4th UNWTO International Conference on Tourism and the Media Building new partnerships Under the Patronage of H.E. Mr. Habib Essid, Head of Government of Tunisia Tunis, Tunisia, 12-13 November 2015 Venue: Hôtel Le Palace, Complex Cap Gammarth, Route Express de la Marsa 2078 PROGRAMME Wednesday, 11 November 2015 19:30h Welcome Cocktail at Hotel Le Palace – by invitation only Thursday, 12 November 2015 08:00 - 09:00h Registration 09:30 - 10:00h Opening Ceremony H.E. Mrs. Salma Elloumi Rekik, Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts of Tunisia Mr. Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) 10:00 - 10:30h How to build a stronger partnership between tourism and the media Keynote Speech by Mr. Jim Bittermann, CNN Senior European Correspondent 10:30 - 11:00h Coffee break Media Partner: 11:00 – 12.30h Session 1: Covering tourism stories This session aims at discussing the challenges and opportunities brought by tourism journalism, a growing field. Particular focus will be devoted to identify among the different participants a list of challenges that they face in their daily work when they cover tourism-related stories. Moderated by Mr. Clemente Corona, Director Tu Gran Viaje Introduction - Challenges when covering tourism, Mr. Clemente Corona, Director Tu Gran Viaje – Tourism and its different angles, Ms. Sandra Carvao, Chief, Communications and Publications, UNWTO – The role of Travel Journalists, Mr. Drago Bulc, World Federation of Travel Journalists and Writers (FIJET), Slovenia – Taieb Zahar, Founding Director, Realities, Tunisia – Mr. Lotfi Mansour, Director, Le Magazine du tourisme, Tunisia – Ms. Sihem Hassaini, Radio BBC Africa, Tunisia – Mr. Tajamul Hussain, Chief Strategy Officer, Check INN TV, Qatar Debate 13:00 – 13:30h Press Conference 13:30 - 14:30h Lunch 14:30 - 15:30h Session 2: Tourism and Media - how to bridge the gap? This session aims at presenting the challenges of both groups: journalists and stakeholders of the tourism sector as well as to build up a list of recommendations to improve the relations between the media and the tourism sector. Moderated by Mr. Jim Bittermann, CNN Senior European Correspondent – Mr. João Cotrim, President, Turismo de Portugal, National Tourism Authority – Ms. Sanam Shantyaei, International Affairs Editor, France 24, France – Mr. Benjamin Durr, Correspondent, Der Spiegel and Al Jazeera Media Partner: 15:30 - 16:00h Coffee break 16:00 - 17:00h The role of media relations in Crisis Communications Crises can have a devastating impact on the image of any tourism destination. Crisis communication, namely media management is central to any crisis management system as a means to minimize the negative impact of crises, ensure prompt recovery and build resilient destinations. This session aims at providing specific guidelines to improve relations with the media in times of crisis as well as learning from best practices and experiences conducted in different contexts. Debate moderated by Ms. Anita Mendiratta, Lead Consultant CNN T.A.S.K. Group – Mr. Hedi Mechri, Founding Director, L’Economiste Maghrebin, Tunisia – Ms. Nouha Belaid, Professor and Researcher specialized in Communication and Social Media, Tunisia – Mr. Richard Barnes, Editor-in-Chief, Cleverdis, France 17:00 -17:10h Conclusions Ms. Sandra Carvao, Chief, Communications and Publications UNWTO 17:10 – 17:20h Closing Ceremony H.E. Mrs. Salma Elloumi Rekik, Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts of Tunisia Mr. Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) 20:00h Departure from the Hotel to the Accropolium for the Gala Dinner – by invitation only Media Partner: Friday, 13 November 2015 Technical visit to Carthage and Sidi Bou Said - by invitation only 8:30h Departure from the hotel towards Sidi Bou Said and Carthage 11:00h Departure towards Bardo Museum 11:30h Arrival at the Museum of Bardo 13:00h Departure towards Ouedhna (Archaeological Site) 13:45h Arrival and Lunch in Ouedhna 15:30h Departure from Ouedhna to the Hotel Le Palace Media Partner: .