Trade and Development Implications of Tourism Services for Developing Countries

Notification

In preparation for UNCTAD XII, to be held from 20 to 25 April 2008 in Accra, Ghana, UNCTAD, in collaboration with United Nations-World Tourism Organization (UN-WTO), is organizing a meeting on the trade and development implications of tourism services, to be held on 19 and 20 November 2007 at the United Nations Office at Geneva, Palais des Nations, in room XXV.

Participation

UNCTAD member States are requested to nominate experts by no later than 22 October 2007. Experts, who will participate in the meeting in their personal capacities, are expected to have proven expertise in the subject, and may be selected from governmental or non governmental organizations, private entities or academia. The meeting may be of particular interest to government officials and representatives of the private sector involved in tourism services, as well as services trade negotiators. In addition, experts from international and regional organizations will be invited to attend the meeting as resource persons.

Financial assistance

Funds will be made available to finance the participation of a limited number of officially nominated experts from LDCs and small economies. Governments requiring funding are therefore invited to explicitly request financing in their letters of nomination. The decision as to which experts should receive financing will be based on the principle of equitable geographical representation and the expertise of the experts concerned. Changes in nominated experts will be considered as new nominations.

Nominations with requests for financing should be received by no later than 23 October 2007, and should be accompanied by the following information about the nominee:

• Position
• Mailing address
• Telephone and fax number
• E-mail address
• Name of a contact person in the country´s permanent mission in Geneva

It should be noted in this connection that once the list of experts to be financed has been finalized, all travel arrangements will be made in accordance with United Nations rules and regulations. The least costly fare will be authorized.

Background documents and contributed papers

All experts are encouraged to prepare and submit brief papers related to one or several of the issues contained in the sessions of the meeting, as well as those relating to their country´s experience in policymaking, regulation and liberalization of tourism services; tourism services providers´ experience in particular countries; the contribution of tourism services (and their liberalization) to broader development objectives; the role of ICT and regional integration groupings in relation to tourism services; and experience with the implementation of sustainable tourism and pro-poor policies and strategies. These papers will be made available to the meeting in the form and language in which they are received.

Logistics

The meeting will take place at the United Nations Office at Geneva, Palais des Nations. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided in French and Spanish.

Upon arrival, participants are requested, before entering the Palais des Nations, to collect their badges at the United Nations Security Service, Pregny Gate entrance, 14 Avenue de la Paix. The Security Service is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Because of the security measures in force, participants are strongly advised to arrive before 9 a.m. in order to complete entry procedures in good time and proceed to the meeting in the E-Building (Bâtiment E) of the Palais. Participants are requested to carry a passport or similar national identity card with them. Taxis are not allowed to enter the grounds of the Palais des Nations, and visitors will therefore be dropped off at the entrance gates. Furthermore, luggage may not be brought into the buildings unless the United Nations Security Service gives special clearance.

Further information and contact details

Nominations and related communications concerning representation at the meeting should be sent to the UNCTAD secretariat, Intergovernmental Affairs and Outreach Service, Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10; fax: + 41(0) 22 917 0214; e-mail: correspondenceunctad.org.

All other enquiries should be addressed to the coordinator in the substantive division, tel.: +41 (0)22 917 5866 or +41 (0)22 917 5271; fax: +41 (0)22 917 0044; e-mail: mina.mashayekhiunctad.org or norbert.lebaleunctad.org or emily.mburuunctad.org

(p.p. signed: Lakshmi Puri)

Supachai Panitchpakdi
Secretary-General of UNCTAD
15 October 2007