The first UNWTO Global Youth Tourism Summit in Italy: young people and institutions meet as equals to present the “10 commandments of tourism” defined by kids and teens all over the world
PRESS RELEASE
COUNTDOWN TO THE FIRST UNWTO GLOBAL YOUTH TOURISM SUMMIT IN ITALY
YOUNG PEOPLE AND INSTITUTIONS DIALOGUE AS EQUALS
THE “TEN COMMANDMENTS OF TOURISM” DEFINED BY CHILDREN AND TEENS FROM AROUND THE WORLD WILL BE PRESENTED
EVENT ORGANISED BY UNWTO WITH THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM AND ENIT
VIDEO MESSAGES FROM POPE FRANCIS, SOPHIA LOREN AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC FIGURES
CONCERT FOR PEACE WILL CLOSE THE PROCEEDINGS
The countdown is on for the first UNWTO Global Youth Tourism Summit (GYTS), the first summit for the world's youth to meet as equals with institutions on tourism and sustainability issues with an eye to the future.
This first ever edition will take place in Sorrento, Italy, from 27 June to 3 July, where the UNWTO, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and the Italian National Tourist Board (ENIT), will involve 130 young people aged between 12 and 18 from 60 countries around the world.
The teens will get a full immersion in the world of tourism, analysing and reflecting on its negative and positive aspects in an exploration in search of solutions. They will "work" together and listen to politicians and institutions from their own countries and key figures in the tourism sector as well as leading figures from the fields of sports, food, entertainment and innovation, including Pope Francis, Mariya Gabriel, Sophia Loren, Diego Simeone, and Fernando Hierro, and many other international VIPs will be present remotely to inspire future tourism leaders with their video messages to contribute to the definition of the World Tourism Agenda 2030. Among the international speakers are UN Youth Envoy Jayathma Wickramanayake, UNWTO Ambassadors for Responsible Tourism Valeria Mazza, Didier Drogba, Gino Sorbillo, Pilar Rodriguez and many other prominent personalities such as founder and president of the Smallworld Foundation Salam Hamzeh Ghaith, MasterCard Vice President Nicola Villa and Hilton Group Vice President Dominique Piquemal.
A unique opportunity that will give participants the chance to ask questions and engage directly with UN and government officials as well as Ministers of Tourism from Congo, Croatia, Germany, Georgia, Albania, Maldives, Spain, Montenegro, Sao Tome & Principe, Yemen and many other UNWTO Member States. This even includes a special session dedicated to and in preparation for the model General Assembly, called 'Ask Your Minister'.
"A unique platform to celebrate and empower the next generation of tourism leaders. The GYTS will help build a lasting legacy by providing young people with the skills and knowledge they need to transform tourism, not only in their own communities but everywhere," said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili.
"The Italian government is proud to host the first World Youth Tourism Congress in Sorrento. We are certain that ideas and proposals will emerge that can advise governments on how to improve the global tourism offer and bring it closer to the needs of new tourists," says Tourism Minister Massimo Garavaglia.
Alessandra Priante, UNWTO Director for Europe, said at the launch of the event: “Tourism offers opportunities to young people. But young people give tourism the opportunity to become stronger and more resilient. We are extremely proud of the first generation of GYSTers, who are already showing their promise and commitment to transform tourism, starting in their local communities.”
"The synergy that can be created in the dialogue as equals between the under-19 generation and these institutions can only be good for tourism, looking to tomorrow with renewed eyes and with ideas that already taste of the future. We are more excited than the young people we will meet," says ENIT CEO Roberta Garibaldi.
6 masterclasses (which will also be streamed on the YOUTUBE UNWTO channel), 2 "evening talks", 12 international super-speakers and a UNWTO Model General Assembly will allow young people to engage in a debate on tourism and discuss innovative proposals for the future of sustainable tourism within the global framework of the UN 2030 Agenda and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
A busy programme full of activities for the young people, including the sea. The MSC Foundation will take the teens on an afternoon of in-depth study of the techniques of the sea and navigation, bringing awareness to how complex but also essential the world of cruises is to a country's economy. At the end of the activities, there will be an in-depth discussion on biodiversity and the marine world in collaboration with Marevivo and the MSC Foundation, who will take the GYTSers on an excursion to the Marine Protected Area of Punta Campanella.
A study on the impact of COVID19 on young people will be presented during the Summit, with a specific focus on young people in ASIA and in ITALY.
Innovation will play a major role, along with the ITU (International Telecommunication Union), which will discuss online security using digital means, the World Food Forum (facilitated by FAO), which will talk about how to reduce food waste, the Qatar Foundation, which will animate some of the children's activities, and a virtual immersion in the Metaverse organised in partnership with Meta.
There will also be a powerful call for peace, through a concert by the famous Ukrainian National Choir "Veryovka" directed by Maestro Igor Kyrilov, with Maestro Carlo Ponti Jr. conducting, which will take place in the auditorium of the Hilton Sorrento Palace on 2 July at 6:30 p.m.
Francesca Cicatelli
ENIT Press Office
Phone: (+39) 392.9225216
e-mail: francesca.cicatelli@enit.it