19 January 2015
Shaikha Mai Participates at World Conference on Tourism and Culture
H.E Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa, the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH) Chairperson will be attending the World Conference on Tourism and Culture organized by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on February 4-6 in Cambodia.
Also attending the conference alongside Shaikha Mai will be Mounir Bouchenaki, Director of the ARC-WH, who will be speaking about culture and tourism.
Speaking on the occasion, H.E Shaikha Mai said that, “This first UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture will provide an unprecedented global platform for policymakers, experts, and practitioners in tourism and culture to meet and identify the key challenges and opportunities for stronger cooperation between these highly interlinked areas.” H.E added that, “Tourism and culture are two sides of the same coin. Culture is a vital tool for tourism contributing to economic growth and social development. Only by safeguarding culture can sustainable tourism be developed for the benefit of local communities and international visitors as well as national economic planning and development policies.
"Marking the first such global collaboration between UNWTO and UNESCO, and over the course of two days, participants will explore different roles and mandates on five key topics – governance and partnership models, cultural preservation, living cultures and creative industries, cultural routes and urban regeneration through cultural tourism. The conference brings together ministers of tourism and culture and stakeholders in the fields from around the world to explore the different roles and mandates to advance sustainable cultural tourism while fostering new partnerships. Indeed, cultural tourism can contribute to inclusive economic growth, social development and cultural preservation.
Attended by His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Baromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, and Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, the conference will address a wide range of topics, including governance models, the promotion, protection and safeguarding of culture, innovation, the role of creative industries and urban regeneration as a vehicle for sustainable development in destinations worldwide.
Speakers include King Simeon II (former Prime Minister of Bulgaria), John King (Chairman of the Australian Export Tourism Council), Helena Egan (Director of Industry Relations at Trip Advisor), John Delaney (Senior Vice President of Seabourn) and Elizabeth Becker (award-winning author and former correspondent for the New York Times).
Hosted by the Kingdom of Cambodia in Siem Reap, home of UNESCO World Heritage Site Angkor Wat, the conference will count on the presence of many people as the country has many famous heritage symbols and is a popular tourist destination.
