15/05/2003

WTTC has pleasure in inviting the media and delegates
of the 3rd Global Travel & Tourism Summit
to attend

a pre-event briefing

at 12.00 midday on Thursday May 15
in the Aquarius Room
at the Marinotel in Vilamoura, Portugal

At this briefing we will be presenting a report on the economic impact of SARS on Travel & Tourism in China, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore. This presentation will be given by given by Richard Miller, WTTC's Vice President, Research & Economics and Adrian Cooper, Managing Director of Oxford Economic Forecasting. In addition to presenting up-to-date findings on the impact of SARS in China, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore, Messrs. Miller and Cooper will also review significant trends in the Travel & Tourism sector and comment on the state of the industry.

The Economic data has been prepared by Oxford Economic Forecasting on the same basis as WTTC's Tourism Satellite Accounting (TSA), which quantifies all aspects of Travel & Tourism demand, from personal consumption to business purchases, capital investment, government spending and exports. It then translates this information into economic concepts of production, such as gross domestic product (GDP) and employment, which can be compared with other industries and the economy as a whole to provide credible statistical information that will assist in policy and business decision-making.

Please note that this event will commence in the Aquarius Meeting Room promptly at 12.00 midday on Thursday May 15. Following the presentation, delegates will join the Summit lunch, which is taking place in Room Aries II at the Marinotel.

For more information, please contact:

Rick Miller: 1 646 338 0300, rrmiller@compuserve.com.

WTTC: enquiries@wttc.org