At ITB Berlin, at wednesday 7th March 2018,14.00-16.00 h ‘Berlin Room’, Hall 7.3, 8th UNWTO Silk Road Ministers’ Meeting under the theme “2025 Silk Road Tourism Agenda”.Kindly supported by Messe Berlin, the Silk Road Programme’s most senior annual meeting will focus on the “2025 Silk Road Tourism Agenda”; that is Member States’ long-term tourism vision for the historic Silk Road routes.
To be attended by the newly-appointed Secretary-General, Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili, Ministers and Heads of the National Tourism Administrations are invited to share their main ideas and strategies as to how fully realize the goals of establishing the Silk Road as the most important transnational tourism route of the 21st century. Gifted with outstanding natural landscapes and cultural heritage transcending borders, this meeting will provide Silk Road Member States with an exceptional opportunity to engage more effectively in the area of joint tourism governance.
Also, the research on the Tourism Impact of the 21st century Maritime Silk Road will be presented during the meeting. Primarily associated with inland routes, the historic Silk Road also comprised an extensive network of maritime itineraries linking various cultures and empires. Based on the renowned interest in re-activating these routes, UNWTO engaged in research studying the impact of China’s 21st Century Maritime Silk Road project on tourism and, more generally, assess the tourism potential of Maritime Silk Road thematic routes across Asia. The main results and its practical application will be presented by lead researcher, Mr. Robert Travers.
Attendance is by invitations only, for further inquiries please contact the UNWTO Silk Road Programme by email silkroad@unwto.org
Provisional Programme
Simultaneous interpretation will be provided in English and Russian Meeting organized by UNWTO, supported by ITB Berlin
At the Silk Road Programme’s most senior annual meeting, Ministers and Heads of National Tourism Administrations will focus on the “2025 Silk Road Tourism Agenda”; that is, Member States’ long-term tourism vision for the historic Silk Road routes. Attendance is by invitation only.
13:15-13:45 Registration Open
14:00-14:20 Official Opening
Opening Remarks by Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili, UNWTO Secretary-General
Welcome Remarks by Mr. David Ruetz, Head of ITB Berlin
14:20-14:35 Silk Road Tourism Development Update
New Opportunities for Sustainable Tourism Development along the Silk Road by Ms. Alla Peressolova, Head of UNWTO Silk Road Programme
14:35-15:00 Keynote Interventions
Presenting the Research on the Tourism Impact of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road by Ms. He Rongxian, President, Sunny International
Connecting the Silk Road through land and sea: Tourism Impact of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road by Mr. Robert Travers, UNWTO Consultant
Greece to host of the 8th UNWTO International Meeting on Silk Road Tourism in Thessaloniki by H.E. Ms. Elena Kountoura, Minister of Tourism of Greece
15:00-15:55 Ministerial Roundtable
moderated by Ms. Daniela Wagner, Director of International Partnerships, Travel Weekly Group Based on the overarching question of what the Silk Road should look like by 2025, Ministers / Heads of NTA will share their long-term Silk Road vision. Of practical nature, the vision presented must be viable and work towards establishing the Silk Road as the most important travel route of the 21st century.
15:55-16:00 Closing Remarks
by Mr. Zhu Shanzhong, UNWTO Executive Director
