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The Yukon Sustainable Tourism Observatory, hosted by the Government of Yukon, will identify, measure and interpret sustainable tourism conditions to guide evidence-based decision making. This will help the Yukon to better deal with post-pandemic recovery and future growing, ensuring the sector is managed in a sustainable and responsible manner.
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “We warmly welcome the Yukon into our growing global network of observatories. The Observatory can help Yukon to better manage its tourism sector, recovering and growing back more sustainably for the benefit of visitors and residents alike.”
Inclusive future for Yukon tourismThe Yukon is one of Canada’s vast northern territories with a strong and burgeoning tourism industry. The Yukon Tourism Development Strategy “Sustainable Tourism. Our path. Our Future. 2018-2028” called for the establishment of a framework to measure progress on the sustainable tourism development goals in accordance with the vision, goals and actions of the Strategy. Within this context, Yukon pursued the establishment of an observatory on sustainable tourism within the INSTO Framework, with the aim to provide the sector with knowledge on the state of sustainability to make informed decisions and investments.
Minister of Tourism and Culture of Yukon, Ranj Pillai says: “We are very proud to join this prestigious and important network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories as Canada’s first northern member. The Yukon Sustainable Tourism Framework will drive the shift towards sustainable tourism development in the Yukon by bringing the sector together to better understand the impacts of tourism and guide our decision making for the benefit of all Yukoners.”
Minister of Environment of Yukon, Nils Clarke, adds: “The Yukon government is honoured to receive this international recognition for the vital and groundbreaking work being done to address climate change in the territory. Together with the Our Clean Future Strategy, Yukon’s Sustainable Tourism Framework commits us to alignment with global best practices and promotes a balance between economic, social and environmental values.”ADVERTISEMENTThe Yukon Sustainable Tourism Observatory is the second Observatory in Canada, after the Thompson Okanagan Sustainable Tourism Observatory and brings the worldwide total to 31.
About INSTOThe UNWTO International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO) was created in 2004 with the main objectives to support the continuous improvement of sustainability and resilience in the tourism sector through systematic, timely and regular monitoring of tourism performance and to connect dedicated destinations, helping them to exchange and improve knowledge and understanding about destination-wide resource use and the responsible management of tourism.

