Ecotourism conference for Korea

Gyeonggi Tourism Organization to host the 4th World Conference of Ecotourism

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo and Goyang Mayor Choi Seong will be marking the 20th anniversary of the Rio Earth Summit and the 10th anniversary of UN Year of Ecotourism at the 4th World Ecotourism Conference to be held from September 2-5 at the Korea International Exhibition Centre (KINTEX), Goyang City in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.

The World Ecotourism Conference backed by UNWTO (UN World Tourism Organization) is now in its 4th edition. It was first convened in Vientiane, Laos in 2009 and since it has been successfully convened in different countries in the region. The 3rd Conference was held in Sihanoukville, Cambodia where it was unanimously decided that the 4th World Ecotourism Conference would be held in Gyeonggi Province.

The Conference under the theme "Ecotourism for Global Peace" will focus on related topics which include Transformational initiatives and Success Stories, Eco-tourism Trends and Innovation as well as Eco-tourism Best Practices and Recommendations. 

The Conference programme will also include parallel sessions like the Eco-tourism Forum Leaders’ Symposium, Eco-Business Forum,  Korean DMZ & Transboundary Protected Areas, as well as meetings of Asian Forest Cooperation Organisation (AFoCO), Asian Parks Congress Meeting and the World Commission on Protected Areas (IUCN WCPA) Steering Committee. The annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Eco-tourism Society (APES) will be present exciting opportunities for the ecotourism industry as well as special sessions with international organizations to explore a variety of ecotourism related collaborative opportunities.

The World Conference will also discuss the challenges and solutions to develop the joint Korean DMZ area for ecotourism and prominence to the initiative will symbolise the hope for regional peace. Marking the 10th anniversary of UN Year of Ecotourism 2002, the Conference will conclude with the Goyang Declaration reminiscing the achievements and successes in the last 10 years and setting the momentum with future sustainable directions.

Dr. Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Secretary-General; Mr. Nikita Lopoukhine, IUCN WCPA Chair; Dr. Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism, Cambodia including leaders from the German Federal Commissioner for Conservation of Nature and The International Ecotourism Society, as well as senior public sector officials and private sector professionals are expected to come together for the coming world eco-tourism conference to discuss the future direction of ecotourism.

The significance of Rio +20 summit, the 10th anniversary of UN Year of Ecotourism and the World Ecotourism Conference  will set a new era for multilateral cooperation in ecotourism, said Mr Hwang Joon Kee, President of Gyeonggi Tourism Organisation and Dr Je Jong Geel, co-Chair of Ecotourism Korea.

The World Ecotourism Conference in Gyeonggi Province is co-organized by Goyang City, Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, Ecotourism Korea, the Asia-Pacific Ecotourism Society (APES) and DISCOVERYMICE, an affiliate member of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

For more information, please log into the conference official website: http://www.WEC2012Korea.com

Valere Tjolle

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