Advantages of Private Sector’s Deeper Involvement in United Nations Work

Advantages of Private Sector’s Deeper Involvement in United Nations Work

By

Kofi Annan (Former General Secretary, United Nations)

Addressing Confederation of Indian Industry, Kofi Annan Also Emphasizes Need To Reconcile Pursuit of Private Interest and Public Good. 

Following is the statement of Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the Confederation of Indian Industry in New Delhi today: 

I am pleased to be with you today. I would like to start by paying tribute to Indian entrepreneurship. India has a long and distinguished history as a trading and seafaring nation. India’s commerce and culture have extended the subcontinent’s influence far beyond its shores. 

As we enter a new era of hope and opportunity, it is my expectation that this centuries-old spirit will lead to new partnerships — with Governments, with members of civil society and with international institutions such as the United Nations. Such alliances offer great potential for achieving a range of important goals, both at home and within a global context. 

Since taking office, I have been struck by the strong interest of the private sector in the activities of the United Nations. This is not a new phenomenon. But the world Organization’s interaction with the private sector over the years has been marked by a certain ebb and flow that was yet another unfortunate byproduct of the cold war. 

In today’s environment, economic reform and liberalization, in their various local manifestations, have become urgent priorities for countries in all regions. India itself embarked on a bold and unprecedented path of reform in 1991. The international community is keenly watching these efforts. People in developed and developing countries alike want to understand the dynamics involved and apply the lessons to their own situations. 

Indeed, India’s example is one of the main reasons there now exists a real opportunity for extremely productive collaboration between the private sector and the other players on the national and international stage. 

A recent report from the World Bank showed that private capital flows to the developing world in 1996 amounted to $244 billion. By contrast, official development assistance (ODA) amounted to just one-sixth of that amount, or $44 billion. Although the private flows were essentially confined to 12 countries, the magnitude of the difference is striking and the overall message is clear: nationally and internationally, the key to growth is with the private sector. The role of the government is increasingly shifting to one in which its primary task is to create an enabling environment for individual energies and initiatives to flourish. This partnership between the public and private sectors is now the key to development and prosperity. 

We welcome this new reality. But we must emphasize several related imperatives: the need to reconcile the pursuit of private interest and the public good. To ensure gender equality. To promote growth with social justice. To foster growth which is inclusive and which does not marginalize. To encourage policy-making which prioritizes basic needs and the eradication of poverty. And to meet today’s needs without compromising the needs of future generations. 

The private sector is a vast repository of experience, managerial ability and innovation. It offers immense potential for job creation, technology transfer and the promotion of trade. The United Nations system is seeking to enlist this dynamism for the common good by fostering closer links at both the conceptual and operational levels. 

At the conceptual level, you are perhaps aware that we have recently concluded a cycle of world conferences on such major global themes as sustainable development, population, women’s issues, social development and the problems of urbanization. These conferences produced agreement among Member States on comprehensive action plans addressing some of the most urgent challenges of our times. Representatives of the private sector were influential participants throughout the conferences process. One such major voice was the Business Council for Sustainable Development, with which the Confederation of Indian Industry is actively involved. Moreover, each of the conference action plans — especially the one adopted at the World Summit for Social Development — reflected a global consensus on the centrality of business and industry. 

At the operational level, the United Nations system has responded to the requests of Member States for assistance in a variety of areas related to private-sector development: improving public administration. Fostering privatization. Developing legal and regulatory frameworks. Establishing norms and standards. Promoting micro-credit for small enterprises and businesses, particularly to women, artisans, small traders, first-time entrepreneurs and others for whom a lack of finance has been a primary obstacle in the way of self-sufficiency and economic well-being. 

I spoke in depth about these capacity-building efforts at the World Economic Forum, held in Davos, Switzerland, earlier this year. I know some of you were present on that occasion. Copies of that speech are available here for those who might be interested. 

I encourage the private sector and Indian industry to use the United Nations as a forum for sharing experiences and best practices. You might wish to enhance your involvement in the process of standard-setting, particularly in the areas of investment, trade and the environment. You might also consider increasing the level of assistance you provide in the implementation of United Nations programmes aimed at private-sector development. There is a strong South-South component to these suggestions. I am pleased to note that India, for its part, already has an ambitious and impressive technical cooperation programme with other countries. 

