 Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and thank you for coming to this press conference on the launch of the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2015 We're very very pleased to have a distinguished panel at the at the occasion composed of of three trade ministers from the region and the private sector representative So we have allow me to welcome Minister Ruiz, Monsieur from Mexico Minister Alvarez Correa Glenn from Colombia Mr. Jonas Reinhardt, Senior Vice President from Hilton and Minister Silva from Peru Thank you for joining us as for this for this occasion We have 30 minutes of time for this press conference So I would ask you to be very very brief in your remarks so that we can allow afterwards For questions and answers from the group and from those of you who are listening also Virtually to this webcast at press conference. Thank you I'll start by introducing very briefly the key findings of the report It's a report that has been produced by the World Economic Forum since 2007 We have hard copies here available if you're interested And it looks at four categories essentially it has an index at the core and looks at four categories Enabling environment the travel and tourism related policies Infrastructure and natural cultural resources. So these are the four factors that we that we assess and this year We have four key messages that came out of the analysis First of all the first message is that a travel tourism sector has been very resilient over the past years It is not only weathered well the geopolitical events of the past years Terrorism threats as well as a slowing economy, but it's also rebounded well from those from those threats So it shows a very high level of resilience We also saw this year that no matter that the countries that are better prepared to capture the new trends such as Changing geographical composition of the travelers moving more towards the emerging market middle rising middle classes in the emerging market But also different preference of travelers growing importance of online services, etc. Are those countries that perform better in the travel and tourism index? More Additionally, what is an important finding for us is that the travel and tourism sector actually is a very important sector for the economy as a whole But it's also important in terms of backward linkages. So there's a huge development impact So that's why it's very important for this region for social inclusion and and similar other policy goals And we see several developing an emerging market actually in the top 50 of the report Which is quite unusual compared to many of the other assessments that we undertake the And last but not least any improvements any any changes to the travel travel tourism environment and any development of the travel Tourism sector is not just a role of the public sector, right? It cannot be done. That's just fun by ministers But it's it requires a lot of coordination with the private sector International coordination collaboration as well and also across the ministries in different agencies within the country So it's a it's a complex issue and cannot be done by one single actor alone then in terms of the The rankings allow me to give a very few highlights and you can access the full rankings in them in the report And they are also available online Spain is leading the index for the first time this this year followed by France and Germany who are the three European best performance then we see that in In Africa South Africa is the best performer at 28th followed by special and Mauritius in Asia We see Australia at 7s with Japan and Hong Kong at 9th and 13th respectively in the Middle East We see you AE at 24th and the best North African country is Tunisia at 79th In this region in Latin America, Brazil is the best performer 28th followed by Mexico at 30th position and Maybe I'll stop here with an overview of the rankings and let me turn to the panel with A few questions about the performance of the countries from this region and that we have present here And so let me let me start with Mexico for with the host our host here today Minister Mexico has had a very strong Performance in this year's travel and tourism competitiveness report at 30th position. It's a it's a very good result we see some strengths in terms of cultural natural resources, but also some challenges in terms of Safety and security and the business environment as well And what we also see is that also here in Cancun most of the tourism you see very clearly Most of the tourists really come from from either Europe or from from the United States The future growth markets are rather developing countries the middle classes from the developing countries What are you what how are you planning to to capture those new markets from Mexico? well What the the report shows is that we have been very successful in tackling some of the issues We've had in the past mostly in terms of making the most of our attributes that That are essential for developing new New services and new types of destinations for today's traveler Link to our natural resources or our culture heritage, but we also have very large challenges mostly involving infrastructure and I say Infrastructure link to your question because we like everybody else We're all competing for a larger share of of the international market. We are We are working towards Capturing more and more of those emerging markets, but how are we going to receive them? So one of the main findings from this report that That we find especially useful is that we have to work on developing more Long-term infrastructure infrastructure not only in terms of airport infrastructure, but in terms of the types of Accommodations the type of Services such as not only hotels, but Commerce's Restaurants that will cater to the needs and expectations of those emerging markets and in that sense we have to work in two in two