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The 2nd T.20 Tourism Ministers' Meeting was held Oct. 11th to 13th in Buyeo, Republic of Korea.
Sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea, the event was promoted as follows:
"Tourism Moves Toward the Future, so that Everyone Around the World Can Smile"
The tourism industry, a force behind the recovery of the global economy leads future green growth.
People around the world understand and open up to each other through the tourism industry.
Developed and developing countries share growth of the global community.
Tourism ministers from G20 countries come together in the Republic of Korea to brighten up the future of the tourism industry.
Korea is reborn as the center of the world by hosting the T.20 ministerial conference.
Tourism, the key driver of shared growth.
The tourism industry, a force behind the recovery of the global economy leads future green growth.
People around the world understand and open up to each other through the tourism industry.
Developed and developing countries share growth of the global community.
Tourism ministers from G20 countries come together in the Republic of Korea to brighten up the future of the tourism industry.
Korea is reborn as the center of the world by hosting the T.20 ministerial conference.
Tourism, the key driver of shared growth.
Hum ... looks like propaganda for a sect or a trailer for a blockbuster movie.
In reality, there is no tourism without tourists and tourism is actually some kind of relocated or outsourced consumption. Tourists are consuming outside their usual living environment; they are consuming other people's resources - natural resources, cultural resources, climate resources etc. Many tourists tend to do things they cannot afford at home. They are sometimes overeating, overindulging, overconsuming ... They care ... less. So before talking about the role of tourism, let's talk about the role and responsibility of tourists ... It has to do not only with culture but also with education and awareness.
Was the T.20 event successful ? I am afraid I cannot answer that question because I could not find many data about the exact number of participants: over 100, according to some official sources and more than 500, according to other sources. This reminds me the statistics about demonstrations in France: the number of participants according to the police is generally much lower than the number of participants according to the "troublemakers".
In reality, there is no tourism without tourists and tourism is actually some kind of relocated or outsourced consumption. Tourists are consuming outside their usual living environment; they are consuming other people's resources - natural resources, cultural resources, climate resources etc. Many tourists tend to do things they cannot afford at home. They are sometimes overeating, overindulging, overconsuming ... They care ... less. So before talking about the role of tourism, let's talk about the role and responsibility of tourists ... It has to do not only with culture but also with education and awareness.
Was the T.20 event successful ? I am afraid I cannot answer that question because I could not find many data about the exact number of participants: over 100, according to some official sources and more than 500, according to other sources. This reminds me the statistics about demonstrations in France: the number of participants according to the police is generally much lower than the number of participants according to the "troublemakers".
Anyway, the event may actually have a positive impact for regional (and even domestic) tourism in Korea since it gave exposure to the city of Buyeo, the capital city of Chungcheongnam province and capital city of the Baekje Kingdom, located in the middle of Korea. I had never heard about Buyeo before T.20 and I am glad to know there is a new place for me to visit (or not) in Korea.
I just hope there were enough rooms to accomodate so many people in Buyeo, depending on the actual figures. Or is it that people shared the same rooms, Korean style? Or may be they were accomodated in temples ? After all, those officials representing tourism administrations or those sustainable tourism gurus are expected to show the example and explore the diversity of local tourism attractions while they are travelling abroad.
The Buyeo Declaration was adopted on the third day of the T.20 meeting on October 13th.
It made it clear that the tourism industry has a profound influence over the number of jobs, exports, and overall economy of nations, and can contribute to overcoming the global financial crisis while stimulating economic growth.
It also outlined four goals for the tourism industry: accelerating economic growth and prosperity, increasing employment, contributing to the world development agenda, and promoting sustainable development.
I am sorry I could not find the text of Buyeo declaration, even in the official T.20 Korea website ... It would be nice to get it and to make it translated (you know who can do it in French, right ?).
T.20 members agreed to hold the third T.20 meeting in France in 2011, which is also next in line to host a G20 Financial Summit, after the Seoul Summit next month.
As everybody knows, France has long been the first tourism destination in terms of international arrivals. Is it enough to brag about ? To be continued ...
http://www.t20korea.com/
Below is a list of links to get some recent and very interesting articles about T.20 and tourism in Korea:
FROM KOREA TIMES:
T20 Ministers promote tourism
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/nation_view.asp?newsIdx=74513&categoryCode=117
Korea spreads benefits of tourism across globe
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2010/10/144_74366.html
Minister laments lack of hotels to accomodate foreign tourists
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/10/117_74512.html
Korea to emerge as global tourism hub
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2010/10/144_74366.html
Qatar targets Korean Business travelers
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2010/10/135_74583.html
FROM KOREA HERALD:
T20 discusses role of tourism in recovery
http://www.koreaherald.com/lifestyle/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20101012000771
‘Tourism key to change’: Minister Yu
http://www.koreaherald.com/lifestyle/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20101012000827
Tourism sector seeks sustainable growth
http://www.koreaherald.com/lifestyle/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20101013000871