Last but not least is the question of United Nations procurement. In each of the past two years, the United Nations system purchased well over $3.5 billion in goods and services for a wide range of operations. While the basic principles of United Nations procurement — fairness, economy, quality and timely delivery — need to be respected, it is important to secure these through a wider spread of procurement, especially from developing countries.

Indian industry has great potential in this respect, and an effort must be made to disseminate information so that Indian companies can be competitively placed. I hope the Confederation can play a role in this area. The United Nations offices in New Delhi will be able to help. 

We live in an era in which questions relating to trade, investment, technology and other aspects of development are becoming ever more complex. The United Nations needs business and industry to make the contributions that they are uniquely placed to make. At the same time, I am convinced that the private sector’s deeper involvement in our work is in the private sector’s own best interests. To succeed, the United Nations needs partners — not only Governments but the widest possible range of stakeholders. Let us work together, more closely than ever before, towards the goals we share. 

In closing, I would like to thank the Confederation of Indian Industry for this opportunity to share my views with you. I look forward to hearing your comments and advice. 

Addressing Confederation of Indian Industry, Kofi Annan Also Emphasizes Need To Reconcile Pursuit of Private Interest and Public Good.

 

Following is the statement of Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the Confederation of Indian Industry in New Delhi today:

 

I am pleased to be with you today. I would like to start by paying tribute to Indian entrepreneurship. India has a long and distinguished history as a trading and seafaring nation. India’s commerce and culture have extended the subcontinent’s influence far beyond its shores.

 

As we enter a new era of hope and opportunity, it is my expectation that this centuries-old spirit will lead to new partnerships — with Governments, with members of civil society and with international institutions such as the United Nations. Such alliances offer great potential for achieving a range of important goals, both at home and within a global context.

 

Since taking office, I have been struck by the strong interest of the private sector in the activities of the United Nations. This is not a new phenomenon. But the world Organization’s interaction with the private sector over the years has been marked by a certain ebb and flow that was yet another unfortunate byproduct of the cold war.

 

In today’s environment, economic reform and liberalization, in their various local manifestations, have become urgent priorities for countries in all regions. India itself embarked on a bold and unprecedented path of reform in 1991. The international community is keenly watching these efforts. People in developed and developing countries alike want to understand the dynamics involved and apply the lessons to their own situations.

 

Indeed, India’s example is one of the main reasons there now exists a real opportunity for extremely productive collaboration between the private sector and the other players on the national and international stage.

 

A recent report from the World Bank showed that private capital flows to the developing world in 1996 amounted to $244 billion. By contrast, official development assistance (ODA) amounted to just one-sixth of that amount, or $44 billion. Although the private flows were essentially confined to 12 countries, the magnitude of the difference is striking and the overall message is clear: nationally and internationally, the key to growth is with the private sector. The role of the government is increasingly shifting to one in which its primary task is to create an enabling environment for individual energies and initiatives to flourish. This partnership between the public and private sectors is now the key to development and prosperity.

 

We welcome this new reality. But we must emphasize several related imperatives: the need to reconcile the pursuit of private interest and the public good. To ensure gender equality. To promote growth with social justice. To foster growth which is inclusive and which does not marginalize. To encourage policy-making which prioritizes basic needs and the eradication of poverty. And to meet today’s needs without compromising the needs of future generations.

 

The private sector is a vast repository of experience, managerial ability and innovation. It offers immense potential for job creation, technology transfer and the promotion of trade. The United Nations system is seeking to enlist this dynamism for the common good by fostering closer links at both the conceptual and operational levels.

 

At the conceptual level, you are perhaps aware that we have recently concluded a cycle of world conferences on such major global themes as sustainable development, population, women’s issues, social development and the problems of urbanization. These conferences produced agreement among Member States on comprehensive action plans addressing some of the most urgent challenges of our times. Representatives of the private sector were influential participants throughout the conferences process. One such major voice was the Business Council for Sustainable Development, with which the Confederation of Indian Industry is actively involved. Moreover, each of the conference action plans — especially the one adopted at the World Summit for Social Development — reflected a global consensus on the centrality of business and industry.

