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Tourism Can Strengthen Intercultural Understanding

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  • Tourism Can Strengthen Intercultural Understanding

    TOURISM CAN STRENGTHEN INTERCULTURAL UNDERSTANDING

    Travel Daily News International
    Oct 30 2012

    Lina Rokou - 30 October 2012, 08:53

    The Conference debated topics ranging from the balance between the
    integration of universal values in responsible tourism with the
    preservation of core cultural values, to the protection of cultural
    heritage sites and the links between tourism and intangible cultural
    heritage.

    There is a need for increased recognition of tourism's role in
    strengthening intercultural understanding and mutual respect. This
    is one of the conclusions and calls for action reached by tourism
    officials, heads of leading tourism companies and representatives from
    international organizations meeting at a UNWTO conference in Armenia
    (Yerevan, Armenia, 18-19 October 2012).

    "The one billion travelers that cross international borders each
    year translate into opportunities for intercultural dialogue and
    understanding, tolerance and respect; the building blocks of universal
    values," said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, opening the
    International Conference on 'Universal Values and Cultural Diversity
    in the 21st Century: How can tourism make a difference?'.

    Concluding the Conference, participants adopted the Yerevan Declaration
    highlighting the role of tourism in advancing intercultural dialogue
    and understanding.

    "In line with the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, the Yerevan
    Declaration not only underscores the vital role tourism plays in
    fostering intercultural understanding, it also sets out the steps
    that all actors need to take to further strengthen this role," said Mr.

    Rifai.

    These steps include avoiding the over-commodification of local
    cultural heritage, encouraging community-based tourism projects, and
    the training of tourism staff on how to involve local communities in
    tourism development.

    On the occasion of the Conference, five of Armenia's most prominent
    tourism companies signed the Private Sector Commitment to the UNWTO
    Global Code of Ethics for Tourism. Representatives of Armenia Marriott
    Hotel Yerevan, ARM Hotels, Tufenkian Hospitality, the Union of Incoming
    Tour Operators of Armenia (UITO) and Zvartnots Armenia International
    Airports, signed the Commitment in the presence of the Minister of
    Economy of the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Tigran Davtyan, and Mr. Rifai.

    In signing the Commitment, the five enterprises joined the ever growing
    list of private sector companies and associations that have publicly
    pledged to uphold, promote and implement the values advocated by the
    Code of Ethics.

    http://www.traveldailynews.com/news/article/51806/tourism-can-strengthen-intercultural-understanding




    From: A. Papazian
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