Informal Meeting on the Hotels and Tourism Sector:
Social Impact of events subsequent to 11 September 2001

25-26 October 2001

In response to the crisis affecting the tourism industry since the terrorist attacks in the United States of 11 September, the ILO organized an Informal Meeting of Government, employer and worker representatives on 25-26 October 2001 to assess the magnitude of the crisis and address means for easing its social impact.

The attacks of 11 September had severe consequences for the tourism industry, affecting its workers and particularly those holding temporary contracts. Tour operators, tourism destinations and hotels are reporting cancellations and a fall in reservations. The ILO has already registered a decline of 5-20 percent in the sector as compared to last year. A further deterioration is likely.

The Meeting, which was held in Geneva, brought together Government representatives from Barbados, Egypt, France, Sri Lanka and the United States, five workers' representatives and five employers' representatives from different countries, as well as a limited number of advisers and observers.

The main purpose of the Meeting was to discuss ways and means to respond to the crisis for the social partners, governments and the ILO itself. A Report of the Discussion (pdf, 91k) and the Chairperson's Summary (pdf, 26k) are available.

Also available are impact updates as of 19 November 2001, 3 December 2001, and 17 December 2001.

Contact address for more information

Mr. Dirk Belau,
Hotels, Catering and Tourism Specialist,
Sectoral Activities Department,
International Labour Office
4 route des Morillons
CH-1211 GENEVA 22, Switzerland
Tel. +41 22 799 7787 Fax +41 22 799 7967
e-mail: belau@ilo.org or sector@ilo.org