The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have signed a
Memorandum of Cooperation aimed at providing a framework for joint
action in the area of sustainable tourism.
The agreement, undersigned by UNWTO
Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, and JICA Executive Senior Vice
President, Kazuhiko Koshikawa, opens important opportunities of
collaboration as JICA is one of the largest global donors in terms of
international cooperation for development in tourism.
As underlined in the document, the
agreement aims to contribute to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) through tourism. A particular focus is given to assisting
developing countries to reduce poverty through tourism as well as to
improve public policies and business practices in order to ensure
sustainable and responsible production and consumption patterns along
the tourism supply chain.
“To work together with a development
agency that has 40 years of experience is a privilege and a unique
opportunity for UNWTO, particularly now that we are launching the
International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017,”
said UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai on the occasion of the
signature of the agreement conducted at the Organizations’
Headquarters in Madrid.
Other areas of cooperation include
research and knowledge-sharing in themes such as tourism and poverty
reduction, tourism development in developing countries, tourism and
climate change and tourism and security.
In addition, both Organizations will
cooperate in technical assistance projects addressing policy and
strategy development, institutional strengthening, quality standards,
human resource development as well as capacity building.
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