MONTRÉAL, 22 October 2015 – The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) celebrated World Statistics Day (WSD) on 20 October, during its Air Services Negotiation Event (ICAN2015) in Antalya, Turkey.
Air transport statistics help decision makers formulate informed policies that impact millions of people and the sector at large. Additionally, new and improved data sources, advanced technologies, and strengthened statistical methods ultimately result in more effective policy-making supporting improved prosperity for all States and Regions.
The United Nations held the first World Statistics Day celebration in 2010, when more than 130 countries participated. In 2012, the United Nations Statistical Commission decided to observe the celebration perennially on 20 October.
The President of the Council of ICAO, Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, stated in launching the celebration that: “Data is the lifeblood of decision-making. Without high-quality data providing the right information on the right priorities at the right time, structuring, monitoring and evaluating effective policies becomes almost impossible. This is why the role of aviation statistics is of great importance as we seek to foster the development of a sound and viable civil aviation system while enhancing its economic efficiency and transparency.”
The Antalya WSD celebration was organized in collaboration with the Republic of Turkey’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation, its Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat).
To mark the event, ICAN participants from States, international organizations, industry stakeholders and academia attended a dedicated workshop on the critical links between air transport and tourism statistics. The session provided a platform to enhance the visibility of the importance and achievements of work in statistics in the air transport field, and raise the awareness of policy makers, planners and other users on the core values, professionalism and integrity enshrined in the discipline.
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