1. Revisions to the UNWT0 Tourism Statistical Standards
Towards a “Manual” for Tourism Satellite Accounts (TSAs)
&
Revisions to the UNWT0 Tourism Statistical Standards
Scott M. Meis, UNWTO Collaborating Consultant
Prepared for:
State/Provincial Tourism Researchers Roundtable Meeting,
38th Annual Conference, Travel and Tourism Research Association
June 17-20, 2007
Las Vegas, Nevada

2. WTO 2006-2007 Initiatives Research and development of a manual
for Tourism Satellite Accounts
Update & Revision tourism statistical standards:
International Recommendations on Tourism
Statistics (Rec93)
– Major revision
Tourism Satellite Account: Recommended Methodological Framework (TSA:RMF) (Rec00)
– Minor update – no new concepts 2

3. The TSA manual project
Audiences:
Compilers
Users
Educators

4. The TSA manual project Goals:
Direct compilers towards improved international comparability
Improved transparency of TSA development process through
examples, references & background information
Guide users in appropriately applications to policies
& decisions on marketing and development
Aid educators in teaching TSA methodologies
Provide educators with TSA-based knowledge
& insights on tourism economics

5. The TSA manual project Multi-volume structure:
Volume 1: Compilation Guide
Volume 2: User’s Guide and best case application examples
Volume 3: Curriculum guide & handbook

6. Advisory network Purpose – a structure & process for consultation
& cooperation
Broad-based participation but limited & controlled
access
- Extension of the UNWTO Statistics Committee
Leadership – D. Bederoff, Swedish Tourism Authority
Supported by UNWTO-Forum Network Participation
Agreement
Network member typology
Supported by Web-based electronic forum and data base

7. UNWTO Electronic Forum & Data base
To provide a discussion forum, a platform to
exchange opinions, information and documents
Among technicians of different countries
Representing national administrations from tourism, statistics
offices, Central Banks and other organizations related to
tourism statistics and TSA
Supported by WTO/Araldi partnership agreement

8. Forum Objectives Information and communication Exchange of Information
Discussion tool
Organizer tool
Working tool
Database
Links
Information and communication:
To mirror all UNWTO members’ activities related to TSA implementation
To serve as the UNWTO Forum on TSA implementation and tourism statistics related issues
Exchange of Information
To provide a platform for UNWTO members to exchange information and documents about the TSA in a variety of formats like Word, Excel, Acrobat, etc…
Discussion tool
To provide a simple way to exchange opinions, to open online discussions and to reach consensus on different issues related to TSA implementation
Organizer tool
To provide a tool for organizing in a systematic way sets of documents, comments and contributions related to TSA
Working tool
To provide an area for UNWTO-TSAFORUM members to work together within a virtual working environment
Database
To provide a database of contacts and experts, a kind of “Who’s who” regarding TSA expertise, a professional virtual community on TSA
Links
To provide links to resources and documents from other related Webs.

9. Who Will Be Targeted? National Tourism Administrations
Central Statistical Offices
Central Banks
Tourism Industry (TTRA members,…)
Technical and subject matter experts
(TTRA members, etc.)
General public

10. Hierarchical Content Levels
PYRAMID STRUCTURE OF CONTENTS
Hierarchical Content Levels
Guidelines summary
Guidelines detailed text
Examples & best cases
Regional examples
Discussion & comments
Links to sources and references
Contacts

11. Potential TTRA Subject-Matter Experts Participation
How Could You Contribute?
By holding a organization-based guidelines review meetings and electronic fora
Goal: to make recommendations on possible changes to the content, reach consensus and return comments to the UNWTO
By individual review of the draft guidelines (sent by ))
Goal: to record comments directly in the document and return it to UNWTO
Why? Because your feedback would…
Provide impartial feedback on draft compilation guidelines
Help to ensure that sufficient scope is captured and that content is relevant
Reflect the reality of tourism and national accounting experts and researchers from around the world

12. The TSA manual project - Project specification & planning
All key priorities initiated and sustained
But limited resources mean choosing emphasis each year …
2006: Research & Literature review
- Project specification & planning
- Initiate organization & constituency consultations
- Identify partners, sub-project leaders, authors,
contributors & reviewers
- Specify electronic forum & platform requirements
2007: Draft Compilation guide
Research, Identify & specify users’ & educators’ requirements
Develop electronic platform prototype
- Initiate drafting User guide
2008: Complete Compilation Guide
- Complete User’s Guide
- Draft Educators’ Texts
2009: Deliver and release Compilation Guide

13. UNWTO 2006-2007 Statistical Standards Update Initiatives
Recommendations on Tourism Statistics (Rec 93)
Major revision
Improve integration with UN system
i.e. BOP, Immigration, SNA, Int’l Trade, ISIC
- Harmonization with TSA-RMF
Supply-side measures of tourism activity
Tourism Satellite Account-Recommended
Methodological Framework (Rec 00)
- Minor update – no new concepts
- Harmonization with revised IRTS
- Harmonization with SNA revisions - 13

14. Statistical Standards Update Issues
Definition of tourism & visitors – i.e., travel vs
tourism, inclusion and treatment of travel
related to paid work
Definition of the usual environment
– Conceptual definition, measurement criteria
& exceptions (i.e., vacation homes)
Tourism expenditure vs tourism consumption
Forms of tourism
Supply-side measures of tourism activity
New sections on employment & environment
Structure of the standards document
Inclusion of measurement issues? 14

15. Summary of the IRTS Revision Processes
IRTS Revisions – Draft v1 & Workshop– June-July 2006
IRTS Revisions – Draft v2 & call for country responses– Fall 2006
UNWTO Statistics Committee – Discussion of country and industry users responses - March 2007
 IRTSv3 available for public view & discussion – April-June 2007
Expert group meeting to discuss IRTSv3 plus pubic input – June 2007
IRTSv4 restricted circulation to expert group and Statistics Committee for comments – July 2007-August 2007
Draft for Inter Agency Coordination Group on Tourism Statistics – September 2007
Final draft revised IRTS submitted to UN Statistical Commission for approval– February 2008 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

16. Conclusion and vision
Updated international tourism statistics standards by 2008
A trilogy of TSA electronic manuals by 2009
Improved harmonization and integration of tourism statistics
with global economic & social statistical system
Provide compilers, users & educators with comprehensive
transparent documentation
Methodology, applications & insights will set
standards for researchers, statisticians & analysts
Move international research community further
toward fulfilling leading role for national research organizations 16

17. Thank you for your interest & attention!
Are there any questions?
_______________
Further information:
meeting