Eco-tourism: World body keen to showcase Brunei
Royal audience: His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah (L), Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, receives in audience Francesco Frangialli (R), Secretary General of the UNWTO at Balai Penghadapan, Bukit Kayangan. Picture: Saifulizam
Friday, December 14, 2007
World tourism body chief praises sultanate's moves to conserve the environment
THE WORLD body for tourism is interested to develop an initiative linking Brunei's rich natural resources and biodiversity as a proposal for other countries to promote sustainable tourism.
Francesco Frangialli, secretary-general of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), said that Brunei has "important resources" which takes environment conservation into account to develop eco-tourism and help sustain its long-term future.
Speaking to The Brunei Times in an exclusive interview yesterday, he said that the UNWTO is interested in environment protection as the cost of global warming will also affect global tourism.
He was earlier received in audience by His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade at Balai Penghadapan, Bukit Kayangan.
"Tourism and climate change is inter-related because tourism is a contributor as well as a victim of global warming," Frangialli added.
He said tourism contributes about 5 per cent of the total carbon emissions in the world.
"It is not much but it is growing, we expect the market to double in 20 years," he said.
There is a need to cut down the carbon emissions but there is no immediate substitution of aircraft, he said. International tourist arrivals have grown from 165 million in 1970 to 856 million last year, and is expected to reach 1.6 billion in 2020.
Climate change should be made as an agenda, together with other agenda in the tourism industry, but it should not come at the expense of people's jobs, he added.
Frangialli said that the UNWTO has already taken the initiative to take steps in promoting sustainable tourism, with 60 projects currently under implementation in Africa and Asia.
"Few people are informed about Brunei, this is a problem of visibility, but this also means it does not have a bad image because it is just starting to promote tourism development," he said.
Becoming a member of the UNWTO is a good start for Brunei for it can learn what other tourist destinations have done and avoid the mistakes of those countries, he said.
"I am delighted that Brunei has joined as a member," he said. He advised that Brunei should not lose the momentum of its admission into the world tourism organisation.
The UNWTO is expected to send a mission to assist Brunei in tourism education and training early next year, the secretary-general said.
Later, he paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, Pehin Orang Kaya Setia Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Ahmad Hj Jumat.
The Brunei Times
Brunei's eco-tourism drive on right track β Pg 3
THE WORLD body for tourism is interested to develop an initiative linking Brunei's rich natural resources and biodiversity as a proposal for other countries to promote sustainable tourism.
Francesco Frangialli, secretary-general of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), said that Brunei has "important resources" which takes environment conservation into account to develop eco-tourism and help sustain its long-term future.
Speaking to The Brunei Times in an exclusive interview yesterday, he said that the UNWTO is interested in environment protection as the cost of global warming will also affect global tourism.
He was earlier received in audience by His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade at Balai Penghadapan, Bukit Kayangan.
"Tourism and climate change is inter-related because tourism is a contributor as well as a victim of global warming," Frangialli added.
He said tourism contributes about 5 per cent of the total carbon emissions in the world.
"It is not much but it is growing, we expect the market to double in 20 years," he said.
There is a need to cut down the carbon emissions but there is no immediate substitution of aircraft, he said. International tourist arrivals have grown from 165 million in 1970 to 856 million last year, and is expected to reach 1.6 billion in 2020.
Climate change should be made as an agenda, together with other agenda in the tourism industry, but it should not come at the expense of people's jobs, he added.
Frangialli said that the UNWTO has already taken the initiative to take steps in promoting sustainable tourism, with 60 projects currently under implementation in Africa and Asia.
"Few people are informed about Brunei, this is a problem of visibility, but this also means it does not have a bad image because it is just starting to promote tourism development," he said.
Becoming a member of the UNWTO is a good start for Brunei for it can learn what other tourist destinations have done and avoid the mistakes of those countries, he said.
"I am delighted that Brunei has joined as a member," he said. He advised that Brunei should not lose the momentum of its admission into the world tourism organisation.
The UNWTO is expected to send a mission to assist Brunei in tourism education and training early next year, the secretary-general said.
Later, he paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, Pehin Orang Kaya Setia Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Ahmad Hj Jumat.
The Brunei Times
Brunei's eco-tourism drive on right track β Pg 3
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