Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Georg Arlt appointed member of the ‘UNWTO Panel of Tourism Experts’

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has recently appointed Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Georg Arlt as a member of the ‘UNWTO Panel of Tourism Experts.’ Prof. Arlt is a sinologist and professor with more than 35 years of practical and academic experience in Chinese tourism. Professor Arlt is Head Director at the Chinese Outbound Tourism Research Institute and Professor in international tourism management at the West Coast University of Applied Sciences in Germany.

As a leading expert in the field of outbound Chinese tourism, Prof. Arlt’s role as one of 500 appointed specialists will be to offer support and leadership expertise to the tourism sector as promoted by the UNWTO in advancing tourism policies and knowledge worldwide via the UNWTO Barometer.

The UNWTO is the leading UN body responsible for the promotion of sustainable and universally obtainable tourism.  The body aims to promote tourism as a leading driver of inclusive development and economic growth, as well as environmental sustainability. With 2017 titled the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, the UNWTO is set to play a formative role in supporting positive changes in business practice, consumer behaviour and policy across the global tourism sector in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Given outbound travel to emerging economies is expected to exceed those in developed economies by 2020, with international tourist arrivals expected to reach 1.4 billion in the same year, the work of the China Outbound Tourism Research Institute, over which Professor Arlt presides, is only gaining traction, as many increasingly look to the Chinese market.  Research and consultancy in the field of Chinese outbound tourism is sure to play a substantial role in the future, given China leads the world in outbound travel and has seen double digit growth in tourism expenditure every year since 2004.

Commenting on his latest accolade, Professor Arlt stated that he is ‘honoured to be included in this distinguished group of experts, and is proud to play a role in supporting tourism as a form of intercultural communication in uncertain times.’ As Taleb Rifai, outgoing Secretary General of the UNWTO stated in January, ‘tourism is increasingly and rightly being recognized as a sector that can help usher in a better world.’

COTRI China Outbound Tourism Research Institute provides expert insights into the worldwide developments of China’s outbound tourism market. As Chinese outbound tourists are travelling to a large range of destinations, our publications cover a number of regions, providing detailed insights and analysing visitor behaviour.

With COTRI’s insights you can forge a successful business strategy built upon in-depth market expertise, comprehensive qualitative analysis and future projections. The Autumn 2016 Edition of the COTRI Market report features in-depth exploration of the developing trends in the field, supported by a wealth of qualitative and quantitative statistical research.

Sources: UNWTO Tourism Highlights, 2016 Edition, Tourism Towards 2030/Global Overview, 2017 International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, World Tourism Organization UNWTO.