Wineâ€ and other joint projects with UNWTO.