 

At the operational level, the United Nations system has responded to the requests of Member States for assistance in a variety of areas related to private-sector development: improving public administration. Fostering privatization. Developing legal and regulatory frameworks. Establishing norms and standards. Promoting micro-credit for small enterprises and businesses, particularly to women, artisans, small traders, first-time entrepreneurs and others for whom a lack of finance has been a primary obstacle in the way of self-sufficiency and economic well-being.

 

I spoke in depth about these capacity-building efforts at the World Economic Forum, held in Davos, Switzerland, earlier this year. I know some of you were present on that occasion. Copies of that speech are available here for those who might be interested.

 

I encourage the private sector and Indian industry to use the United Nations as a forum for sharing experiences and best practices. You might wish to enhance your involvement in the process of standard-setting, particularly in the areas of investment, trade and the environment. You might also consider increasing the level of assistance you provide in the implementation of United Nations programmes aimed at private-sector development. There is a strong South-South component to these suggestions. I am pleased to note that India, for its part, already has an ambitious and impressive technical cooperation programme with other countries.

 

Last but not least is the question of United Nations procurement. In each of the past two years, the United Nations system purchased well over $3.5 billion in goods and services for a wide range of operations. While the basic principles of United Nations procurement — fairness, economy, quality and timely delivery — need to be respected, it is important to secure these through a wider spread of procurement, especially from developing countries.

 

Indian industry has great potential in this respect, and an effort must be made to disseminate information so that Indian companies can be competitively placed. I hope the Confederation can play a role in this area. The United Nations offices in New Delhi will be able to help.

 

We live in an era in which questions relating to trade, investment, technology and other aspects of development are becoming ever more complex. The United Nations needs business and industry to make the contributions that they are uniquely placed to make. At the same time, I am convinced that the private sector’s deeper involvement in our work is in the private sector’s own best interests. To succeed, the United Nations needs partners — not only Governments but the widest possible range of stakeholders. Let us work together, more closely than ever before, towards the goals we share.

 

In closing, I would like to thank the Confederation of Indian Industry for this opportunity to share my views with you. I look forward to hearing your comments and advice.

Adjustment of Nationalities in World Politics

In opening a bold overture to the Islamic world on Thursday, President Obama confronted frictions between Muslims and the West, but he reserved some of his bluntest words for Israel, as he expressed sympathy for the Palestinians and what he called the “daily humiliations, large and small, that come with occupation.”

While Mr. Obama emphasized that America’s bond with Israel was “unbreakable,” he spoke in equally powerful terms of the Palestinian people, describing their plight as “intolerable” after 60 years of statelessness, and twice referring to “Palestine” in a way that put Palestinians on parallel footing with Israelis.

Mr. Obama’s speech in Cairo, which he called a “timeless city,” was perhaps the riskiest of his presidency, as he used unusually direct language to call for a fresh look at deep divisions, both those between Israel and its neighbors and between the Islamic world and the West. Among his messages was a call for Americans and Muslims to abandon their mutual suspicions and do more to confront violent extremism.

But it was Mr. Obama’s empathetic tone toward the Palestinians that attracted the most attention in the region and around the world. His words left many Palestinians and their Arab supporters jubilant but infuriated some Israelis and American backers of Israel because they saw the speech as elevating the Palestinians to equal status.

Mr. Obama said the bond between the United States and Israel was “based upon cultural and historical ties, and the recognition that the aspiration for a Jewish homeland is rooted in a tragic history that cannot be denied.”

“On the other hand,” Mr. Obama added, “it is also undeniable that the Palestinian people — Muslims and Christians — have suffered in pursuit of a homeland. For more than 60 years, they’ve endured the pain of dislocation.” He said Americans “will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity and a state of their own.”

Mr. Obama seemed to connect with his audience in his 55-minute speech from Cairo University as he quoted repeatedly from the Koran and occasionally sprinkled his remarks with Arabic, even beginning his address with the traditional Arabic greeting “salaam aleikum,” or “peace be upon you.”

In the speech, which was broadcast and translated around the world, Mr. Obama sounded forceful, even scolding at times, as he promoted democracy in Egypt and women’s rights and acknowledged that the United States had fallen short of its ideals, particularly in the Iraq war.

He divided his speech into seven sections, standing at the podium like the university professor he was before beginning his political career. Mr. Obama sharply criticized what he called the “disturbing tendency” among some Muslims, both Sunnis and Shiites, to “measure one’s own faith by the rejection of somebody else’s faith.”

