Vientiane to Host World Ecotourism Conference
WEC2009 is set to attract several hundred delegates and visitors to the Don Chan Palace Hotel and Co
JULY 9, 2009 - The event, supported by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the International Ecotourism Society (TIES), will showcase some of the best sustainable tourism initiatives and practices through expert speakers, panelists and workshop facilitators. The conference and exposition, appealing to a regional and international audience, will highlight ecotourism businesses and products that are currently available in Laos and around the Asia-Pacific region.
WEC2009 is organised by Lao National Tourism Administration (LNTA) and DISCOVERYMICE based in Malaysia. More than 300 businesses, NGOs, foundations, academics and government agencies have registered. The Conference with the theme 'New Paradigms and Resilience for Sustainable and Responsible Tourism in Developing Countries' will focus upon developing regions that are sustained by a combination of private sector market-led initiatives and supportive government policies. The topics will highlight new strategies and applications, innovative capacity building and management, global networking through new media technologies as well as unprecedented public-private sector cooperation as a means to a resilient industry.
"Lao PDR is well suited to host this event based on its reputation for warm hospitality and wealth of cultural, natural and historic tourism assets," said Somphong Mongkhonvilay, Minister and Chairman of Lao National Tourism Administration. Lao Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh is scheduled to attend and UNWTO ad interim Secretary-General Taleb Rifai will deliver the opening remarks.
www.WorldEcotourismConference.com
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