Philippines steps up role in UN world tourism organization

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has been chosen as the Vice President of the 25th General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Department of Tourism said on Tuesday.

In a statement, DOT said the country was elected to the post during the 55th meeting of the UNWTO Regional Commission for East Asia and the Pacific held last June 16 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

It was in 1999 when the country held the same post in the UNWTO.

It added that the Philippines was also chosen to lead the Commission for East Asia and the Pacific.

With this position, the country presides over the meetings that tackle regional concerns.

“As chair, the Philippines will host the Joint Commission Meeting of the Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and the Commission for South Asia in 2024,” DOT said. The event is expected to gather at least 300 delegates from the region.

“We cannot wait to welcome you to the Philippines, particularly to my home province of Cebu, adjudged as one of the best islands in the world,” said Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco.

Frasco spoke before tourism officials of Cambodia, Indonesia, and Maldives, among others, as well as UNWTO officials and delegates from member and associate countries.

She said the Philippines being chosen as UNWTO General Assembly Vice President and Commission for East Asia and the Pacific head “only affirms our sincere intention to seriously and purposely put the Philippines in the limelight of the global tourism industry.”

She cited the vision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to make the Philippines a “tourism powerhouse in Asia.”

“We cannot wait to partner and collaborate with all of you as we usher in a golden era of tourism for our regions to become the tourism powerhouse regions in the world,” Frasco added.

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