Routes and UNWTO Agree Strategic Partnership

AsiaNet 56097

BERLIN, Mar. 8, 2014/PRN=KYODO JBN/--

   Earlier this week at ITB in Berlin, Routes (part of UBM live) and the World

Tourism Organization (UNWTO) reached an agreement to work together to advance

the understanding of all matters that concern air connectivity and travel

facilitation.

   Routes and UNWTO will collaborate on the development of programmes beginning

with Routes Africa 2014, which will take place 22-24 June this year. This event

will address the key factors of infrastructure, air connectivity and visa

facilitation within Africa, a priority for both Routes and UNWTO.  The

conference will also identify the key challenges and explore practical ways to

unlock the benefits and opportunities of sustainable aviation growth.  The

programme will bring together a wide range of aviation based companies who wish

to conduct business to, from and within the African region.

   "We are excited to be partnering with UNWTO, the leading international

organization in the field of tourism. Routes has been supporting the world's

airline, airport and tourism authorities for the past 20 years in order to

facilitate air service development and are well equipped to add significant

value to UNWTO's work in this area," said Katie Bland, Director Routes, UBM

Live continuing: "With this agreement we have had the opportunity to empower

our relationship with UNWTO, of which we are an Affiliate Member, whose vision

and global coverage closely matches with our own.  We are both committed to

promoting sustainable aviation and tourism growth in Africa and around The

World."

   "Considering that over 50% of the world's international tourists arrive to

their destinations by plane, promoting air connectivity and a closer alignment

between tourism and aviation policies is one of UNWTO main priorities", said

Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Secretary-General.

   Notes to Editors

   About Routes

   Routes organises world-renowned airline and airport networking events

through its regional and global Route Development Forums. Each year, there is

one global event and one regional event in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas

and CIS respectively. http://www.routesonline.com

Routes was founded in 1995 as part of the Manchester UK-based ASM Ltd., a

consultancy specialising in the field of route development for airports.

http://www.asm-global.com. Routes and ASM are part of the UBM Live division of

UBM plc.

   UBM Live connects people and creates opportunities for companies across five

continents to develop new business, meet customers, launch new products,

promote their brands and expand their markets.  Through premiere brands such as

MD&M, CPhI, IFSEC, TFM&A, Cruise Shipping Miami, the Concrete Show, the Routes

portfolio of events, Airport Cities and many others, UBM Live exhibitions,

conferences, awards programs, publications, websites and training and

certification programs are an integral part of the marketing plans of companies

across more than 20 industry sectors. http://www.ubmlive.com

Routes is an Affiliate Member of UNWTO.

   Follow us on twitter: @Routesonline, @TheHUBRoutes, @VictoriaRoutes,

@NLPROU, @airlineroute

   About UBM plc

    - UBM plc is a global events-led marketing services and communications

      company. We help businesses do business, bringing the world's buyers and

      sellers together at events and online, as well as producing and

      distributing news and specialist content. Our 5,500 staff in more than

      30 countries are organised into expert teams which serve commercial and

      professional communities, helping them to do

      business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently.

    - For more information, go to: http://www.ubm.com; follow us on Twitter at

      @UBM_plc [http://twitter.com/UBM_plc ] to get the latest UBM corporate

      news; follow  @UBM for news from all UBM's businesses; follow @UBM for a

      flavour of UBM from selected members of UBM's Twitterati.

   About UNWTO

    - The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) [http://www.unwto.org ] is the

      United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible,

      sustainable and universally accessible tourism.

    - As the leading international organization in the field of tourism, UNWTO

      promotes tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development

      and environmental sustainability and offers leadership and support to

      the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide.

    - UNWTO encourages the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics for

      Tourism

      [http://ethics.unwto.org/en/content/global-code-ethics-tourism ], to

      maximize tourism's socio-economic contribution while minimizing its

      possible negative impacts, and is committed to promoting tourism as an

      instrument in achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals

      MDGs)[http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/index.shtml ], geared towards

      reducing poverty and fostering sustainable development.

    - UNWTO generates market knowledge, promotes

      competitive and sustainable tourism policies and instruments, fosters

      tourism education and training, and works to make tourism an effective

      tool for development through technical assistance projects in over 100

      countries around the world.

    - UNWTO's membership includes 156 countries, 6 Associate Members and over

      400 Affiliate Members representing the private sector, educational

      institutions, tourism associations and local tourism authorities.

   SOURCE: UBM Live Routes Ltd