But while he spoke uncompromisingly of the American fight against Al Qaeda, Mr. Obama never mentioned the words “terrorism” or “terrorist.” That was a departure from the language used by the Bush administration, but one that some Middle East experts suggested reflected a belief by the new administration that overuse had made the words inflammatory.

Still, Paul D. Wolfowitz, a former top Bush administration official who was an architect of the war in Iraq and is a strong supporter of Israel, offered general praise for Mr. Obama’s address.

“I could have used less moral equivalence, but he had to get through to his audience, and it’s in America’s interest for him to get through,” Mr. Wolfowitz said.

Mr. Obama’s remarks will be parsed by Israelis and Palestinians, in part because when previous American presidents have used the word “Palestine,” they have usually done so only in reference to a future Palestinian state, as President George W. Bush did in March 2002.

“Now Obama is saying ‘Palestine’ is a present reality,” said Robert Malley, director of the Middle East program at the International Crisis Group, and a Middle East negotiator in the Clinton administration.

Mr. Obama’s stark statement that “the United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements” is also likely to be seen as a sharp challenge to Israeli assumptions that existing West Bank settlements will always be allowed to remain.

It was noteworthy that the only Palestinian political group that Mr. Obama specifically mentioned was Hamas, the militant Islamic organization that won Palestinian legislative elections in 2006. Hamas governs Gaza, but is loathed by Israel. Mr. Obama called on Hamas to forswear violence and recognize Israel’s right to exist, but Middle East experts said that his mention was an acknowledgment that Hamas might have become a more important actor than the Fatah Party, controlled by Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president.

Mr. Obama said, “Hamas does have support among some Palestinians, but they also have to recognize they have responsibilities.”

The president offered few details on how to solve problems around the globe. But he offered up his own biography as a credible connection to his various audiences. His message touched on a lengthy list of challenges, but his appearance here could simply be boiled down to this: Barack Hussein Obama was standing on the podium in this Muslim capital as the American president.

“I consider it part of my responsibility as president of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear,” Mr. Obama said. “But that same principle must apply to Muslim perceptions of America. Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire.”

Some Muslims were delighted.

“I feel that he spoke to my emotions, and showed a sense of recognition of the dignity of Palestinians,” said Ghaith al-Omari, advocacy director of the American Task Force on Palestine.

Although Mr. Obama strongly condemned those who would deny the Holocaust, many American supporters of Israel said they resented what they viewed as comparing it to the plight of the Palestinians.

Famous Quotations of Samuel P. Huntington

“It is my hypothesis that the fundamental source of conflict in this new world will not be primarily ideological or primarily economic. The great divisions among humankind and the dominating source of conflict will be cultural. Nation-states will remain the most powerful actors in world affairs, but the principal conflicts of global politics will occur between nations and groups of different civilizations. The clash of civilizations will dominate global politics. The fault lines between civilizations will be the battle lines of the future.”

 

“The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion, but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence. Westerners often forget this fact, non-Westerners never do” – The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order, p.51.

 

“Hypocrisy, double standards, and “but nots” are the price of universalist pretensions. Democracy is promoted, but not if it brings Islamic fundamentalists to power; nonproliferation is preached for Iran and Iraq, but not for Israel; free trade is the elixir of economic growth, but not for agriculture; human rights are an issue for China, but not with Saudi Arabia; aggression against oil-owning Kuwaitis is massively repulsed, but not against non-oil-owning Bosnians. Double standards in practice are the unavoidable price of universal standards of principle” – The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order, p.184.

 

“In the emerging world of ethnic conflict and civilizational clash, Western belief in the universality of Western culture suffers three problems: it is false; it is immoral; and it is dangerous . . . Imperialism is the necessary logical consequence of universalism” – The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order, p.310.

 

“In Eurasia the great historic fault lines between civilizations are once more aflame. This is particularly true along the boundaries of the crescent-shaped Islamic bloc of nations, from the bulge of Africa to central Asia. Violence also occurs between Muslims, on the one hand, and Orthodox Serbs in the Balkans, Jews in Israel, Hindus in India, Buddhists in Burma and Catholics in the Philippines. Islam has bloody borders” – The Clash of Civilizations? original 1993 “Foreign Affairs” magazine article.

