Uniglobe Travel Joins With Foster Parents Plan To Assist Tsunami Survivors

Worldwide travel organization UNIGLOBE Travel, today announced an agreement to partner with Foster Parents Plan (Plan)* an international child-centered development organization, in providing long-term support to tsunami-affected regions in South Asia. "Our global effort and objective is to assist those countries struck by the tsunami disaster and in doing so UNIGLOBE Travel is channelling its resources to re-stimulate long-term economic sustainability and a tourism revival in the regions affected. With this in mind, we have chosen Foster Parents Plan as our global charity to accomplish this objective. Foster Parents Plan is a logical fit for UNIGLOBE Travel as their focus is long-term community rehabilitation and sustainable development," says U. Gary Charlwood, chairman and C.E.O. of UNIGLOBE Travel. The initiative named "Rebuilding Hope � The UNIGLOBE Way" has two key objectives: � Support reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts to help families affected by the tsunami disaster, by facilitating donations to Foster Parents Plan; and � To promote travel and tourism to the affected regions. "As UNIGLOBE has representation and offices operating in many countries where Foster Parents Plan works, it is a natural fit to become a global corporate sponsor," says Charlwood. "To meet the long-term recovery needs of the many areas affected, UNIGLOBE will raise funds for Foster Parents Plan's recovery efforts to provide assistance to survivors as they rebuild their lives and communities." "We are very pleased that UNIGLOBE is working with Foster Parents Plan as we help children and families affected by the tsunami rebuild their lives and communities," says Jay Hooper, vice president of marketing and development with Foster Parents Plan. "The generosity and commitment demonstrated by UNIGLOBE will make a lasting difference in the lives of survivors." UNIGLOBE's second objective is to promote travel and tourism on a global scale to the affected regions. Many of the countries affected are heavily reliant on travel and tourism for their GDP and employment; however due to the media coverage of the tsunami, unaffected areas have seen their crucial tourism business evaporate. Furthermore, the impact of the tsunami, while devastating, was confined to coastal locations within the countries affected. Therefore, much of the core infrastructure is still intact. Based on its assessment of tourism infrastructure in tsunami-affected areas, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) indicates that most properties in Indian Ocean destinations have sustained little or no damage. Of PATA's 45 Asia Pacific member countries, the coastal areas of only eight were affected by the tsunami. Of those eight destinations, only the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand suffered significant travel sector losses.

"We believe that to support the recovery of destinations, employment and economic sustainability, travelers must be encouraged to visit the region, support the local economy thus maintaining jobs. Most of all, it is a strong and tangible sign of support and solidarity for the region and its people," says Charlwood. UNIGLOBE Travel worldwide will work closely with tourism agencies, tour providers and sellers to promote travel to these regions. We must spread the message that tourists are welcome and needed." UNIGLOBE encourages all travel professionals, travel agents, media, tour operators and sellers to clearly communicate the facts to travel consumers and encourage bookings to the region. About Foster Parents Plan *Foster Parents Plan is a part of Plan, an international, humanitarian, child-centered development organization. Founded in 1937, the organization is making a lasting difference in the lives of children, their families and their communities in 45 developing countries. Community development programs worldwide benefit 1.3 million children and impact the lives of 13 million people. To learn more, or to donate, visit www.fosterparentsplan.ca About UNIGLOBE Travel UNIGLOBE Travel is the world's largest single brand travel franchise organization with 750 locations in more than 24 countries in North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Operating under a well-recognized brand name, UNIGLOBE Travel agencies specialize in providing travel services to small-to-medium sized corporate accounts and to leisure travelers. UNIGLOBE Travel has its U. S. headquarters based in Irvine, CA and the World Headquarters in Vancouver, B.C. For more information, or to donate, visit www.uniglobetravel.com and click on "Rebuilding Hope." Media Contacts: Brian Dahl Director of Communications UNIGLOBE Travel International 604-718-2688 cell: 604-762-0500 Patricia MacNeil Manager, Media Relations Foster Parents Plan 416-920-1654 ext. 206

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