PNoy to keynote UNWTO-ASEAN Conference on Tourism, Climate Change in Albay

BY: SALLY A. ATENTO                           

LEGAZPI CITY, May 16 (PIA) – President Benigno Simeon Aquino III is expected to grace the opening of the UNWTO - ASEAN International Conference on Tourism and Climate Change hosted by the province of Albay on May 19, 2014.  

                                   

The Presidet will keynote the opening program of the conference at the Oriental Hotel here.

This conference will be attended by the heads of the Asociation of South East Asia Nations National Tourism Organization (NTO) and officials of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Pacific Area Travel Association (PATA) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Ambassador to the Philippines of Spain, Greece, Russia and India together with two prime ministers are also coming.

Together with the President are key officials of the executive and legislative branches of the government along with tourism industry players and local government executives led by Albay Governor Joey Salceda.

UNWTO Secretary General Dr. Taleb Rifai has earlier arrived in the country yesterday for a five-day visit which include the presentation and turnover of the Bohol Reovery Plan aimed at helping the province recover from the effect of last year’s earthquake.  

Special meeting of the ASEAN Tourism Proffessionals Monitoring Committee (ATPMC) has been convened in Albay Wednesday this week ahead of the multiple tourism organizations meeting.

Among the concerns discussed are schedules for regional training sessions for hotel divisions where tourism professionals may find employment in other member countries in fields of frontine services, food poduction and food and beverge services.

Mr. Sounh Manivong of Lao PDR chaired the meeting with Mr. Mohd Daud Moud Arif of Malaysia as vice-chair.        

The ATPMC is composed of national organizations of ASEAN member states in preparation for the ASEAN Economic Community Integration by 2015.       

Albay has been chosen among 156 countries by the UNWTO ASEAN to host four international conventions from May 15 – 20, 2014 at the Oriental Hotel here.

These include the UNWTO- ASEAN  International Conference on Tourism and Climate Change on May 19-20, 26th Joint Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and the UNWTO Commission for South Asia on May 18 and 25th Meeting of the ASEAN plus three National Tourism Organizations and 12th Meeting of the ASEAN – India Tourism Working Group on May 17.

The two-day 40th Meeting of ASEAN  National Tourism Organizations has started yesterday.

ASEAN member states are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. (MAL/SAA-PIA5/Albay)