speeds one is today to Continue to receive the flows of tourists that we have been receiving at the rate of 20% growth last year and double-digit growth For the first trimester of this year and we have to continue to innovate to increase our infrastructure to generate The possibility the interest for those tourists to go somewhere else other than the destinations that we already have very well positioned and On the other hand, we have to work towards What we need to do to ensure that in the next years those emerging markets will continue to see Mexico as a Preferred destination so new markets will have to work towards them But the markets we have a strong presence right now and we have to continue to do what we have been doing But the report clearly shows where we have been making progress and where we have big challenges such as infrastructure Great, and you're continuing to address them in the case of in the case of Columbia we see also some some some challenges. Colombia's ranked since 68th this year on this year's travel and tourism index and You know, there are many strengths of the of the country, but obviously many challenges Many challenges that you have been addressing over the past year the country that is rebounded from Economically and also in terms of security situation as repositioned and rebranded itself a great success story Still in the index we see that on the safety and security the position is quite low So what is your what are your your next steps in terms of continuing this work? Let me address to the audience in Spanish so I can I prefer to speak Spanish so you can all understand But I can say meet a Colombia Well listen, Colombia has been developing a policy towards tourism, which is very important as it has been stated by our Panel member we have increased our position in 16 points within the ranking Which is something that is Something that is pleasing us very much and we must improve other areas, but let me illustrate you with some Colombian figures, which are very important Colombia last year in tourism We had an increase of 11% while the global figures had an increase of approximately 4% And this comes together with a situation, which is quite particular and it has to do with job generation the tourism sector Increased itself considerably in job generation We went beyond the target of job generation in a hundred and ninety percent almost 200,000 Que con el tema de la paz Que ustedes saben que el presidente ha estado enfocalizado desde su primer mandato en arreglar La paz en Colombia que es un conflicto que lleva más de 50 años este tema de seguridad lo que va a hacer es Que estaba unido al tema de la paz lo que va a hacer es incrementar el turismo y también Como lo dijo mi compañera de la alianza y la ministra de turismo de México es importante No sólo eso sino el tema de infraestructura y Colombia tiene un plan de infraestructura de 26 Billones de pesos que va a conectar las carreteras y obviamente el turismo pero también tiene Tiene que en la infraestructura de aeroportuaria Un plan de inversión de tres millones de pesos para intervenir casi 32 aeropuertos en el país y las cadenas hoteleras Internacionales han venido a haciendo inversiones considerable en el país la última inversión que conocida es el Hilton international va a construir alrededor de 26 hoteles en Ciudades intermedia se imaginan esto en en un sistema donde estamos pues haciendo todos los alcances posibles para obtener perfect segue to move on to to join us and And to tell us a little bit more about your experience your bigger experience That you have gathered investing in different countries and what are the learnings from this war for Latin America What can Latin America learn from the international experience when developing the travel and tourism sector very good. Thank you so This is a very important report. This is a very important session today And it's important because the the travel and tourism business globally is Booming at a rate much faster than the global rate of economic expansion This has been true for the last several years It's going to be true this year and it's going to continue to be true for the foreseeable future in 2013 we saw one billion Individuals take trips outside of their home country that number increased in 2014 by 4.7 percent And we expect that rate to continue and even Accelerate as time goes on and this is because in the larger developing countries in the world such as China We're seeing a greatly expanding middle class and these newly affluent people have a desire to go see the world come to the come to this region and Experience everything that it has to offer and specific to China We know that last year a 100 million Chinese took trips outside of China And we expect that in five years That number will double to 200 million so that's such a tremendous growth and All of those people are going to go someplace and where they go is is greatly Directed by the policies taken by governments by decisions taken by the private sector to develop certain destinations and it's really a multi-part puzzle in making a tourism destination work and I think here in in the Yucatan you have a an example of a Place that a destination that's a great global destination where they've done everything right with the infrastructure with in terms of the facilities the airports the Natural protection of the environment and a very solid visa policy and I'll Say that for the region Great statement that I heard earlier this week the the best thing the region can do To attract more tourists is really think regionally and if you look at the European Union They are the number one Region for tourism more people go to the European Union from outside than anywhere else in the world And that's not by accident They've got a visa policy where if you get a visa from a single European country You can visit 27 different countries within the European Union and I know that