Image: Tourism is to feature on G20 leaders' agenda

G20 tourism ministers are to meet with industry organisations to finalise the proposed input to a meeting of international heads of state meeting taking place next month in Mexico.

The "T20" are gathering with leaders of the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) among others to discuss the contribution.

According to the International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP), the move owes much to Mexican President Felipe Calderón and his belief in tourism as a socio-economic driver.

ICTP president Professor Geoffrey Lipman said: "The G20 is about big global policy issues like financial markets, saving the Euro and fighting terror - a positive paragraph about tourism in its communique will be a big success in itself.

"The challenge is that many governments talk a big game when it comes to tourism and jobs, but often those who are talking the loudest and extolling the job creation delivery of the sector, are the same ones who are cutting back on their support systems."

Details: www.tourismpartners.org (ICTP)

Details: t20.unwto.org (T20)

Image: egd/shutterstock.com