During the two-day, at first UNWTO / UNESCO World Conference on tourism and culture that brought together Ministers, leading experts and stakeholders in both fields to illustrate the need to create a new framework for cooperation between tourism and culture.
Over 900 participants, including over 45 Ministers and Deputy Ministers of culture and tourism, international experts, the speakers and guests from 100 countries, gathered at UNWTO / UNESCO World Conference on tourism and culture in Siem Reap, Cambodia, to explore and to promote a new partnership model between tourism and culture at (4 – 6 February 2015).
Tourism, moving more than one billion people in the world each year, offering vast possibilities for socio-economic development in destinations worldwide.
Cultural tourism has been shown to increase competitiveness, creating employment opportunities, the restriction of rural migration and creating revenue for investments, and develop offers a sense of pride and self-esteem among host communities. However, in order to effectively promote and safeguard the heritage of cultural tourism, based on a sustainable approach, multiple factors are vital.
During the two-day, the first UNWTO / UNESCO World Conference on tourism and Culture Ministers gathered, leading experts and stakeholders in the two sectors to illustrate the need to create a new framework for cooperation between tourism and culture, which includes the active participation of host communities, guests, the public and the private sector.
"We need targeted policies for promoting sustainable development of cultural tourism" , Samdech Akka Moha said Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen , the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, opening the meeting. "This Conference is an important contribution to the promotion of the objectives of sustainable development (SDGs) through collaboration between tourism and culture» , added. "Heritage tells the story of mankind, that tells our story. With careful management, tourism can protect and enliven this heritage, to create new opportunities for local communities, and the promotion of tolerance and respect among peoples and Nations, " , said UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai paving Conference. "It's up to us to work together to harness the immense power of one billion tourists, turning it into a billion opportunities to contribute to inclusive growth, social development and the progress of the program after the 2015 giving sustainability worldwide. I believe that this Conference will allow us to strengthen our partnerships and to work more closely together as architects of a sustainable future» , added. "Every tourist should be the guardian of world heritage, Ambassador of intercultural dialogue.
This is the reason for the preservation of cultural heritage and must move forward with sustainable tourism» , said Irina Mpokoba , Director-General of UNESCO, in a message to Congress. "This vision guides our efforts to promote culture as a guide and as a catalyst for sustainable development. This was never as important as at the moment of change, When countries are shaping a new global agenda of sustainable development to follow after 2015.
In his speech in the Central Conference, King Simeon II , former Prime Minister of Bulgaria, said: "As one of the three living heads of State since the second world war, I can share with you what first came to mind when I read about the culture in combination with tourism: peace, harmony, mutual understanding. The promotion of peace and understanding between peoples, thus ensuring a better standard of living, ties of friendship in a world with too much aggression, hate, inequality and bias, It is vital. We must ensure that cultural tourism is on the agenda of the international community for sustainable development in light of the new objectives of sustainable development ".
The Central speech, Prince Sultan Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Chairman of the Saudi Commission for tourism and antiquities, stressed the efforts of the Saudi Commission for the promotion of cultural heritage in different levels, including the link with tourism, for the national economy and the development of the nation. "
In a message to the Conference, the United Nations High Representative for the Alliance of civilisations (UNAOC), Nasir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser , He stressed that "the power of cultural diversity has been recognized as an integral component for the achievement of the Millennium development goals and will remain an essential element of following the 2015 The United Nations development agenda for sustainable. In this context, Tourism plays an essential role, helping people of different cultures understand each other and to eliminate cultural barriers ".
The ministerial dialogue, He shared the Andrew Stevens from CNN International , He focused on the way that tourism and culture can work together to develop an intergovernmental framework for sustainable cultural tourism, who contributes to socio-economic development of host communities, promotes cross-border, cultural exchanges, and raises funds for the preservation of cultural heritage.
Ministers stressed the importance of creating common institutional structures for the design and management of cultural tourism, ensuring community involvement and empowerment and collaboration with the private sector. The technical sessions focused on the preservation of cultural heritage, cultural routes, tourism and creative industries, and urban regeneration through cultural tourism .
The Club Serron for UNESCO under the parallel actions presented a poster on the theme of Amphipolis and Hill Kasta.
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