Press Release No.G/11/00
20 March 2000
(Reissued, as received)

BANGKOK (United Nations Information Services) -- A wide range of representation from the international community, tourism ministries and senior officials from national tourism authorities to reputed tourism institutions met today at a United Nations seminar to identify strategies by which public-private partnership for tourism development can create a win-win situation that is sustainable for the Asia-Pacific region..

The ESCAP/TAT/WTO Asia-Pacific Seminar on Public-Private Partnership in Tourism Development is being organized jointly by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the World Tourism Organization (WTO) at the United Nations Conference Centre from 20-22 March 2000.

Over the next two days, the Seminar will identify the key concept areas that are basic to public-private partnership in the promotion of local tourism; examine, among other aspects, the conditions under which public-private partnerships ideally function; provide a platform for the exchange of information the current scenarios of such a partnership in the region and recommend future policy alternatives for public-private partnership for the Asia-Pacific region.

In his opening speech, H.E. Mr. Korn Dabbaransi, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand informed the Seminar that travel and tourism is already Thailand's largest foreign exchange earning service industry.

"It has grown largely because the private sector has played a major role in ensuring that we have good products and services that are recognized world-wide for their quality and value money. These products are then marketed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, THAI Airways International and others involved in our industry. It is a good partnership," said the Thai Deputy Prime Minister.

He added that it is clear that the private sector has to take the lead while the government ensures that the country remains on course.

Careful thought and action are required in order to define the nature and balance in the public-private partnership for tourism development stated Mr. Adrianus Mooy, Executive Secretary of ESCAP in his statement which was delivered by Ms. Kayoko Mizuta, Deputy Executive Secretary of ESCAP.

"This includes thinking about the comparative advantage of the private sector in responding to the market forces and the social responsibility of the public sector for establishing the policy framework and business environment that would clearly serve the public interest," said the Executive Secretary.

The illusion that governments can represent the economic world and civil society as a whole is simply untenable with the changed world situation. This is particularly true in the field of tourism where partners are powerful and diversified, responsibilities are decentralized and the States' disengagement is more and more evident than ever, said Mr. Francesco Frangialli, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization in his remarks to the Seminar.

"Nowadays, doesn't a big tour operator, a major airline or an international hotel shift, carry and receive more clients or passengers that the number of inhabitants in many States? With 445 billion dollars in 1999, aren't tourism exports higher than the gross domestic product of countries like India, the Netherlands, Mexico, Australia or Russia? In these circumstances, to deny the obvious and to cling to the simplistic illusion would be like building governments and international organizations such as WTO on the foundation of sand" stated Mr. Frangialli.

He said that the only valid path is how these new balances should be reflected; how the civil society and the non-governmental organizations should be given the chance to express themselves; and how genuine partnerships with all the stock holders in the field of tourism should be built.

The Seminar also heard the statement by Mr. Pradech Phayakvichien, Governor of Tourism Authority of Thailand during the opening session of the Seminar.

Over 400 participants from 25 the Asian and Pacific countries and the private sector as well as representatives of United Nations bodies and agencies are attending the Seminar.