Kathmandu, Apr 01: Aimed at exploring a joint marketing strategy for promotion of regional tourism, the 43rd meeting of world tourism organization's regional commission for South Asia began here today. Over 50 delegates from 12 countries of South Asia and Asia Pacific regions including India are participating in the sub-regional meeting.
The three-day meeting which will include an Asia-Pacific seminar on crisis management also aims at suggesting crises management mechanisms to rescue the regional tourism industry from the ongoing conflicts and tensions in parts of the globe.
Stressing on the need for sound strategies and policies for crisis management, Nepal Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand said, "The world tourism industry is passing through major transitions in the midst of uncertainties.”

"The governments of this region must be proactive in anticipating and identifying possible crises which can affect the tourism industry and devise mechanisms to mitigate the negative impacts to re-establish confidence of tourists in order to rescue tourism industry,” he observed.

Branding tourism as the most adaptable and resilient industry, Dawid J de Villiers, deputy secretary general, World Tourism Organization, said, "Efficient and time-bound management of crises in tourism can be useful in not only streamlining a tourism industry but also allowing it to grow to new heights.”

Beijing would be hosting the 15th session of the WTO General Assembly in October 2003, he informed.
Bureau Report