UN CONFAB ON TOURISM AT MARRIOT TO PUSH THROUGH AS SCHEDULED

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) will push through with its conference at the Marriot Hotel in Pasay City from June 21 to 23 despite the tragedy at the Resorts World casino on Friday.

Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo said UNWTO secretary general Taleb Rifai confirmed the sixth International Conference on Tourism Statistics will push through as scheduled.

Teo issued the statement as authorities investigated the attack at the Resorts World casino, near the Marriot, that resulted in the killing of at least 38 people, including the gunman.

“[Rifai] concurred with confidence on the safety and security of tourists coming to the country,” Teo said in a statenment, adding that other tourism ministers also confirmed their attendance.

She said tourism ministers Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul of Thailand, Shaleen Ali of Fiji, John Amaratunga of Sri Lanka, Mohammed Abuzaid Mustafa of Sudan and Didier Dogley of the Seychelles are expected to attend the conference.

Teo said the DOT still expects more to attend because the deadline for the registration is not due until the second week of June.

Chief statisticians from Belarus, Fiji, Kenya, Malaysia, Oman, South Africa and Indonesia have also confirmed their attendance.

There are 169 international participants from 65 countries, representing tourism and statistical agencies, tourism associations and enterprises, and international organizations, as well as 182 local delegates from national and local government, and the academe.

Teo said the UNWTO event is in line with the celebration of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development and will discuss initiatives on developing a statistical framework for sustainable tourism.