69TH SKÅL WORLD CONGRESS - TAIPEI 12-17 OCTOBER 2008
The 69th Skål World Congress opened in Taipei, Taiwan on 12th October 2008. The congress opened with a lavish Get-Together Party at the National Memorial Monument dedicated to the former leader Chiang Kai Chek. The Director of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Janice Lai told Skålleagues that it was the first time such an event was allowed to take place at the monument. Participants were greeted by a number of Chinese characters who ushered them to the Ecumenical service which preceded the Get-Together party. More than 100 first-time attendees to the congress were given a special welcome by the President of Skål International, Phillip Sims. Tours of the Chiang Kai Chek Museum were offered to the participants during the function.
The Opening Ceremony was held at the beautiful Taiwan International Convention Centre (TICC) reportedly the oldest convention centre in Asia. The parade of National Flags was a very colourful ceremony with the flag bearers wearing the fantastic costumes of the Beijing Opera. The Minister of Tourism and Communications, Dr. Chi Kuo Mao officially welcomed the delegates to Taiwan and asked them to help promote tourism to Taiwan. The Mayor of Taipei, Dr. Lung-Bin Hau was also present. The participants to the Congress were also welcomed by the President of Skål International Taipei, Pauline Leung, the President of Skål International Taiwan, Edward Lo and the President of Skål International Asian Area, Earl Wieman.
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Prior to his Presidential address at the Opening Ceremony a video of the Haka, a traditional Maori dance was played and the President of Skål International, Phillip Sims who wore a Maori cloak referred to Sustainable Tourism and said that it could not be achieved if the traditional values that make up our national heritage are not preserved. He continued “we would gain nothing if tourism were developed at the expense of time-honoured customs, which makes us what we are. We must all, therefore, safeguard the local customs of our own countries because these are what make us unique and are what tourists value most in their travels. It is often the prime reason people travel to a particular destination, so it has strong economic benefits”.
Phillip Sims referred to the current economic turmoil that exists in the world added to the impact of high fuel costs that have caused people to reconsider their travel plans, and therefore Skål is going to play an ever increasing role in ensuring that its members and the industry they represent are not unduly affected by this turmoil. It is only by our having a strong collective voice that we might influence the direction of tourism into the future, and that the values that we hold dear will be applied.
Referring to Skål being the largest Association of Tourism Professionals in the world President Sims said “it is interesting that the tourism industry, and air travel in particular, is considered to be one of the prime villains in the global warming scenario. Recent research however has shown that the I.T. industry, the computers that we all sit and use so passionately every day, globally produce a larger carbon footprint than aviation and is growing at more than double the rate of tourism. I sometimes find it ironic that those that would condemn air travel and tourism do so from their blog sites and with the use of their computers.
The tourism industry should not be ashamed of its role in the increasing concern about global warming because our industry and particularly the members of Skål are taking positive steps to reduce the impact and are determined to ensure that our children and our grandchildren will enjoy our planet in a better condition than it is in today. It seems to me that there are very few other industries that show this same concern as we do”.
At the end of his speech the President presented his Presidential gift to the Minister as a token of appreciation for his presence at the Congress.
The 7th Ecotourism Awards were presented during the Opening Ceremony by the President of Skål International, Phillip Sims. The winners were introduced by Vice President, Hulya Aslantas. More information can be found on the winners at the following hyperlink:
http://www.skal.org/html/ecotourism/2008/eco2008.asp
The Annual Skål Club of the Year was also announced. The award for 2007/2008 went to Skål International Sunshine Coast, Australia; second was Skål International Launceston and third Skål International Buenos Aires.
Two twinnings of Clubs also took place. Skål International Los Angeles twinned with Skål International Hong Kong and Skål International New York twinned with Skål International Buenos Aires.
A magnificent cultural performance by the National Taiwan College of Performing Arts then followed. The performance included skilled diabolo juggling performers who twirled and tossed in unimaginably creative ways. The artists also performed excerpts from the Beijing Opera, Monkey King Disturbs the Dragon and finished with Lion Dance. The artists received a standing ovation from the attendance.
The Annual General Assembly of Clubs was largely dominated by the proposed amendments to the Statutes. Only two of the 52 amendments proposed were approved. The unusually large number of proposed amendments meant that the General Assembly did not end until 19.30 hours.
During the General Assembly, elections were held for a number of offices in Skål International. Hulya Aslantas (Istanbul) is the new President of Skål International. Tony Boyle (Townsville) is the new Vice President and Karine Coulanges (Paris) is the new Director. For details of the new Executive Committee please click on the following hyperlink: www.skal.org/pdf/Press_release_President09.pdf
The General Assembly awarded the distinction of Membre d'Honneur to Michael Coveos (Athens) and to Bessie Samargachan (Bangkok). Bessie sadly passed away on 1 November 2008.
Skål International Budapest was reconfirmed as the site for the 70th Skål World Congress which will be held from 1–6 November 2009. Sydney, Australia was selected as the venue for the 71 st Skål World Congress which will commence on 10.10.10 (10th October 2010).
