ID :
56393
Mon, 04/20/2009 - 15:12
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/56393
The shortlink copeid
COMMUNITY BASED TOURISM IMPORTANT ECONOMIC DRIVER - APEC
SANDAKAN (Malaysia), April 20 (Bernama) -- Community based tourism, part of
the sustainable tourism initiative, is an important economic driver for the
Asia-Pacific region, said Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) secretariat
programme director Toni Widhiastono.
He said community based tourism was also an important vehicle in addressing
many Apec objectives.
"Travel and tourism, perhaps more than any other industry, creates a variety
of oportunities and challenges, particulary at the community level," he said in
his speech at the Apec Conference on Community Based Tourism here Monday.
Toni said the Apec Tourism Working Group (TWG) recognised the growing
influence of the tourism industry in promoting economic growth and social
development in the Asia Pacific region.
He added that the Apec Tourism Charter reflects a collective commitment to
improve the economic, cultural, social and environment well being of Apec
members through tourism.
He said according to the World Tourism Organisation, East Asia and the
Pacific will by 2020 receive an estimated 397 million tourists annually with
growth rates of over five percent, compared to the world average of 4.1 percent.
"This means tourism might be considered not just a reliable source of
revenue but as an anchor to many other objectives within the Apec agenda," he
said.
Toni also said the conference was timely as it allows Apec member
economies to consider the opportunities that exist within the tourism industry.
He said the conference is part of the implementation of the Apec TWG funded
project to ensure continuous sustainable growth in the tourism industry to
generate income and employment for local communities.
He added that Apec projects are mostly meant for developing economies.
"It is also to improve the understanding of developing member economies on
the concepts, best practises and long term viability of community based
tourism," he explained.
Sandakan is the second-largest city in Sabah, East Malaysia, on the
north-eastern coast of Borneo. It is located on the east coast of the island and
is known as the gateway for ecotourism destinations in Sabah, such as the
Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary, Turtle Islands Park, Kinabatangan River and
Gomantong Caves.
-- BERNAMA
the sustainable tourism initiative, is an important economic driver for the
Asia-Pacific region, said Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) secretariat
programme director Toni Widhiastono.
He said community based tourism was also an important vehicle in addressing
many Apec objectives.
"Travel and tourism, perhaps more than any other industry, creates a variety
of oportunities and challenges, particulary at the community level," he said in
his speech at the Apec Conference on Community Based Tourism here Monday.
Toni said the Apec Tourism Working Group (TWG) recognised the growing
influence of the tourism industry in promoting economic growth and social
development in the Asia Pacific region.
He added that the Apec Tourism Charter reflects a collective commitment to
improve the economic, cultural, social and environment well being of Apec
members through tourism.
He said according to the World Tourism Organisation, East Asia and the
Pacific will by 2020 receive an estimated 397 million tourists annually with
growth rates of over five percent, compared to the world average of 4.1 percent.
"This means tourism might be considered not just a reliable source of
revenue but as an anchor to many other objectives within the Apec agenda," he
said.
Toni also said the conference was timely as it allows Apec member
economies to consider the opportunities that exist within the tourism industry.
He said the conference is part of the implementation of the Apec TWG funded
project to ensure continuous sustainable growth in the tourism industry to
generate income and employment for local communities.
He added that Apec projects are mostly meant for developing economies.
"It is also to improve the understanding of developing member economies on
the concepts, best practises and long term viability of community based
tourism," he explained.
Sandakan is the second-largest city in Sabah, East Malaysia, on the
north-eastern coast of Borneo. It is located on the east coast of the island and
is known as the gateway for ecotourism destinations in Sabah, such as the
Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary, Turtle Islands Park, Kinabatangan River and
Gomantong Caves.
-- BERNAMA
