Next week, ATTA President Shannon Stowell will be speaking at the World Bank Group Tourism Forum in Washington, D.C. The forum theme this year is “Driving Development Through Tourism” and will bring together destination representatives, tourism business leaders and the World Bank Group to discuss how tourism can reduce poverty, boost economic growth, build social progress and ultimately ensure peace.
The ATTA’s involvement will be on the second day of the conference, December 9, and Stowell will participate in a plenary panel discussion called “Confronting Crises and Reinforcing Resilience.” Drawing on the ATTA’s experience in Nepal this year, helping the country’s tourist economy rebound after deadly earthquakes, Stowell will contribute to the conversation on how countries can prepare for and recover from natural and political crises.
The panel will be moderated by UNWTO special advisor Anita Mendiratta, who will ask panelists how destinations can be better prepared to respond to crises. Mendiratta suggests that the tourism industry can be active in building destinations back to strength even as established institutions and government bodies may struggle with the decisions necessary to mobilize a formal response. ATTA has seen that in those situations the adventure industry can be a significant contributor to the recovery process.
Stowell will be joined in the panel discussion by destination representatives from Colombia, Lebanon and Dominica.
To attend the World Bank Group Tourism Forum or to watch the proceedings online, please register