here in Latin America Some work has been done to develop an agreement to move in that direction. We think that's terrific It'll enable people to Stay longer see more things and you know enjoy more of the region and also spend more while they're here so regional thinking in terms of visa policy and multi Destination visas for Visitors coming in from abroad are a couple things that can be done here. Thank you. Thank you Interest in indeed a very interesting example of the shengen shengen visa and the Pacific Alliance is actually implementing some something That's very similar. We have three Pacific Alliance country ministers talk to us in here and Minister Silva, what do you expect in terms of the impact of this visa agreement from the Pacific? But let me talk about first about the report. I mean, it's been um, you know I would like to congratulate you because it's it's a great job. I mean you changed Methodology you upgraded the number of countries that we have measured out of 141 Countries Peru ranked 58 That's an increase of 15 points over the last year and our strengths are it's a it's great because With your 14 indexes they tell us Where are the areas that we need to improve as we know peruse? Basics as strengths are in nature and cultural we have Machu Picchu in Cusco We're proud of that, but we're all working on the diversification of the hours Touristics of life we have eight other different touristic circuits that we are exploding and that also that we need to see that Safeness and security as well as Improving our infrastructure we have to correct that because we have ranked 118 and 117 positions out of 141 So looking at that the whole the whole report tell us where as I said the policies that we have to implement in order to Take advantage of that movement that all over the world is Being pushed up people those hundred million Chinese and obviously Americans and Europeans in the case of Peru we received a 3.2 billion tourists last year the The country by far. I mean we receive 800,000 Chileans because we have a very important in tourism at the frontier the second largest Country is United States with 400,000 and this year so far We've been growing 11.5 almost 12% in the first quarter this year and going back or Let me do the analogy with the what tourism and travel and tourism has done to our country It's not only about about receiving, you know Foreigners in our country, but it's letting families Peruvian families knowing That to love your country to be proud of your country you have to know your country and that is the magic that Tourism does that connects us with people from other regions that let us know that No matter what people always feel proud of their surrounding of their local communities and travel and in tourism has allowed us in the case of Peru we lived a very long history of Uncertainty and as you know, we had a very big terrorism problem that Allowed and that didn't allow us to go out and and travel and meet people from our own country So we've developed a tool. It's called it took a plan is put on meaning. What about you? What are your plans? That is an electronically device that it has gathered more than three hundred and fifty firms that puts promotions and tries to a Diversify or this is on allies the Ansies on the Decisions that people take so that we all not take the same time and travel during our vacations or during the national holidays We're trying to promote the trips with schools We're working with communities to put on Villages and to move forward on the rural tourism that is bringing up and going back to the Pacific Alliance exactly That's what we've done. The four of us have been working on two promotion packages Taking into account that people are used to do the multi destiny That they're making decisions on multi destiny purposes meaning that Asians or Europeans or even Americans like to know other than one country in the four countries We offer different things, you know from beaches to cultural experiences to Gastronomy or natural parts. We all have different things in the visa Step the the elimination of the visa within our countries has done a remarkable increase in the first year of that Measure and we're doing the second stage of the Pacific Alliance right now is to work on third countries is that as you said We are trying to work and think as a block and trying to Connect with third countries meaning that the Pacific Alliance is one global block that will attract new investors and new Foreigners to come. Thank you. Thank you very. It's very definitely very promising promising developments for the for the region And thank you in particular for keeping it short and sweet so that we can take some questions from the floor You have the opportunity now to ask ask questions also online if If it's the case, so please who would like to ask the first question Everything was here Buenas tardes, mi nombre es Adriana Barillas y soy corresponsal el universal en aquí en Quintana Roo me gustaría saber cuánto tiempo duró este estudio cuáles son las Los elementos básicos que lo integran y que se está midiendo en el y bueno en el caso de de México me gustaría un poquito andar más en como Estás saliendo se ha ido una evolución en algunos Aspectos si existe algún retroceso en en otros y los grandes retos no de del país gracias Yes, so I let me tell you about the report in general the study was Was actually undertake was is based on data mostly of date from based on data from 2013 2014 from those two years It's an index that looks on at the essentially at the four areas They're mentioned up front so one is enabling environment so all the factors that are in the in the overall and business environment then specific travel and tourism policies so data in the realm of the country Infrastructure is an important component and this includes in hired infrastructure roads airports But also tourism infrastructure and the natural and cultural