Bangkok--30 Apr--Ministry of Tourism and Sports
Ministry of Tourism and Sports encourages Chiangmai as the host of international conference in May on the “24th Joint Meeting UNWTO Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and UNWTO Commission for South Asia”. The conference intends to lead 3 Green Products lines in order to show all the international ministers Thailand’s affluence and readiness on products and services.
Mr. Chumpol Silpa-archa, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism and Sports remarked that Thailand, elected by the United Nations — The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), is ready to be a host of UNWTO international conference. The Minister also made clear that the given authority was resided on Dr. Suwat Sidthilaw, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Tourism and Sports, to take care and operate the conference. On this basis, Ministry of Tourism and Sports consulted with the involved governmental and private sectors, such as provincial governor, chamber of commercial association, tourist police, branch office of Tourism Authority of Thailand in Chiangmai, and representatives of Night Safari zoo, to prepare the “24th Joint Meeting UNWTO Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and UNWTO Commission for South Asia” and “UNWTO High-Level Regional Conference on Green Tourism” on 3th — 5th May 2012. The budget of the conference was approved by Royal Thai Government.
This is the first time of Thailand as the host of UNWTO joints meeting for East Asia and the Pacific, and South Asia regions. Regarding to the previous joints meeting in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand were presented to be the host of 24th joint meeting. The election suggested Thailand to be the host with more than 30 majority votes and more than 5 tourism ministers paid attention on joining.
“It is the first opportunity for Thailand to arrange this joint meeting. When Tsunami occurred, Thailand also set UNWTO meeting, but it was a sort of ad hoc and did not pursue UNWTO agenda. So, If there are more than 5 secretaries of state participated in this meeting, Thailand would be succeeded as the “Destination” of which the high-level leader interested to come. The joint meeting is arranged with the concept of Green Tourism, appointed by UNWTO. Therefore, Thailand proposed Chiangmai as the most appropriate and suitable destination to arrange the meeting”
The meeting on the concept of Green Tourism would be preceded, during 3-5 May 2012 with the following activities:
? (3rd May 2012) - The first day of the meeting arranges the academic conference on World Tourism; the lecture is carried on by the experts from UNWTO. In the afternoon, the meeting is about exchanging case studies among members; Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Thailand, presents experts from Green leaf Foundation (Baimaikeaw) as the representatives from Thailand.
? (4th May 2012) — On the second day, the members from each state present their overall operation on Tourism, including the operation of UNWTO on both regions. Besides, this meeting also sets the election on Regional Budget and Project Committee.
? (5th May 2012) - As the last day of the conference, Thailand sets a visual education for conferees with two choices of activities:
1. Thai Elephant Conservation Center, Lampang Province
2. Huai Hong Khrai Royal Development Study Centre - Ban Tawai Village
In additional, Minister of Tourism and Sports with the support from Chiangmai Zoo also provide the educational field trip for reporters and followers.
The meeting is expected 150-200 participants; the high-level leaders, organization executives and followers from tourism sectors.
The obvious benefit which Thailand, especially Chiangmai, receives from this meeting is the chance to illustrate ability and potential in management of the international meeting to global level. Previously, the representative of UNWTO came to explore the location of the meeting and educational field trip during 1st- 3rd March 2012. As the result of the exploring, the representatives shown an impression to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports in located Chiangmai as the center of the joint meeting for there is secure, suitable atmosphere and location, and also the center of Lanna culture and variety of tourism products and services. From the reason as mentioned, it is a good opportunity to encourage Green Tourism and culture to be well-known.
In addition, Thailand could use this chance to arrange academic conference and offer tourism academics and private sectors to exchange their view point and ideas to the audiences from Asia and Pacific. The academic conference also create integrated lineage.
Ministry of Tourism and Sports
International Affairs: 02-356-0684
Public Relations: 02-356-0724 or 02-356-0711