 Yu In-chon, third from left, minister of culture, sports and tourism, speaks during a joint press conference after concluding the T20 Tourism Ministers’ Meeting at the Lotte Buyeo Resort, South Chungcheong Province, Wednesday. From left, Thai Tourism Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa; Malaysian Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen; Minister Yu; UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai; Chinese Vice Tourism Minister Du Jiang; and Argentine Vice Tourism Minister Daniel Pablo Aguilera. / Courtesy of Culture Ministry |
By Lee Hyo-sik
BUYEO ― Tourism ministers from around the world have agreed to promote tourism as an effective tool to create jobs and spur growth, as well as to help underdeveloped countries achieve sustainable development.
After concluding the three-day T20 Ministers’ Meeting in this ancient capital city of Buyeo, South Chungcheong Province, from Oct. 11 to 13, 20 tourism ministers and representatives from international organizations Wednesday issued the ``Buyeo Declaration,’’ outlining four initiatives.
``Tourism can make an important contribution to the initiatives that the G20 is undertaking to achieve shared growth beyond the crisis, particularly in terms of global job creation and the development agenda. The tourism sector stands ready to work towards the common objectives of strong, sustainable and balanced growth,’’ the statement said.
It then said to harness the full potential of the travel and tourism sector in contributing to sustained and balanced economic growth and development, the 2nd T20 Ministers’ Meeting is committed to encourage economic prosperity through travel and tourism.
``We will facilitate the movement of tourists and address restrictive travel barriers, and promote investment in tourism and related infrastructure. To boost tourism’s employment contribution, the ministers agreed to support human resources development through training and capacity building,’’ the declaration said.
Tourism ministers also plan to narrow the developing gap and reduce poverty through fair tourism, enhanced financing and technology transfers. ``Korea and other T20 member states will work hard to include less developed countries in the global travel and tourism framework. Like in the G20, Korea will play the bridge role between developed and developing worlds in the T20 process,’’ Yu In-chon, minister of culture, sports and tourism, said during a joint press conference.
Early Wednesday, Korea signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Ghana to help the African nation build travel-promotion billboards across the country in a bid to boost its tourism infrastructure.
Additionally, T20 ministers agreed to advance sustainable development by promoting the best green economy practices, incentives and training and capacity building in the sector. ``We will also support the integration of travel and tourism within broader green growth strategies for sustainable development and cultural enrichment.’’
France, the G20 chair in 2011, will host the third T20 ministers’ meeting next year.
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