resources which are the main reasons for travel So these are the four components that we take into account and we can analyze the countries by those those different Components I have the results in mech from Mexico here if you would like to take take a more detailed look in terms of the comparison with the past years It is very difficult because we changed the methodology methodology this year. So the comparison with pastures. Unfortunately not possible Because it would be misleading Thank you Si quieres en español bueno, México subio cuatro catorce posiciones Ranking este año estamos en el lugar número 30 y tememos pues áreas donde somos muy fuertes y que nos dan una gran competitividad como es todo el tema de los recursos naturales y recursos herencia cultural que son Motivadores de viaje muy muy importantes también mejoramos por ejemplo en el número de días para empezar un negocio en el número de salidas o de viajes que se generan por cada 100 por cada mil habitantes en prácticas laborales de contratación o de movilidad en el sector por ejemplo pero si se identifica en algunas áreas de oportunidad Una que ya señalé que es el tema en general de infraestructura infraestructura no sólo de conectividad como pueden ser aeropuertos también de movilidad terrestre Sino también de infraestructura de generar nuevas servicios nuevas instancias de servicios nuevos hoteles nuevos comercios y todo esto pues asociado a la visión de que como ya se mencionó aquí Los países que más han crecido y que más van a seguir creciendo son los que mejor se adaptan a las tendencias que se identifica entonces en un este es una industria que crece pero es una industria que requiere de innovación constante que requiere de perfilar estrategias más segmentadas para atender a nichos de mercado específicos no sólo en términos de sus gustos o de sus intereses Sino en términos de demográficos los adultos Mayores de 60 años que están viajando mucho requieren cierto tipo de servicios y tienen cierto tipo de intereses y los jóvenes Los millenials que van a empezar a viajar cada vez más pues también tienen requieren otras herramientas y ahí también tenemos una enorme área de oportunidad con la incorporación de las nuevas tecnologías no sólo Desde la el punto de vista del consumidor o del turista potencial que busca información y que toma decisiones a través de lo que conoce En la red y a través de su teléfono y sino también desde la oferta y desde el gobierno de cómo Transmitimos lo que estamos haciendo y la oferta que estamos teniendo entonces áreas de oportunidad yo diría que la tecnología el desarrollo de nuevas Servicios y de mayor infraestructura y sobre todo también infraestructura de conectividad pero fuertes en otros sectores que nos han permitido hoy estar en el número 30 del ranking de competitividad Thank you, and we have just a little bit of time left me be one more quick question with a very brief answer in the back of that over there Or would it take the two and a very brief answer, but very very briefly, please Gracias Bienvenidos welcome Javi Juárez, grupo imagen multimedia de aquí de México, en el caso de los países representados cuál es la estrategia Actual que están siguiendo para mejorar la percepción de seguridad del turista y cómo entra en ello la iniciativa privada Bueno en español porque directamente para responder tu pregunta en el caso del Perú Nosotros tomamos la iniciativa hace ya dos años de con el presupuesto del Ministerio de Comercio Exterior y Turismo Comprar 43 camionetas 4x4 con equipos de seguridad para dárselas al Ministerio del Interior Pero no solamente eso sino que firmar un convenio de manera que tienen estrictamente señalizar las instrucciones para que obviamente Esas camionetas cuando fueron donadas no terminen Estacionadas porque no tienen gasolina o porque no tienen choferes Estamos además nosotros hemos diseñado hemos comprado el equipo de comunicación para estar interconectados con el ministerio Hemos ya lanzado el primer corredor preferencial que sale del aeropuerto Jorge Chávez hasta el último Hotel en el distrito de surco y estamos implementando siete o siete otras rutas de al en Cusco en Nazca En el Amazonas para poder nosotros interconectar y desde Lima poder monitorear En segundo lugar hemos capacitado a toda la Policía Nacional de Turismo en las clases de inglés a través del propio Ministerio Y estamos llevando estadísticas mensuales no diarias que luego son conversadas primero a nivel interno con la Policía Nacional para poder trabajar en estrecha Coordination cuando ellos se han sentido parte de este nuevo sistema creo que es cuando ha empezado a cambiar un poco la La visión que ellos tenían de ser entes avislados y de que por ser Policía de Turismo que pertenece a la Policía Nacional No eran tomados en cuenta como las grandes prioridades que tenemos que seguir mejorando tenemos hoy día el presidente Peña Nieto ha sido Muy claro en su alucción en su alocución ha dicho que no podemos estar contentos y no podemos Quedarnos felices con lo que hemos conseguido tenemos que seguir trabajando porque estoy segura que para todos nosotros lo más importante es la seguridad y la vida de las personas And I think that's a good example for the regional unfortunate not be able to go through all the countries and to get the response from all the countries They have many interesting case studies and many many interesting initiatives, but unfortunately we're running out of time so we will We can we can follow up maybe directly right after the right after the meeting one on your direct questions then okay thank you Unfortunately will not be able to take it anymore because we're running out of time, but you know happy to happy to connect if there are any questions about the report or She took all the time Thank you very much for coming and for participating and thank you to the distinguished panel that we have here of all ladies ministers Thank you very much