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Dubai consolidated its status as a global cultural hub and investment destination, ranking first in the MENA region and second in the world in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) in the cultural and creative industries (CCI) in 2021, revealed Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) and member of the Dubai Council. Her Highness said Dubai’s emergence as a magnet for FDI in the sector has been driven by the farsighted vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
According to the Dubai FDI Monitor report, published by the Dubai Investment Development Agency (Dubai FDI), an agency of the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Dubai attracted 233 new projects in the creative economy in 2021. Surpassing other major cities such as New York, Singapore and Berlin, Dubai improved its rankings from fifth in the previous year. The report was based on data from the Financial Times’ ‘fDi Markets,’ the world’s leading data source on greenfield FDI projects.
HH Sheikha Latifa said: “These results reflect the maturity and stability of the investment environment in the emirate’s creative economy. Dubai has created outstanding FDI opportunities in the sector by building a robust ecosystem and an advanced business-enabling infrastructure for creative entrepreneurs.
“By fostering an environment that promotes learning, development, and innovation, Dubai has developed a vibrant global creative community. Its unique social fabric that has evolved out of the emirate’s remarkable cultural diversity and its comprehensive human-centred development process has further supported the growth of Dubai’s creative economy.”
Data from Dubai FDI Monitor indicates significant growth in foreign investment in the cultural and creative industries. The sector’s estimated value of FDI capital flows exceeded AED4.9 billion in 2021. The rise in FDI inflow and rankings reflect the enhanced attractiveness of the emirate’s creative economy. In terms of the number of new jobs in the creative economy, Dubai held on to its top rank regionally and fourth globally with 6,204 new jobs created from FDI.ADVERTISEMENTA magnet for FDIHH Sheikha Latifa said Dubai has witnessed a remarkable rise in FDI capital flows in the creative economy during the past five years. In the 2017-21 five-year period, the emirate’s creative economy witnessed FDI capital inflows of AED50.9 billion across 787 projects. This increase follows the directives and initiatives of Dubai’s wise leadership to make the emirate a destination for creativity and talent through innovative infrastructure, laws and legislation. The results are now a tangible and sustainable reality in the development journey, as envisioned by the leadership.
According to the Dubai FDI Monitor report, these projects created 32,542 new jobs during the five-year period. Dubai ranks fifth globally in terms of projects, eighth in terms of FDI capital flows into the creative economy, and fourth in terms of jobs created during the past five years, data from Financial Times Ltd ‘fDi Markets’ shows.
Her Highness further said: “Dubai’s success in continuously enhancing the well-being of its citizens, residents, and visitors and elevating the quality of services provided to them has raised the global creative community’s confidence in the emirate and made it a preferred global business, lifestyle, and entertainment destination.”
A futuristic global hub for the creative economyHer Excellency Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture, said the Authority continues to reinforce the foundations to open new horizons for the various components of the emirate’s creative economy and cement its position on the global scene as an ideal investment destination. “At Dubai Culture, we continue to work to enhance Dubai’s position on the global creative economy map and support and attract talent by developing mechanisms, strategies, legislative frameworks, regulations and policies that ensure ease of doing business in creative fields. We also continue to explore partnerships with government, semi-government and private entities, experts, consultants, and creative sector representatives to create new opportunities that ensure prosperity for all. We endeavour to consolidate the emirate’s position as a global destination for investment in the cultural and creative industries.”
“2021 witnessed increased inflows of FDI capital into Dubai’s creative economy despite the pandemic, which reflects the emirate’s flexibility and readiness to face all challenges, nurture talent and help businesses maintain their stability, sustainability and competitiveness,” Badri added.
His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai, stressed that Dubai’s regional and global pre-eminence in FDI attraction stems from the vision and guidance of the leadership to build a diversified economy based on knowledge and innovation. “The cultural and creative industries today are among the most attractive for investments, advanced technologies, and talent. The sector has contributed greatly to Dubai achieving the top global ranking in attracting greenfield FDI projects in 2021,” added AlMarri.
Fahad Al Gergawi, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai FDI, stressed that Dubai’s cultural and creative industries sector has increased its attractiveness to all forms of FDI, including greenfield FDI projects, FDI Reinvestment projects, Mergers and Acquisitions (M&As), Joint-Ventures, and New Forms of Investments (NFIs), in addition to Venture Capital (VC) Backed FDI. “The Dubai FDI Monitor data provides a comprehensive analysis of FDI projects in Dubai’s economic sectors. It helps the strategic planning process for enhancing Dubai’s attractiveness for FDI, as well as the FUSpromotion, facilitation and the provision of specialised and reliable services to the investor community,” Al Gergawi said.
According to ‘Dubai FDI Monitor’ data, Greenfield FDI accounted for 71% of the total FDI projects in Dubai’s cultural and creative industries in 2021, followed by Mergers & Acquisitions projects (12% of the total), Reinvestment FDI projects (9%), New Forms of Investments (5%) and Joint Venture (2%).
Dubai Culture is working with its strategic partners to develop an effective framework that will enhance the growth of Dubai’s culture and arts sector and raise its contribution to the emirate’s GDP. It is supported by the full activation of Dubai Culture’s founding law, which stipulates its role as a policymaker, regulator, and enabler of this sector in the emirate.
Dubai is considered the World’s Leading Business Travel Destination 2021 by World Travel Awards.

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The government has published Flightpath to the future – its strategic framework for the future of aviation for the next 10 years.
Luke Petherbridge, Director of Public Affairs, ABTA commented:
“We welcome the publication of the Department for Transport’s new Aviation Strategy which sets out a framework for the recovery and future success of the UK’s world-leading travel industry. As we emerge from the crisis, there are many critical challenges ahead, including rebuilding consumer confidence, driving forward the sustainability agenda, and ensuring travel remains an attractive place to work. Constructive and regular engagement between industry and Government will be required to tackle these challenges successfully, and we particularly welcome the formation of the Aviation Council which will help to facilitate an ongoing dialogue. ABTA looks forward to engaging to ensure the views of the wider travel industry are heard and understood.”

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In the luxury travel market, there has been an influx of consumer travel trends as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes a boom in private aviation services at the high end of the market, remote working from overseas locations and demand for private buyouts of large villas or boutique hotels, finds GlobalData.
The leading data and analytics company’s latest report, ‘Luxury Travel Market Trend and Analysis of Traveller Types, Key Destinations, Challenges and Opportunities, 2022 Update’ reveals that as luxury travellers resume travelling both domestically and abroad in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, they may begin to seek experiences that are more immersive and more exceptional than in previous years.
Hannah Free, Travel and Tourism Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “With travellers determined to make up for lost time, 2022 could see an increase in holiday budgets for luxury travellers, with an uptick in demand for ‘once in a lifetime’ adventures. According to a GlobalData poll, when respondents were asked if their holiday budgets had changed due to COVID-19, 16% reported that their budgets were ‘a lot higher than pre-COVID-19’, while 12% of respondents stated that their budgets were ‘slightly higher than pre-COVID-19’.”
Despite the demand for luxury travel, there is a growing demographic of socially conscious, high-net-worth consumers who are rejecting overt displays of wealth in favor of inconspicuous and responsible consumption. Their approach to luxury is driven by ethical living, artisanship, authenticity and sustainability. Experience is the new currency for these holidaymakers, who seek self-fulfillment through greener travel and eco holidays, while wanting to ‘do good’ for people and the planet. If luxury travel brands ignore this trend, it could put them at tremendous risk of total disconnect with an audience who are looking for sustainable options.
“While COVID-19 has changed many aspects of luxury travel, there are still several defining features which sets the sector apart from mass market tourism. This includes hyper-personalisation, exclusivity, unique experiences, intuitive service and the ever important ‘human touch’ element.”ADVERTISEMENT

