Tony Blair heads cast of 60 experts at WTTC Asia Summit

September 9, 2013

Former United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair heads a cast of tourism ministers and more than 60 Chief Executives at the World Travel & Tourism Council's (WTTC) Asia Summit which starts in Seoul on Tuesday.

Presenting the Summit Keynote, Blair will give his observations on leadership and the current geopolitical climate following by an extended question-and-answer session with WTTC President and Chief Executive David Scowsill, which will include questions relating to the Syria crisis and the Korea dispute.

This promises to be a fascinating session which can be viewed live on the WTTC website at 14.00 local time (1pm AEST).

Also participating at the Asia Summit will be ministers of tourism from around the region and over 60 leaders from the tourism industry who are coming together at WTTC's inaugural Asia Summit, to focus on the region of the world which will be in the vanguard of tourism development growth.

Over the next ten years, growth in tourism's total contribution to GDP will average 5-7% in Asia.

The WTTC forecasts that tourism will create over 47 million new jobs in Asia over the next decade, and that by 2023 China will have overtaken the United States as the world's largest tourism economy, measured by total GDP contribution and the forecast size of the outbound market.

As Scowsill explains "the WTTC Asia Summit will address what needs to be done to harness the enormous growth potential, in Korea and beyond, showcasing countries which are driving the industry with an enlightened approach.

"It provides the opportunity for a stimulating exchange between private and public sector, and it will tackle some of the most pressing issues facing Travel & Tourism today."

The theme of the Asia Summit is 'Staying Ahead of Tomorrow' which encapsulates the region's global lead in technology development; consumer understanding across different cultures; planning ahead for infrastructure build; launching new product; and developing human capital.

Keeping 'Staying Ahead of Tomorrow' firmly in mind, media from around the world are being invited to follow and participate in the event in real time - regardless of whether they attend in person.

The complete Summit program will be filmed and streamed live on the WTTC's website, while journalists will also be able to put live questions to the speakers via Twitter, throughout the event.

In addition, pre-Summit social media events are scheduled for this week.

Professor Ian Goldin, Director of the Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, is launching the debate by hosting a Google+ Hangout to discuss 'The Future of Travel'. Later, Juhum Park, Chief Executive of the Dabeeo Co, will also be using Google+ to talk about the direction of 'Travel Tech in Asia', while Thea Chiesa of the World Economic Forum and Adam Sacks, President of Tourism Economics, will co-host a Twitter chat to discuss the 'Barriers and Opportunities' to tourism growth in Asia.

At the Summit, Tony Blair, will be joined by speakers from global travel and tourism's elite including:

• SHIN Dong-Bin Chairman, Lotte Group

• Dr Michael Frenzel, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, TUI Deutschland GmbH. and TUIfly GmbH

• Doug Anderson, President & Chief Executive, Carlson Wagonlit Travel

• Professor Ian Goldin, Director, Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford

• H.E. Ramon Jimenez, Secretary of Tourism, Government of Philippines

• H.E. Mari Elka Pangestu, Minister of Tourism & Creative Economy, Republic of Indonesia

• Byung-il Choi President & Chief Executive, Korea Economic Research Institute

• Pier Luigi Foschi, Chairman & Chief Executive, Carnival Asia and Chairman of the Board, Costa Crociere SPA

• Dhiren Fonseca, Chief Commercial Officer, Expedia, Inc.

• Yong-Joo Jeon, Chief Executive, Sidus IHQ

• Chang-su Jung President & Chief Executive, Incheon Airport

• Professor Kaye Kye-Sung Chon, Professor and Director of School, Hotel and Tourism Management, Hong Kong Polytechnic University

• Geoffrey J W Kent, Founder, Chairman & Chief Executive, Abercrombie & Kent

• Bong-gi Kim, Chief Executive, Incheon Medical Tourism Foundation

• Professor. Youn Taek Lee, Professor, Hanyang University, Graduate School, Department of International Tourism

• Masaru Onishi, Chairman, Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.

• Satoshi Seino, Chairman and Director, East Japan Railway Company

• Taeho Sim, President, AT Kearney

• John Slosar, Chief Executive, Cathay Pacific Airways Limited

• Hiromi Tagawa, President & Chief Executive, JTB Corp

• Brett Tollman, The Travel Corporation, President & Chief Executive

• Takanobu Yamamoto, President, Rakuten Travel Inc.

• Jinryong Yoo, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Republic of Korea

The inaugural World Travel & Tourism Council Asia Summit is being at the Lotte Hotel, Seoul, Korea on 10th and 11th September,

For more information on the WTTC Asia Summit go to www.wttc.org

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