Frasco joins tourism leaders at 25th UNWTO Gen Assembly in Uzbekistan
TOURISM Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco on Wednesday joined tourism leaders from across the globe at the 25th United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Frasco, a representative of the Philippines, is taking a prominent role as Vice President for East Asia and the Pacific, an executive position last held by the country 24 years ago.
The Philippines will preside over the meetings to tackle concerns within the region.
This will also provide an opportunity for the Philippines to showcase the country by hosting the Joint Commission Meeting of the Commission for East Asia and the Pacific, and the Commission for South Asia in Cebu next year.
The Tourism Chief at the same time will represent the country in the UNWTO Global Education Forum.
Discussions will explore opportunities for shaping new policies, effective instruments, and global partnerships to support inclusive and sustainable tourism development while addressing the skill gap and creating value-added jobs.
More than 150 tourism ministers and delegates from different countries are in attendance for the two-day high-level meeting which will center on policies fostering innovation and education for the current and future status of the global tourism industry.
The General Assembly will be presided over by Uzbekistan as the elected president, and is also attended by its commission vice presidents: Philippines for East Asia and the Pacific, Algeria and the United Republic of Tanzania for Africa, Argentina and Paraguay for the Americas, Hungary for Europe, the United Arab Emirates for the Middle East, and the Maldives for South Asia.
The UNWTO, of which The Philippines is a full member, is a specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism.
Joining Frasco in representing the Philippines are ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran His Excellency Roberto G. Manalo, and DOT officials Undersecretary Shahlimar Hofer Tamano, OIC Undersecretary Verna Buensuceso, and Assistant Secretary Rica Bueno.
