Picture: Bahrain’s Ministry of Culture – Minister’s Office
By Baron Henri Estramant
Aimed at bringing together ministers of tourism and ministers of culture to identify key opportunities and challenges for stronger cooperation between the fields, two United Nations agencies launched the first “World Conference on Tourism and Culture” on 4 February 2015 in the vicinity of the Angkor Wat temple, in Siem Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia Cambodia.
The conference was run by the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in cooperation with the Royal Government of Cambodia. It aims to address the overlap between culture and tourism, tackling the question of how to harness the power of tourism and culture to alleviate poverty, create jobs, protect natural and cultural heritage and promote international understanding.
Dr Irina Bokova, UNESCO’s Director-General focused on to building a new, sustainable partnership that unites tourism and culture, and said her goal was to create a positive mutually reinforcing dynamic between the two, working to build sustainability and to benefit local communities.
The conference was honoured by the participation of His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni who greeted visiting dignitaries to his homeland, amongst them, Bahrain’s President for the newly created Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA), Her Excellency Minister Sheikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa. In 2014, the latter in her capacity as Minister of Culture hosted members of Cambodia’s Royal House in the Kingdom of Bahrain, including His Highness Prince Sisowath Tesso who brought the Royal Cambodia Ballet to Manama, and Her Highness Princess Sisowath Chansita who attended the opening of the prestigious Al-Mansouria exhibition at Bahrain Nation Museum.
Cambodia’s Minister of Tourism, Dr. Thong Khon was also at hand to greet the delegates welcome to the Kingdom of Cambodia.
Some of the most prominent delegates included His Majesty the former Czar of the Bulgars, Simeon II, HRH Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, President and Chairman of the Board of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, HE Ms Marcela Bacigalupo, Executive Secretary of the National Tourism Secretariat of Paraguay (SENATUR), HE Dato Seri Mohd Nazri, Minister of Tourism and Culture of Malaysia, H.E. Mrs Sandra Howard Taylor, Vice-Minister of Tourism of Colombia, HE Mr Alain St.Ange, Minister of Tourism and Culture of Seychelles, Mr Nazim Samadov, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism, Ms Pansy Ho, Vice President of China Chamber of Tourism and Managing Director of Shun Tak Holdings Limited, Mr Jaesung Rhee, Executive Vice President for International Tourism, Korea Tourism Organization, etc.
