International Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development in the Danube Region: New Perspectives

Belgrade, 29 June 2017- In the framework of the International Danube Day a two-day Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development in the Danube Region: New Perspectives is organized by the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications of the Republic of Serbia, in collaboration with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in the name of German Development Cooperation.

The aim of the Conference is to lay the policy and strategic groundwork for the development of joint sustainable tourism products and marketing platforms in the Danube Region and beyond.

The conference kicked off with the high-level opening ceremony including opening speeches by Mr. Rasim Ljajic, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia and Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications, Ms. Karla Hershey, UN Resident Coordinator in Serbia and Mr. Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization.

The participants of the Conference had the chance to discuss joint policies and strategies which could be used in laying the framework for sustainable tourism development, investment and promotion in the Danube Region and beyond. This was also the opportunity to address key issues such as skills development, sustainability, transnational cooperation and innovation, with the aim to identify flagship projects for transnational cooperation in the Danube Region and beyond.

Considering the United Nations' (UN) designation of the 2017 as The International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017, this was an appropriate momentum to perceive the current situation in tourism, to share experiences and ideas regarding the advantage of a rapidly evolving tourism sector, gearing to a joint agreement on main priorities.

The Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development in the Danube Region: New perspectives, gathered tourism policymakers and decision-makers, as well as other public and private sector stakeholders from the Danube Region and beyond.