One billion tourists have travelled the world in 2012, marking a new record for international tourism – a sector that accounts for one in every 12 jobs and 30% of the world’s services exports. This cements tourism’s position as one of the world’s largest economic sectors, accounting for 9% of global GDP (direct, indirect and induced impact) and up to 8% of the total exports of the world’s Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

I am proud to be part of an industry which at one point of time in my country was not viewed very positively and even suffered from a social stigma!