UNWTO and Korea Team Up for Tourism Development in Asia

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Republic of Korea are teaming up to sponsor a series of tourism projects in the least developed countries of the Asia Pacific region.

UNWTO Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Korean Tourism Minister Kim Myung Gon launching the new collaboration programme. The projects will focus on activities that help transfer technical tourism knowledge to developing countries in the region through new training programmes, particularly in the areas of marketing, promotion and research.

Seoul already hosts the headquarters of UNWTO's ST-EP Foundation - dedicated to poverty alleviation through tourism - and helped start the foundation with an initial grant of US$5 million.

"I am delighted by this new initiative from the Republic of Korea, as well as their continued support for the ST-EP Foundation. It is evidence of Korea's serious commitment to tourism, not only as a way of boosting its national economy, but also as a way of contributing to the prosperity of the entire region," said Mr. Frangialli.

See other recent news regarding: UNWTO, Korea