Australia rejoins the World Tourism Organization

The World Tourism Organization (WTO) today expressed a warm "welcome back" to Australia as the country's Federal Executive Council gave the final approval to rejoining the leading worldwide intergovernmental body in the field of tourism.

Australia's Minister for Small Business and Tourism, Joe Hockey, said that rejoining WTO was an integral element of the government's AUS$ 235 million Tourism White Paper. Speaking in Townsville, where he was accompanied by the WTO Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli, he said: "Membership will allow Australia to play an important and influential role in shaping the WTO's policy directions and programmes. It will provide greater access to international tourism research and statistics - allowing our (Australian) tourism industry to monitor changing global patterns and trends in consumer demand, and to develop innovative and sustainable tourism products."

"WTO membership will also expand Australia's network of government-to-government relationships, and will build upon our knowledge of key international tourism developments and our capacity to respond to global events impacting on tourism." The government's White Paper laid the foundations for sustainable tourism, and will further reinforce this important step for Australia in international tourism, he added.

"We warmly welcome back Australia as a key player and one of the leading countries in Asia-Pacific - the fastest growing tourism region in the world", said WTO Secretary-General. "As a member of WTO, Australia will be able to influence international thinking and policy-making and contribute to the sustainable development of tourism in fields where it has demonstrated leading-edge knowledge and experience"

Congratulating Australia and its government, led by Prime Minister John Howard, Mr Frangialli said the decision "confirms Australia's commitment to raising the capacity and performance of its already successful tourism industry, and its recognition of the growing importance of tourism as a leading force in the service sector that is set to drive the world economy over the next few decades."

Australia's membership will come into effect as soon as the instrument of ratification is deposited with the Spanish Foreign Ministry, in accordance to the Article 5 of the WTO Statutes.

The World Tourism Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations, currently has 144 Member States, more than 300 Affiliate Members and seven Associate Members.