 

“Islam’s borders are bloody and so are its innards. The fundamental problem for the West is not Islamic fundamentalism. It is Islam, a different civilization whose people are convinced of the superiority of their culture and are obsessed with the inferiority of their power” – Huntington’s 1998 text The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of the World Order.

 

“Cultural America is under siege. And as the Soviet experience illustrates, ideology is a weak glue to hold together people otherwise lacking racial, ethnic, and cultural sources of community” – Who Are We? America’s Great Debate, p.12.

Nalanda University – The First International University of the World

Let me to present you one of the first ancient International Universities of the world located 90 Kms from the capital city of Bihar – Patna. The university which was built during the time of Buddha and Mahavira in the 6^th century B.C stunned even today to those travelers who visited the sight of Nalanda University. The word Nalanda has many meanings as the historians of ancient India differ in their explanation of the meaning of this place. However, the general opinions say that the word “Nalanda” is comprised of two words – “Nalam” which means “Lotus” and “Da” which means “to give”. Thus, combined the meaning of the words, it stand for “Giver of Lotus”. Since the Lotus is the symbol of Saraswati who is the Goddess of learning, knowledge and wisdom. Hence the word Nalanda means the “the Giver of Knowledge”.

 

 

The world famous town of Nalanda came into existence around 5^th century B.C. and was a booming town with over 10,000 scholars where ruins of the great ancient university have been excavated to prove it as the largest residential centre of learning that the world had ever known, having the library in a nine storied building. There were scholars from China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Tibet, Nepal and Ceylon. The wide range of courses was offered at Nalanda University. The major subjects were taught were scriptures of Mahayana and Hinayana Schools of Buddhism, Brahminical Vedic texts, Philosophy, logic theology, grammar, astronomy, mathematics and medicine. It was the sacred place of learning to Jains, Buddhists and Hindus but it has been more famed as one of the places frequented by Lord Buddha preaching his Dharma. He often retired to two destinations of Nalanda and Rajgir especially during the rainy season. It was here in Nalanda that Mahavira the last Jain Tirthankara, had met Goshala. The presence of this religion in all the countries mentioned above may be one of the reasons of its connection with Nalanda.

 

 

Ashoka the Great had contributed lot to this university by building a Vihara at Nalanda. During the first half of the 5^th century, The Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang came to India and was attracted by the glory of Nalanda University and decided to stay at Nalanda for 12 years both as a student and as a teacher. Today, from his writings, we came to know the detailed and vivid description of the Indian political and social conditions of that time on the one hand and richly sculptured towns and fairy-like turrets and beautiful ponds on the other.

 

The excavation at Nalanda further revealed the well established system of University where more than two thousand teachers and ten thousand students live together, the university has a large stairway, decorated panels, lecture halls, dormitories for the monks and students, and metal idols of the Buddha. The main monuments which were found at University of Nalanda are the Viharas or Monasteries, chaityas, Stupas, Votive or Commemorative.

Historical Perspective of World Tourism

Historical Perspective of World Tourism

The substantial growth of the tourism activity clearly marks tourism as one of the most remarkable economic and social phenomena of the past century. The number of international arrivals shows an evolution from a mere 25 million international arrivals in 1950 to an estimated 806 million in 2005, corresponding to an average annual growth rate of 6.5%

 

During this period, development was particularly strong in Asia and the Pacific (13% on average a year) and in the Middle East (10%) while the Americas (5%) and Europe (6%), grew at a slower pace and slightly below the world’s average growth. New destinations are steadily increasing their market share while more mature regions such as Europe and the Americas tend to have less dynamic growth. Europe’s world share declined by over 10 percentage points since 1950 whereas the Americas lost 13 percentage points. Though the Americas’ performance has been most affected by the declines suffered in the past years, the fact is that its annual average growth rate for the period 1950-2000 was 5.8%, also bellow the average for the world (6.8%).

 

Europe and the Americas were the main tourist-receiving regions between 1950 and 2000. Both regions represented a joint market share of over 95 per cent in 1950, 82% forty years later and 76% in 2000.

ROLE OF TOURISM IN SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND POVERTY REDUCTION

Tourism plays a significant role in socio-economic development, poverty reduction and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. This role can be enhanced considerably through increased understanding of the linkages between tourism, development and poverty reduction, the introduction or improvement of the policy environment for the sector, and the implementation of appropriate tourism programs and projects.