On Wednesday 15 October 2008 the Tourism Forum was held at the TICC. The title of the Forum was “Expect the Unexpected” delivered by Bert Van Walbeek of “Winning Edge” fame. The lecture, on crisis management which took into account the current global financial crisis was delivered in a very serious and yet light-hearted way. More information on the Forum can be found at the following hyperlink: www.skal.org/pdf/forum_taipei.pdf
The Business to Business (B2B) Workshop commenced immediately after the Tourism Forum and was rated as one of the best yet. Vice President, Business Affairs, Nik Racic chaired the session and reports state that quite a lot of business was conducted. The B2B sessions were set up in line with the motto of “Doing Business Among Friends”.
A number of Educational Tours was also provided for the participants which acts as a “shop window” for Taiwan. Bearing in mind that Skål members are travel and tourism professionals, they are always on the look-out for new and exciting destinations.
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Keith Murcott, Skål International Harare |
Earl Wieman (Taipei) |
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J.P. Sho (Seoul) |
Karine Coulange receiving Award on behalf of Albert Danan, (Grenoble) |
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The Gala Dinner was held at the Sheraton Taipei Hotel. Prior to the Gala Dinner the President of Skål International, Phillip Sims presented a number of Orders of Skål Merit as follows: Skål International Harare, Zimbabwe which has managed to survive despite the political situation and inflation of over seven million percent. To Earl Wieman (Taipei) President, Skål International Asian Area for his work generally in the Asian Area, to J.P. Sho (Seoul) Travel Press for the tremendous publicity he had given Skål and Albert Danan (Grenoble) for reviving one Club, the formation of La Rochelle-Atlantique and the formation of another Club in progress. Cameras were presented to ten lucky winners of the Direct Marketing Campaign and Certificates were presented to Clubs who had increased their membership by a net 10% or 10 members. Phillip Sims then introduced the new President of Skål International Hulya Aslantas, who introduced the Executive Committee for 2008/2009. Phillip Sims concluded the formal proceedings by thanking his wife Joy for her love and help during his very busy Presidential year.
INTERNATIONAL SKÅL COUNCIL
The meeting of the International Skål Council was held at the TICC on Saturday and Sunday 11 and 12 October 2008. The President of the International Skål Council, Marianne Krohn, presided over the meeting. Three new Councillors welcomed and received their red pins. These were Eva Bjürström, (Sweden), Carlos Lopez Gallego, (Southern Latin America) and Victor Osumi, (Japan). The Council elected Ann Lootens (Belgium) as Vice President. Senior Vice President, John Bright (United Kingdom) ended his term as Vice President in Taipei and tributes were paid to him for his work on the Council over the years especially with regard to the promotion of the Florimond Volckaert Fund. Keith Murcott (South Africa was appointed Secretary of the Council to replace Jefferie Tippen (New Zealand) who has also finished his term as Councillor.
MATCH MADE AT THE CONGRESS
There is more to Skål than “Doing Business Among Friends.” Two Skålleagues who travelled with the South African delegation got engaged to be married at the International Congress in Taipei, Neil Els from Skål International Cape Winelands proposed to Ilse Jacobs from Skål International Garden Route during the Gala Dinner. The President Phillip Sims congratulated the happy couple on behalf of all those attending.
FLORIMOND VOLCKAERT FUND RAFFLE
A number of prizes from the Florimond Volckaert Fund Raffle remain unclaimed. Please click on the following hyperlink to see the list of unclaimed prizes and the winning tickets www.skal.org/pdf/FVF_Raffle.pdf If you are a winner (ticket must be same colour and with the correct serial number) please scan and forward this ticket to skal@skal.travel and the General Secretariat will forward the prize. The Trustees of the Florimond Volckaert Fund would like to acknowledge the great support the Fund has received both from doners of prizes and from the participants to the congress.
REQUEST FROM LOCAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE OF THE 2008 TAIPEI CONGRESS
The Local Organising Committee of the Congress would like receive photographs from any participants who took excursions during the congress. They would like these for their records.
TRADE FAIRS
Skål International will have a stand at the World Travel Market which will be held at Excel Centre, London from 10–14 November 2008. Stand Nº UKI5800 in the UK/Ireland section of the fair will welcome all Skål members and friends. Skål International London are organising a luncheon to coincide with the fair on Tuesday 11 th November 2008 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel (exit the western entrance of Excel) at 12.00 for 13.00 hours. The President of Skål International, Hulya Aslantas will be in attendance. Cost of the luncheon £37.00 payable at the entrance to the luncheon. More information
Skål International will again have a stand at EIBTM which will be held at Fira Gran Via, Barcelona from 2-4 December 2008. All Skål members and those interested in membership are welcome to visit Stand Nº N655. Skål International Barcelona is organising a Cocktail on Wednesday 3 rd December 2008, the details of which are as follows: DATE: 3 DECMEBER 2008. VENUE: HOTEL FERIA PALACE, AV. RUIS I TAULET, 1-3, 08004 BARCELONA. TIME: 18.30. COST: €22.00. The function will be attended by the President of Skål International, Hulya Aslantas. All Skål members and friends are welcome. Please send your reservation to the President of Skål International Barcelona, Miguel Hartoc at e-mail m.hartoch@telefonica.net