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The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has revealed Italy’s travel and tourism sector will provide a significant boost to the country’s economic recovery and could almost reach pre-pandemic levels next year, just 0.3% below 2019 levels.
The latest forecast from WTTC’s Economic Impact Report (EIR) shows the sector’s contribution to GDP could reach more than €194 billion next year, while employment in the sector could also hit pre-pandemic levels.
The report from the global tourism body also reveals that the travel and tourism sector will grow at an annual average rate of 2.5% for the next 10 years, five times the 0.5% growth rate of the overall Italian economy. It will be worth over €226 billion by 2032.
The forecast also reveals the travel and tourism sector in Italy is expected to create more half a million (533,000) jobs in the next 10 years, averaging more than 53,000 new jobs every year.
In 2022, the sector’s contribution to GDP is expected to grow 8.7% to more than €176 billion, representing 9.6% of the total economic GDP, while employment in the sector is set to grow by 2% to reach almost 2.7 million jobs.ADVERTISEMENTJulia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “The pandemic was catastrophic for Italy’s travel and tourism sector, wiping billions from the economy as businesses collapsed, and thousands of people lost their jobs.
“After two very difficult years, the outlook is now much brighter. Travel and tourism’s projections provide a massive boost, not only to Italy’s overall economy, but to the creation of new jobs.”
Before the pandemic, when travel and tourism was at its peak, the total contribution to GDP was 10.6% (€194.8 billion) in 2019, falling to just 6.1% (€102.6 billion) in 2020, representing a painful 47.3% loss.
The sector also supported nearly 2.9 million jobs, before an almost complete halt to international travel resulted in a loss of more than 400,000 (15.4%), to reach just over 2.4 million in 2020.
WTTC’s latest EIR report also reveals that 2021 saw the beginning of the recovery for the country’s travel and tourism sector.
Last year, its contribution to GDP climbed a positive 58.5% year on year to reach €162.6 billion, while employment in the sector grew 9.4%, to reach more than 2.6 million.
The sector’s contribution to the economy and employment could have been higher if it weren’t for the impact of the Omicron variant, which led to the recovery faltering around the world, with many countries reinstating severe travel restrictions.

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TUI Group, one of the world’s leading tourism groups, has revamped, expanded and relaunched the TUI Collection, one of the largest portfolios of original, branded experiences in the travel industry. The relaunch continues the Group’s strategic focus on tours and activities as a key growth pillar and supports the ongoing expansion of TUI’s digital platform for experiences.
“With the TUI Collection we are offering an unrivalled selection of high quality, original, and more sustainable tours and activities,” said Peter Ulwahn, CEO of TUI Musement, the tours and activities division of TUI Group. “Our original, TUI branded experiences are a strategic focus to drive further growth and are already the most popular tours and activities in our destinations. We are building on this success by relaunching a significantly strengthened TUI Collection portfolio with a sharpened value proposition and additional experiences that will see more and more customers enjoying tours and activities from TUI.”
Over five million TUI Collection experiences have been delivered since the concept was created in 2015. The relaunch sees the portfolio grow from 385 to over 650 tours and activities, available in more than 100 sun & beach and city destinations. TUI Collection experiences are designed to provide customers with great value through high-quality, more sustainable tours and activities, led by expert guides that deliver unique local insights. Highlights from the TUI Collection portfolio include a Holbox Island Boat and Buggy Tour from Chiquila, Mexico; a Majorcan village excursion involving different forms of vintage and historic transport to visit Port de Soller and Sa Calobra; and a hike in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, exploring scenic trails, discovering remote Berber villages, markets and a cooking class organised by a Berber family.
The TUI Collection relaunch comes as new research commissioned by TUI shows that most holidaymakers will enjoy two experiences per holiday, with nearly 70 percent of holidaymakers on a sun & beach holiday and three quarters on a city break likely to book more than one experience during their time away. Additionally, tours and activities was revealed to represent the highest share of in-destination spend; 40%.
TUI Group is considered the Europe’s Leading Tour Operator 2021 by voters at the World Travel Awards.ADVERTISEMENT

