1. The Centre for Global Development
Steve Noakes has become a charter member of the Global Development Society ( http://www.cgdev.org ) – people who share a commitment to a better future for people in the developing world. The member contribution receives a “matching gift” from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation equal to the amount paid. ( www.gatesfoundation.org )
The Centre for Global Development is an independent, not-for-profit think tank that works to reduce global poverty and inequality by encouraging policy change in the U.S. and other rich countries through rigorous research and active engagement with the policy community. Amongst its activities, it publishes The Commitment to Development Index (CDI) which rates 21 rich countries on how much they help poor countries build prosperity, good government, and security.
( http://www.cgdev.org/section/initiatives/_active/cdi/ )
2. Tourism ROI
www.tourismROI.com
Pacific Asia Tourism Pty. Ltd. has increased its geographic Master Representative contract with Tourism ROI by adding: Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, South Korea and Brunei, now giving a total of 30 international destinations as follows:
- South Pacific: Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea as well as the South Pacific islands of Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Niue, Norfolk Island, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna
- South East Asia: Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Brunei, Lao PDR, Philippines, East Timor
- South Asia: Bhutan, Pakistan North Asia: South Korea, Mongolia
Tourism ROI will be “Officially Launched” at the world’s largest travel & tourism trade event, ITB Berlin, March 2008. Currently beta testing is underway to open TourismROI for Destination subscriptions (quietly) in January 2008. They are working with a handful of destinations (Colorado, Pocono Mountains, Montenegro, Kansas City, Barbados and maybe one or two others) to start adding content and act as demonstration models. This occurs in January. The technology team is working on the Investment Opportunities and Business Opportunities portion of the website in January/February so it we will commence Asia Pacific sales/marketing opportunities after they are complete in March. If you know anyone who might be interested in a local market sales representation deal in any of the above listed countries, please ask them to contact steve.noakes@tourismROI.com
Richard Miller, Tourism ROI interview from World Travel Mart, London.
http://www.travelmole.tv/watch_vdo.php?id=822
3. Tourism & Climate Change:
- Australian inputs: Prof. Terry de Lacy, Victoria University, has recently been at the UN Climate Change meetings in Bali, spoke at a Conference with Al Gore in the Caribbean and participated in the UNWTO, Davos, Switzerland meetings on tourism & climate change. He was subject on a Travel Mole interview: http://www.travelmole.tv/watch_vdo.php?sid=50&id=548
- India’s India’s Tourism Minister states position http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1124952.phpmpnlog=1&m_id=_r~Avs~T__r ‘Important issues such as carbon footprints, taxes on aviation fuel, energy efficiency methods, water conservation that are being widely discussed and debated in the context of climate change should not end up being another form of non-tariff barriers for tourism against the developing countries. We need to discuss new technologies which will be good for tourism. Global action on tourism should be well informed, educated, comprehensive and balanced.’
- As China Goes, So Goes Global Warming. New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/16/weekinreview/16revkin.html?ref=world ‘As always, the fingers of many experts on energy and the environment point both west and east — to the United States and China. The established superpower arose riding a wave of fossil-fueled prosperity. The emerging one, sitting on a wealth of coal, sees few reasons not to follow suit; after all, it has only just caught its wave (with India and others in hot pursuit). Yet the tide can only be turned, a host of scientists and economists with varied perspectives agree, if China and other rising powers like India speed through the familiar path in nation building — resource extraction, industrial and economic growth, accompanying despoliation, and then environmental restoration and protection. If they don’t, their emissions will eventually swamp all other sources, according to many analyses.’
- Forest Carbon Partnership Facility Launched At Bali Climate Meeting http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:21582088~pag ePK:34370~piPK:34424~theSitePK:4607,00.html
- Scientists Say Carbon Crisis Lethal For Coral Reefs http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:21587301~pag ePK:34370~piPK:34424~theSitePK:4607,00.html
4. World Business Council for Sustainable Development & SNV
Pacific Asia Tourism has been contracted by SNV to undertake an assignment on ‘Inclusive Business.’ Inclusive Business is a new concept developed by SNV Netherlands Development Organisation (www.snvworld.org ) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development ( www.wbcsd.org ) – an association of 200 of the world’s biggest corporations. It focuses on innovative business models that benefit low-income families by building secure livelihoods and creating new markets and company profits. The assignment examined the concept and approach of Inclusive Business strategies developed by SNV and the WBCSD in Latin America, and set out recommendations for SNV to work with WBCSD, UNWTO and other public and private sector agencies to adapt and apply this approach in the tourism sector in Asia. Contact Dr Paul Rogers, paul@pacificasiatourism.org if you’d like further information
5. Resources:
Asian Development Bank: Climate Change – Strengthening Mitigation and Adaptation in Asia and the Pacific http://www.adb.org/Documents/Brochures/Climate-Change/default.asp
International Comparison Program (ICP) in Asia and the Pacific: Purchasing Power Parity and Real Expenditure http://www.adb.org/Documents/Reports/ICP-Purchasing-Power-Expenditures/default.asp
According to the International Comparison Program (ICP) in Asia and the Pacific: Purchasing Power Parity and Real Expenditure, there is a huge disparity in real per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the region. The study, which was coordinated globally by the World Bank, allows comparison of major economic indicators for 146 countries globally. Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) is an idea popularized by The Economist’s Big Mac Index, which prices hamburgers in global cities for a quick and crude comparison of inter-country price levels.
Global Corruption Barometer 2007:
http://topics.developmentgateway.org/businessenvironment/rc/ItemDetail.do~1123
080?intcmp=700
Political parties and parliaments seen as institutions most compromised by corruption worldwide.
