Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/110172
The Indispensable Travel Industry Read Feature Highlight Global distribution system: The in-betweens matter Vol. 4 Issue 02 | February 2013 | www.travelweeklyweb.com | Published by Travel & Meetings Group, Contineo Media Pte Ltd News Travel Distribution World Asia takes off Page 3 Airlines Christopher J. Nassetta, president and CEO, Hilton Worldwide (left) with Arne Sorenson, president and CEO, Marriott International at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland Call for Smart Visa SWITZERLAND ��� Two hospitality giants ��� Hilton Worldwide and Marriott International ��� addressed global business and travel industry leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos to urge governments to move quickly to ���Smart Visa��� policies which stimulate global travel, create new jobs and spur economic development. Smart Visas refer to safe, secure and sustainable solutions that promote mobility, maximise the use of technology, and expand programmes that facilitate travel while removing process inefficiencies caused by arduous visa requirements. As a result of ���Smart Visa��� policies, more data is collected and shared across borders, creating enhanced security, efficiencies that reduce government spending and enhanced customer experience. ���We are here at the World Economic Forum to tackle complex and challenging economic, social, environmental and political issues. Enabling greater international travel is the low-hanging fruit that can create significant economic growth and employment,��� said Christopher J. Nassetta, president and CEO, Hilton Worldwide. ���Smart governments are thinking about international travel and tourism as trade, and they are doing everything they can to remove barriers and be more strategic in addressing visas and other access issues that discourage people from travelling and doing business,��� said Arne Sorenson, president and CEO, Marriott International. Malaysia Airlines is now part of oneworld Page 9 The two companies represent more than 7,000 hotels in 90 countries, which include 600,000 employees at these owned, managed and franchised properties. They are working together with the World Economic Forum Governors for the aviation, travel and tourism industry to promote global action toward ���Smart Visa��� policies regionally by 2015 and globally by 2020. The concern on visa is not a new topic amongst trade professionals, given how the hassle has impeded travellers��� plans as well as died down their hunger to travel more and further where Visas are required. Amongst the ASEAN nations alone, talks have been raised for the issuance of ASEAN Visa to facilitate travel within this region, with countries such as Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar targeting to attain a unified visa by 2015. Many countries are recognising the economic benefits of international travel and tourism and making secure and convenient travel a policy priority, including Turkey, which has more than doubled international visitation in a decade by providing visas on arrival; China, which has implemented visa-free travel for three days to Beijing for 45 countries; Russia, which is encouraging visa-free travel to and from the European Union; and Australia and the United Arab Emirates, which have been utilising electronic visas, where the process is on-line and takes minutes, not days or weeks.