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The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has revealed the travel and tourism sector in France will propel the national economic recovery and could even surpass pre-pandemic levels next year, when it is projected to rise 2.2% above 2019 levels.
The forecast from WTTC’s latest Economic Impact Report (EIR) shows the sector’s contribution to GDP could reach more than €216 billion by next year.
Employment within the sector could also exceed 2019 levels, creating almost 90,000 additional jobs, representing nearly 2.8 million by the end of next year.
According to the global Tourism body’s latest data, travel and tourism’s GDP is expected to grow at an average of 2.8% annually over the next decade, more than twice the 1.3% growth rate of the country’s overall economy, to reach nearly €264 billion (9% of the total economy).
The forecast also reveals the travel and tourism sector in France, is expected to create more than 385,000 jobs in the next 10 years, averaging over 38,000 new jobs every year, reaching more than three million employed within the sector by 2032.ADVERTISEMENTAdditionally, by the end of this year, the sector’s contribution to GDP is expected to grow 24.3% to more than €200 billion, amounting to 7.8% of the total economic GDP, while employment in the sector is set to grow at a slower rate at 3.1%, to reach nearly 2.7 million jobs.
Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “France is the world’s most popular destination, the backbone to the European travel and tourism sector. The pandemic really hit the French economy when international travel came to a standstill.
“Throughout the pandemic, President Macron and his government recognised the importance of our sector and has shown total commitment to the recovery.
“WTTC data offers a positive outlook, showing a clear recovery of both the economic contribution from travel and tourism and jobs, which will provide a strong boost to businesses across the country.”
Before the pandemic, France’s travel and tourism total contribution to GDP was 8.4% (€211.9 billion) in 2019, falling to just 5% (€114.9 billion) in 2020, representing a staggering 45.8% loss.
The sector also supported nearly 2.7 million jobs, before an almost complete halt to international travel which resulted in a loss of 255,000 (9.5%), to reach just over 2.4 million in 2020.
WTTC’s latest EIR report also reveals that 2021 saw the beginning of the recovery for the country’s travel and tourism sector.
Last year, its contribution to GDP climbed 40.6% year on year, to reach €161.5 billion.
However, the recovery of jobs was slower with just 170,000 travel and tourism jobs created, to reach 2.6 million.
The sector’s contribution to the economy and employment could have been higher if it weren’t for the impact of the Omicron variant, which led to the recovery faltering around the world, with many countries reinstating severe travel restrictions.

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Weakened traveler confidence, combined with strict COVID-19 measures, saw Poland’s outbound tourism numbers shrink to a fraction of what they were in 2019, says GlobalData. Figures from the leading data and analytics company reveal that outbound tourism from Poland declined by 62.7% year-on-year (YoY) from 2019 to 2020, to just 6.8 million international departures. However, international visits are projected to grow in 2022 and beyond as restrictions are eased across the globe.
GlobalData’s latest report, ‘Poland Source Tourism Insight, 2022 Update’, reveals that outbound travel from Poland is projected to recover to pre-pandemic levels by 2024, with international departures forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9% from 13.2 million projected international departures in 2022, to 18 million by 2025.
Megan Cross, Associate Travel and Tourism Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Poland is a source market that is growing in importance due to its uptake of budget-friendly options, such as low-cost carriers (LCCs). GlobalData’s survey found that 65% of Polish respondents identified affordability as a main factor in deciding where to go on holiday. Additionally, digitalized services and products are now of the utmost importance when attracting the Polish market. Over a quarter (26%) of Polish respondents stated that they typically use online travel agents when booking a trip, which was the most popular booking method.”
Polish tourists are also showing a strong preference for sun and beach destinations, with 60% of respondents saying they typically take holidays of this type. In comparison, just 20% of respondents in the survey said they went on city break holidays in 2021, a small number, especially when compared to the rest of Europe, which averages 39%. This could be due to concerns regarding the pandemic remaining among travelers, with only 4% of Polish travelers responding that they are not concerned about the spread of the virus.
Cross adds: “Demand for city break holidays is likely to be altered in the short term due to lingering COVID-19 fears of infection, which may drive desires to visit more rural areas. Croatia beat Italy as the number one outbound destination for Polish tourists, with easy, direct travel routes between the two countries, and many rural destinations, such as Rastoke for travelers looking for appealing active outdoor holidays.ADVERTISEMENT“Polish tourists are displaying distinct preferences which travel industry players such as destination management organizations, tourism boards and hotels would be remiss not to recognize considering the impact of the pandemic on the tourism industry.”

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