NICE, France | The Global Travel & Tourism Partnership (GTTP), a coalition that includes the travel industry’s leading companies, today recognized student winners representing nine countries for the 7th annual Aldo Papone International Case Writing Competition. The GTTP program is the only competition of its kind in the world for secondary school students studying travel and tourism, one of the world’s fastest-growing employment sectors.

The GTTP, which has educated nearly one million students since the organization began in 1986, sponsors secondary school curricula designed to engage and encourage youth interest in travel-related careers. A highlight of the program is a yearly competition in which participating students conduct original research about their country, then write and present their findings, insights and proposals.

For the 2007 contest theme, “Historic Preservation: Who Benefits?”, students from around the world developed and created proposals examining travel-related historic preservation in their home countries. A winning team from each participating country traveled to an award ceremony this week at the international student/teacher conference held during the GTTP’s annual director and global sponsor meeting in Nice, France.

“As the travel and tourism industry continues to expand worldwide, it is essential for today’s students to learn about travel’s central role in promoting economic development and cultural awareness, as well as the incredible opportunities a travel career can offer,” said Nancy Needham, executive director of the GTTP. “The case study contest and recognition event give us the chance to congratulate the students on their efforts and successes while introducing them to other students with the same creativity and passion for learning about travel.”

“The GTTP has the unique ability to use travel as a framework for young people to explore their home country, connect with the global economy and broaden their worldview,” said Charles Petruccelli, president of global travel services at American Express and founder of the GTTP. “We could not be prouder of our role in helping the GTTP educate the hundreds of thousands of students it has touched over the years. These students represent the future of the global travel and tourism industry.”

The case study submissions recognized by the GTTP this year included:

• Brazil – The study and rehabilitation of neglected historic locations and architecture.
• Canada – The benefits of historic preservation in Nova Scotia.
• Hong Kong – The efforts made and involvement of the government, different public bodies and the general public, in inventorying Hong Kong’s historic legacy.
• Hungary – The unknown history and restoration of a mansion and chapel in Sitke through an annual rock festival – “Concert for the Chapel.”
• Ireland – The development of a previously obscure historic site, Ducketts Grove Castle, into a successful tourist attraction.
• Jamaica – The preservation of “Great Houses” and the effects on population, culture and tourism.
• Russia – The past, present and future of a little-known estate southwest of Moscow, called Vorontsovo, which was devastated by the Bolsheviks.
• South Africa – The restoration of Matjiesfontein, a tiny railway village in the Karoo region, after the decline of the diamond rush.
• United Kingdom – Outcomes on the local community of a successful 2006 bid to achieve World Heritage status for Cornish tin mining areas.