 

 

Tourism Factors Responsible for Socio-Economic Development and Poverty Reduction

 

An increase in (a) understanding of the linkages between tourism development and poverty reduction, (b) the capacity to improve the policy environment for the sector, and (c) the capacity to implement appropriate tourism programs and projects of policymakers and other stakeholders.

 

Actions Required for Socio-Economic Development and Poverty Reduction

 

1. Analytical studies on linkages and transmission mechanisms between mainstream     tourism and poverty reduction as well as targeted interventions and poverty reduction.

 

 

2. Identification of the contribution of tourism to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and its targets.

 

3. Development of indicators and guidelines on measuring the contribution of tourism for

poverty reduction.

 

4. Documentation of case studies and good practices in utilizing tourism as an entry point to the poverty reduction process.

 

5. Dissemination of the principal outcomes of the above studies, indicators and guidelines through publications and the Internet, policy advocacy and dialogue, knowledge networking, and training and advisory services.

 

6. Facilitation of sub-regional initiatives in also promoting neighbouring countries as

single tourism destinations.

 

7. Promotion of poverty-oriented tourism along major transport corridors, including the Asian Highway, and railway tourism, especially along the Trans-Asian Railway. These actions would be focused on providing a geographical spread of employment, especially to rural and remote areas located far from the main centres of economic activity where there may be limited alternatives for economic development, for example, highway service centres, community-based road stations, such as dhabas and michi-no-eki and highway oases.

 

8. Capacity-building activities, including forums in which to share experience and good practices in enhancing the contribution of tourism to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

Development of Tourism in Asia

Asia continues to be the world economic powerhouse. According to the United Nations, by 2020, four of the largest ten economies will be in Asia (China, India, Japan and the Republic of Korea). Asia will also account for 12 of the 22 mega cities (urban centres with more than 10 million people) by the same year.

 

An improved global economic performance, further uplifts of travel and visa restrictions in the region, lower transportation costs, and favourable exchange rates all contributed to the strong rebound in the region during the year 2006.

 

Of the 842 million arrivals in the world for the year 2006, 167.1 million were for Asia. Within Asia, North-East Asia contributed about 94 million arrivals. 53.8 million arrivals were for South-East Asia. Oceania and South Asia together accounted for about 19.3 million arrivals.

 

Asia and the Pacific was able to maintain its extraordinary growth level (+7.6%, compared to last year), both due to the recovery of Thailand and the Maldives from the impact of the December 2004 tsunami, as well as remarkable performances from emerging destinations in the region. International tourist arrivals in South Asia grew by 10%, boosted by India, the destination responsible for half the arrivals to the sub-region6.

There was increased competition among airlines in pricing as steps were taken by various government authorities worldwide to ease protection on their own national carriers. This resulted in lower airfares on some routes, despite a possible pass-through due to the hikes in oil prices.

 

 

The rise of the low-cost airlines offering not only lower prices but also lesser restrictions with respect to length of stay or weekend stopover, thus putting air travel within reach of groups of travelers with more limited budgets but a healthy desire for travel, also triggered tourism in the region.

 

Further relaxation of immigration regulations and cultural integration in the region favored intra-regional tourism, with generally lower spending levels due to shorter stays. Together with some price cutting strategies adopted by countries and corporations in the region, intraregional traffic recovered quicker than long-haul traffic, from the 2004 tsunami.

Though still the smallest of WTO’s tourism regions, South Asia has been recording consistently strong growth over the past four decades due to the growing number of new destinations on offer in the region, and the expansion of the tourism product developed in the main countries of the region. These developments have served to attract in particular the long-haul interregional tourist.

World Market Share in Travel and Tourism

World Travel & Tourism yielded about US$6,477.2 billion of economic activity (Total Demand) in the year 2006. As per the estimations the growth rate in nominal terms, will assume the total industry valuation to US$12,118.6 billion by 2016. Total Demand (or in other words, 100% of the world market share in Travel and Tourism) is anticipated to grow by 4.2% per annum, in real terms, between 2007 and 2016.

 

Post the time of stagnation sparked by the events of September 11, 2001 coupled with slow development of the global economy, struggles and conflicts in the Middle East and infrequent terrorist attacks worldwide, International tourism has recoiled strongly since 2004, both in terms of inbound and outbound.

