04 Jul 17.- Marie Louise Coleiro
Preca, President of the Republic of Malta, has been nominated as Special
Ambassador of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.
The appointment took place at a ceremony held at the World Tourism Organization
(UNWTO) Headquarters in Madrid.
The President of Malta, Marie
Louise Coleiro Preca, underlined in her intervention the relevance of
sustainable tourism as a means to build peace, social cohesion, and prosperity
for all of humanity.
Cultural diplomacy, peace
building and understanding were some of the components of sustainable tourism
highlighted by the President of Malta. “Tourism shows us that positive experiences
in new destinations can transform people’s perceptions, and give them a new
understanding of different cultures,” she said.
“Tourism has the power to make us
aware of our enriching diversity. In an increasingly globalized world, tourism
provides opportunities for social solidarity, community empowerment, and
potential peace building,” she added.
“When designating 2017 as the
International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, the UN recognized
tourism’s contribution to people and planet; to peace and prosperity. The
Mediterranean is a melting pot of civilizations; a testimony of our origins and
an inspiration for our future and having the President of Malta as a
contributor to the International Year is a privilege,” said UNWTO Secretary-General
Taleb Rifai.
The event served also to
introduce the Mediterranean Tourism Foundation, of which the Presdient of Malta
is a Patron. Established in 2013, the Foundation aims at increasing the
potential for sustainable tourism growth across the Mediterranean and to
transform the Mediterranean into an area of peace, cooperation and prosperity
by investing and promoting sustainable tourism.
+++
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario