WTO to Hold Bird Flu Brief at ITB Berlin 2006

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) will use ITB Berlin next week to hold its first in a series of briefings on avian influenza and preparedness planning.

UNWTO Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli and his Special Advisor Geoffrey Lipman will be joined by the heads of major travel organizations including David McMillan, IH&RA, Peter de Jong, PATA and Martin Brackenberry, IFTO.

A video overview from UN System Influenza Coordinator David Navarro will start the event. The one-hour briefing commencing at 9.15 a.m. on 10 March in the ICC (Room 7) will focus on action by the international community, coordinated under the auspices of the UN, to respond to the current outbreaks of avian influenza, the very limited implications for tourism to date and the plans being initiated to minimize impacts in the future.

The goals are both to inform stakeholders of the importance of preparedness and to begin a process of extending the information and response network. The briefing will also pay special attention to the situation and needs of the poorest countries and will lead in to UNWTO´s STEP Forum, which has become a traditional event at the ITB.

“The issue of avian influenza and the possibility of mutation of the virus to a human influenza is out there now and we should focus on it in a measured and rational way” stressed Mr. Lipman “So far its impact on tourism has been minimal, but we need to prepare for all eventualities. There is a need for efficient sharing of information and preparation.”