The first World Tourism Investment Summit, coordinated by the Canada-based World Trade University Global Secretariat (WTU), was hosted by the Busan Metropolitan Government of the Republic of Korea in conjunction with the Tourism Promotion Organization for Asia Pacific Cities (TPO) Forum between October 6-9, 2008. The Summit, with the theme ‘Future of Investment,’ successfully brought together over 350 senior public and private sector executives from 37 countries representing every major region and six continents.

The Summit showcased major development projects from ‘tourism-rich regions’ of world, demonstrating the ‘current and future trends’ in tourism investment.

• The Al Ahli Group of Dubai working in partnership with the Busan Government presented a US$2 billion initiative, as they are developing a one-of-a-kind, Disney-type, theme park in Busan - Asia’s largest, commercial, business, entertainment, and residential complex.

• The Muckleshoot Tribe from the State of Washington, USA - the owner of the biggest casino in the state with annual revenues exceeding US$250 million - unveiled their newest development of the Four Seasons Hotel in Seattle with a plan for the largest amphitheatre and largest race track. The Morongo Tribal Council unfolded the expansion plan of the largest casino in California with a budget of over US$200 million.

The host of the Summit, His Excellency Hur Nam Sik, Mayor of Busan Metropolitan Government and president of the Tourism Promotion Organization for Asia Pacific Cities (TPO), made all attending aware that “every country and city around the globe is exerting all-out efforts to attract foreign tourists, and investors are focusing on the development of new tourism resources.”

The summit also presented a diverse group of investment initiatives focusing on sustainable tourism and cultural tourism from around the world. Showcasing their most expansive initiatives were: Tourism Western Australia, Shandong Tourism Authority of China, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, SMIT on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism Morocco, Iran Touring and Tourism Investment Co., Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism of The United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda Tourism Commission, Representaciones Monterrey S.A.&REMSA Realty Group of Guatemala representing Central America, PANORAMA International Inc. from Costa Rica, Stewart Title Guarantee Co. International Group of the USA, the Special Unit for South South Cooperation of UNDP, etc.

Three of the immediate outcomes of the summit were: the Govt. of Tanzania presenting the deed for the land transfer of 400 acres in Bagamoyo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Indian Ocean coastline near Dar es Salaam, for the development of World Tourism University-Africa in Tanzania; finalizing the negotiation and signing of the MOU for the development of World Tourism University-China with the support of the Shandong Provincial Government (of China), witnessed by representatives from several national and international organizations; and launching of the World Indigenous Economic Council engaging several prominent North American Tribal Councils.

The inaugural investment summit marks the third, global, tourism event convened by WTU, building on successful World Tourism Marketing Summits in 2004 and 2007. Similarly recognizing global leadership of national and regional authorities, World Tourism Leadership awards were bestowed to the Metropolitan Government of Busan and the Government of Tanzania for extraordinary leadership in ‘sustainable tourism development, promotion, and management.’

Valere Tjolle