connect with us
Greece's latest tourism industry news by Greek Travel Pages

‘International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017’ Kicks Off

The “2017 International Year of Sustainable Tourism Development (IY2017)” was officially opened on Wednesday during the 37th International Tourism Trade Fair FITUR in Madrid, Spain.

This year was declared as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations 70th General Assembly recalling the potential of tourism to advance the universal 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The official launch will be followed by 12 months of global actions aimed at advancing sustainable tourism contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

“2017 is a unique opportunity for us to promote the contribution of tourism to achieving the future we want – and also to determine, together, the exact role we will have tourism play in the sustainable development agenda, to and beyond 2030”, said UNWTO Secretary General, Taleb Rifai, opening the event.

“A unique opportunity to ensure that tourism is a pillar in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”, Rifai added.

UNWTO Secretary General, Taleb Rifai (center), with the special ambassadors of IY2017 Dr Talal Abu Ghazaleh, Chairman, Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization and Dr Michael Frenzel, President, Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry.

UNWTO Secretary General, Taleb Rifai (center), with the special ambassadors of IY2017 Dr Talal Abu Ghazaleh, Chairman, Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization and Dr Michael Frenzel, President, Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry.

Attended by some 600 participants, the event underlined the immense socio-economic opportunities brought by the sector to all societies as well as its power to advocate for mutual understanding, peace and sustainable development worldwide.

Participants at the event included over 60 ministers of tourism; Elzbieta Bienkowska, European Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship; and SMEs and the Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Kvirikashvili.

On the occasion, UNWTO announced the nomination of the Ambassadors of the International Year: HE Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia; HM King Simeon II; Huayong Ge, President, UnionPay; Dr Talal Abu Ghazaleh, Chairman, Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization and Dr Michael Frenzel, President, Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry.

The event also marked the launch of the International Year campaign “Travel.Enjoy.Respect”, aimed at promoting sustainable tourism among travelers in partnership with CNN and RTVE.

#travelenjoyrespect #IY2017

Follow GTP Headlines on Google News to keep up to date with all the latest on tourism and travel in Greece.
About the Author
This is the team byline for GTP. The copyrights for these articles are owned by GTP. They may not be redistributed without the permission of the owner.

Add your comment

*