At the invitation of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the UN agency responsible for Tourism, IH&RA has joined the Tourism Emergency Response Network (TERN) set up by UNWTO in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other UN agencies to coordinate the Tourism industry response to and preparedness for a potential Avian Flu pandemic. The goal is to help tourism and travel industry professionals access information relevant to their interest and make better-informed business assessments of risks posed by Avian Flu. It is also to ensure consistency of messages released by representative travel and tourism industry organization.

Highlights of 1st Issue of TERN Digest include:

• IMF Study of the Global Economic & Financial Impact of an Avian Flu Pandemic
• Regional Planning Initiatives(APEC, Africa, European Union, Latin America & the Caribbean

Click here for access to entire 1st issue of TERN Digest
Click here for access to entire 2nd issue of TERN Digest

Click here to see the video of the speech given by Ms. Elizabeth Carroll Simon, Director Industry Affairs, IH&RA at UNWTO session on Avian Influenza and preparedness planning at ITB Berlin, 10 March 2006.

Click here for presentation by Dr. Helge Hollmeyer, WHO, Epidemic and Pandemic Alert Response at UNWTO session on Avian Influenza and preparedness planning at ITB, Berlin, 10 March 2006 (PDF)

TERN – Tourism Emergency Response Network was established in early 2006 as collaboration between representative travel & tourism organizations.

Its founding members are - International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), International Federation of Tour Operators (IFTO), United Federation of Travel Agents Associations (UFTAA) Airports Council International (ACI) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) who convened the initiative and manages it.