TAIPEI- Taipei, Taiwan, will be the host of the 69th Skål World Congress that will take place from 12 to 17 October 2008. Called "İlha Formosa" by the Portuguese sailors some five centuries ago, Taiwan is today an amazing destination with abundant natural resources, wonderful sceneries and modern facilities.
Skål, founded as an international association in 1934, is the largest organisation of travel and tourism professionals in the world, embracing all sectors of the travel and tourism industry; hoteliers, travel agents, airline executives, those working for the tourism media and training for the many other branches of the industry. In the 89 countries and 480 locations where Skål exists, members are encouraged to network with each other, in line with the recent motto of Doing Business among Friends Skål Congresses are considered as the ideal meeting platform for the members worldwide, not only to have a fun week together but also to enjoy the privileges of being members of this prestigious organisation.
Many exciting events, social functions and important networking opportunities are planned for the Congress.
7th Ecotourism Awards Ceremony is scheduled on Monday,October 13th
One of the important highlights of the Congress will again be the announcement of the winners of the 7th Ecotourism Awards during the Opening Ceremony on Monday, 13 October 2008 in the presence of all the participants, local dignitaries and representatives of the media. Skål International, following the United Nations declaration of 2002 as the Year of Ecotourism and the Mountains, launched the Skål International Ecotourism Awards to highlight and recognise global best practices. Skål supports sustainable development in tourism as the key to the industry"s future success and considers Ecotourism as one of the main areas of sustainable development. The awards will be presented by the President of Skål International, Phillip Sims.
Programme Highlights
On 14 October, following the General Assembly, a special Friendship/Talent Night is being organised where the more talented Skålleagues will entertain their fellow Skålleagues.
On October 15th, Mr Bert van Walbeek will be the guest speaker of the Forum with his timely speech, Expect the Unexpected. The forum will be followed by the Business to Business (B2B) workshop where Skål members will have the opportunity of networking and doing business among friends.
Several tours are organized throughout the week to acquaint the delegates with the true beauty of Taiwan and its richess. All in all it promises to be an action-packed and fun congress.
Tayvan Skal heyeti Antalya kongresinde
Global Tourism Leaders Choose Taiwan for Skal World Congress
A thousand of the world"s top tourism professionals will converge on Taipei in October this year for the 69th World Congress of Skal International. While here they will learn about Taiwan"s tourism attractions, network with each other, establish business contacts, attend business-to-business sessions and tourism workshops, and generally enjoy a good time with old friends and new.
Skal International is the world"s biggest association of tourism and travel professionals that covers all sectors of the tourism industry, with over 20,000 members of around 500 clubs in 90 different countries. Membership is open to managers and executives who are directly involved in management, sales, and promotion in specified tourism businesses including hotels, travel agencies, airlines, government tourist offices, professional congress organizers, travel media, cruise lines, and car rental firms, among others. In Taiwan there are three clubs: Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung. Plans are under way for a fourth club in Hualien on the island"s east coast.
The theme of this year"s World Congress, which will be held at the Taipei International Convention Center on Oct. 12-17, will be Friendship and Peace through Tourism. Taipei began campaigning for the right to host the event back in 2003, and won the bid at the 65th World Congress in Durban, South Africa, in 2004. The initial idea for Taipei to seek the congress came from Skal International Honorary President Salvador Buendia, who passed through Taipei on his way to the Skal World Congress in Cairns, Australia, and was so impressed with the city that he urged local Skal members to bid.
The first Skal Club was founded by travel agents from Paris, who participated together in a trip to Scandinavia in 1932 and enjoyed it so much that they decided to continue meeting on a regular basis after they returned home. Their association began to branch out and sprout other chapters, and Skal went international in 1934.
Skal International Taipei was founded as the first Skal Club in Taiwan in 1970 and now has about 70 members. It is currently headed by President Pauline Leung, CEO of Compass Public Relations and Taiwan representative of the Macau Government Tourist Office (as well as chairman of the organizing committee of the World Congress). Among its members the club counts Madam Janice Seh-Jen Lai, director general of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau.
The success of the 69th World Congress of Skal International is being assured by generous support from such sponsors as the Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Taiwan Visitors Association, Commerce Department of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taipei City Government, China Airlines, EVA Airways, Grand Hyatt Taipei, Sheraton Taipei, Grand Hotel Taipei, Howard Plaza Taipei and National Taiwan College of Performing Arts.