UNWTO favors promotion of shopping tourism

MANILA, Philippines - The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is urging its member-countries to explore opportunities in shopping tourism.

 â€œShopping tourism has emerged as a growing component of the travel experience, either as a prime motivation or as one of the major activities undertaken by tourists at their destinations,” UNWTO said in a statement.

UNWTO recently released  the Global Report on Shopping Tourism which analyzes trends in shopping tourism and provides insight into key success factors for destinations aiming to develop this segment.

The report offers a series of practical guidelines and principles for all destinations interested in developing shopping tourism.

It also includes a wide range of case studies by UNWTO affiliate members and other tourism stakeholders from around the world.

In the Philippines, Davao City was the first to have launched the Davao Fun Sale, a four-week long  shopping frenzy in the Philippines which ran from March 16 to April 14 this year.

The hosting of the site is geared towards establishing the city as a preferred shopping and dining destination in the country and improves the image of Davao as a thriving destination for business and investments.

The Davao Fun Sale event ws expected to increase tourist arrival in the city by at least 15 percent.

Few sectors can boast of their power to inspire growth and create jobs as tourism and shopping can, said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai.”

 â€œJointly harnessed, this can have an immense impact on a destination´s brand and positioning. UNWTO’s Global Report on Shopping Tourism also shows how public-private collaboration can channel the innumerable positive effects of this tourism segment,” added Taleb.

As part of the UNWTO Cities project, the report explores the economic impact of shopping tourism and provides an overview of strategies and priorities employed by tourism stakeholders to foster sustainable growth and differentiation of tourism offers in destinations.

The report is the eighth volume of the UNWTO Affiliate Member Reports which address critical areas for the tourism sector against the backdrop of public-private collaboration and partnerships.

In the report, it was pointed out that rationalizing the taxes could help improve the shopping experience of tourists.

The study was produced in cooperation with Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna - Rimini Campus, the City of Venice, Deloitte Canada, the European Travel Commission (ETC), Global Blue, InnovaTaxfree, the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Art School for Advanced Studies in Tourism Sciences, the New West End Company, NYC & Company, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Tourism Malaysia, the Tourism Observatory of the City of São Paulo, the Tourism & Transport Forum Australia, Turisme de Barcelona, Value Retail and the Vienna Tourist Board.