 

World Tourism demand like the global economy continues to surpass expectations, showing resiliency against external factors. The estimated 842 million arrivals in the year 2006 comprise an additional 36 million over 2005 level, producing a new record for the industry. Of the extra 36 million, 17 million were for Europe, 12 million for Asia and the Pacific, 3 million for Africa and for the Americas, respectively and nearly 2 million for the Middle East.

 

Among the various regions, while Africa showed the highest annual growth rate for international tourist arrivals in both 2006 and 2005 (above 8%), it was pursued closely by Asia and the Pacific – 7.7% in 2005 and 7.6% in 2006.

 

By sub-regions, South Asia recorded the highest annual growth rate in 2006 (10.1%), followed by Sub-Saharan Africa (9.4%) and South East Asia (9%). Europe and Middle East presented a growth rate of 4% in 2006. The weakest region was America, whose estimated growth rate was 2% 3.

Amir Khan – the Brand Ambassador of Incredible India!

It was good to hear that Tourism Ministry has roped in Bollywood hero Aamir Khan to promote tourism in India. Khan will promote for both domestic and international travelers.

 

The Bollywood hero has been roped in by the tourism ministry to be the face of its brand campaign ‘Incredible India’ to showcase the country’s rich heritage and culture and the message, ‘Athithi Devo Bhava’ (guest is god).

 

More than the involvement of Aamir Khan, I was pleased to see that tourism is finally getting attention of government. A cursory look at the India’s tourist places is enough for anyone to figure out that tourism has never been a top agenda for governments in India. While almost every other country understands the importance of tourism, India hasn’t realized the full potential even after 61 years of independence.

 

In my visits to European countries and US, and even Thailand, it was pleasing to see how they take care of the tourists and various tourist places. Every important place has a tourist information center ready to help visitors with information, maps and other resources. Tourist sites are well maintained. Convenience and security of tourists is thought of.

 

It’ll take a lot of time for central and state governments In India to reach the level of engagement governments in other countries show, but I see this as a positive sign. If we can address a few more critical issues of visitor safety, maintenance of tourist places, sufficient infrastructure, I have no doubt India will emerge as one of the top tourist destination in the world.

 

Amir Khan is not charging any fee for this campaign. He said he was doing it as part of my social responsibility.

 

The Minister expressed her happiness with Amir Khan endorsing the tourism promotion, which would further boost the ministry’s efforts to make people becoming aware of the safety and security of tourists, hygiene, sanitation and the acts of vandalism at historical monuments.

Indian Democracy in the eye of Foreigner

“India is only country in the world which can be said to have one of the richest traditions in the world.”

 

Sorry, i’ve heard this sort of message a thousand times…there is a trmendous lack of originality!!

 

41% of world’s pooor people…guess that you don’t care too much about traditions when you have no food or place where to live with dignity. Do you think that a tradition is good only just because of the fact that it is a tradition??? In Spain it is traditional for people to gather to see how a bull is killed?? In Canada thousands of seals are killed every year because one of its traditions is to do so…

 

“Indian is the biggest democracy in the world”…sorry but i don’t see any credit to that,…or do you think you are a better country for having a democracy of 1000 million people instead of 5 miilion people. Is indian democracy better that norwegian or dutch? What’s more, do you really think you’re living in a real democracy?? A country in which politicians change the party they belong to every week?? A country where the votes of the poor people are bought?

 

“INDIA IS THE BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD SIMPLY COZ ITS A LAND WHERE THERE IS NO CULUTURE DIVIDES HINDUS AND MUSLIMS LIVE IN PEACE”…guess that the thousands of killings during the partition just because of religious differences is a tale by some boring authors..and guess the gujarat conflicts did not take place…it was another creation of the press…and i could give many other examples…but you all know them…

 

…corruption of officials at all levels, unefficient judicial system, growth that leads to increasing inequality, humiliating attitute towards poor people by the rest of indians (i’ve lived in several parts of India and this is one of the things that impressed me most), child labour, brain drain, discrimination against women…

 

India has many fantastic things (you’ve mentioned many of them and i agree with you), but the problems are not going to dissapear only if you hide them or if you only speak the positive things.

 

“If you once forfeit the confidence of your fellow citizens, you can never regain their respect and esteem. You may fool all of the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all the time; but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.” (Abraham Lincoln)

 

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