Speeches and Presentations

Click on the links below to download the declaration, speeches and presentations of the UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture.

The Siem Reap Declaration

The Siem Reap Declaration

Opening ceremony

Remarks by Mr. Alfredo Pérez de Armiñán, Assistant Director General Culture, UNESCO

Remarks by H.E. Mr. Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General, UNWTO

Remarks by H.E. Mrs. Phoeurng Sackona, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, Kingdom of Cambodia

Address by H.E. Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister, Kingdom of Cambodia

Keynote speeches

Keynote speech by King Simeon II, former Prime Minister of Bulgaria

	Keynote speech by HRH Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Chairman of the Board & President of SCTA
	Presentation by HRH Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Chairman of the Board & President of SCTA

Tariq Al-Ansari, Chief of Cabinet of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)

Welcome gala dinner

Welcome Remarks by H.M. Preah Bat Samdech Preah Baromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia

Setting the scene

Mounir Bouchenaki, Director of the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage, Bahrain

Session 1: Promoting and safeguarding culture

Elizabeth Becker, Journalist, USA

Kishore Rao, Director of the World Heritage Centre, UNESCO

Charles Binam Bikoi, Executive Secretary, International Centre for Research and Documentation on African Traditions and Languages (CERDOTOLA), Cameroon

John King, Chairman of the Australian Tourism Export Council

	Christopher Dobbs, Head of Interpretation and Maritime Archaeology, Mary Rose Trust, UK
	Presentation by Christopher Dobbs, Head of Interpretation and Maritime Archaeology, Mary Rose Trust, UK

Sok Sangvar, Head of Angkor Tourism Management Plan, APSARA National Authority, Cambodia

Session 2: Living cultures and creative industries

Hansjürgen Schmölzer, Project Director, Creative Austria

Presentation by Jaesung Rhee, Executive Vice President for International Tourism, Korea Tourism Organization, Republic of Korea

Amareswar Galla, Executive Director, International Institute for the Inclusive Museum, Denmark

Helena Egan, Director of Industry Relations, Trip Advisor, UK

Xu Jing, Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, UNWTO

Session 3: Linking people along cultural tourism routes

Penelope Denu, Executive Secretary, European Institute of Cultural Routes

Kishore Rao, Director of the World Heritage Centre, UNESCO

John Delaney, Senior VP, Seabourn, USA

Yoshinori Ochi, Secretary General, Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA),Japan

Neb Samouth, Director-General of Tourism, Cambodia

Presentation by Laura Cepukaite, Head, Tourism Policy Division, Ministry of Economy, Lithuania

Session 4: Urban regeneration through cultural tourism

Charles Landry, Urbanist, Creative Cities, UK

	H.E. Sheikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Minister of Culture, Bahrain
	Presentation by H.E. Sheikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Minister of Culture, Bahrain

	H.E. Sandra Victoria Howard Taylor, Vice Minister, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Colombia
	Presentation by H.E. Sandra Victoria Howard Taylor, Vice Minister, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Colombia

Presentation by Javier Bello, President, World Heritage Cities of Spain

Presentation by H.E. Dato’ Seri Mohd Nazri, Minister of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia

Donald E. Hawkins, Professor at George Washington University

Pansy Ho, Vice President of China Chamber of Tourism and Managing Director of Shun Tak Holdings Limited, China

Closing ceremony

Remarks by Mr. Alfredo Pérez de Armiñiàn, Assistant Director-General for Culture, UNESCO

Remarks by H.E. Mr. Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General, UNWTO

Closing by H.E. Dr. Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister, Kingdom of Cambodia

Photos

Videos

4 February

Opening Ceremony

Part I

• Welcome remarks by H.E. Dr. Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism, Kingdom of Cambodia
• Remarks by H.E. Ms. Phoeurng Sackona, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, Kingdom of Cambodia

Part II

• Remarks by Mr. Alfredo Pérez de Armiñán, ADG Culture, UNESCO
• Video message by H.E. Ms. Irina Bokova, Director General, UNESCO
• Remarks by H.E. Mr. Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General, UNWTO

Part III

• Address by H.E. Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister, Kingdom of Cambodia
• Signing Ceremony of International ST-EP Organization (Sustainable Tourism for Eliminating Poverty)

Keynote Speeches

• King Simeon II, former Prime Minister of Bulgaria
• HRH Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Chairman of the Board & President of SCTA
• Message by Tariq Al-Ansari, Chief of Cabinet of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)

Ministerial Dialogue : Building New Partnership Models

Moderated by Andrew Steven, Editor and Correspondent at CNN

Part I

Part II

Part III

5 February

Setting the Scene

Setting the scene by Mounir Bouchenaki, Director of the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage, Bahrain

Session 1: Promoting and safeguarding culture

Part II

 If properly managed, tourism can be a key driver in the safeguarding and promotion of culture, while nurturing a sense of pride within communities and destinations around the world.

 Moderator: Elizabeth Becker, Journalist, USA

• Charles Binam Bikoi, Executive Secretary, International Centre for Research and Documentation on African Traditions and Languages (CERDOTOLA), Cameroon
• Christopher Dobbs, Head of Interpretation and Maritime Archaeology, Mary Rose Trust, UK
• John King, Chairman, Australian Tourism Export Council, Australia
• Kishore Rao, Director, World Heritage Centre, UNESCO
• Sok Sangvar, Head of Angkor Tourism Management Plan, APSARA National Authority, Cambodia

Session 2: Living cultures and creative industries

Tourism is about experiencing the world and its living cultures. Creative industries, such as music, cinema, crafts, architecture or design, play an increasing role in creating a unique visitor experience, while tourism can foster innovation and the exchange of experiences that grow the creative industries and provide socio-economic benefits to local communities.

Moderator: Jordi Tresserras, Director, Laboratory of Heritage, Cultural Tourism and Creativity (LABPACT), University of Barcelona, Spain

• H.E. Alain St. Ange, Minister for Tourism and Culture, Seychelles
• Amareswar Galla, Executive Director, International Institute for the Inclusive Museum, Denmark
• Hansjürgen Schmölzer, Project Director, Creative Austria
• Helena Egan, Director of Industry Relations, Trip Advisor, UK
• Jaesung Rhee, Executive Vice President for International Tourism, Korea Tourism Organization, Republic of Korea
• Xu Jing, Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, UNWTO

Session 3: Linking people along cultural tourism routes

Part I

Part II

Cultural routes offer important opportunities for tourism development, regional integration and economic development, while promoting the revitalization and promotion of cultural and economic links at national and international levels.

Moderator: Penelope Denu, Executive Secretary, European Institute of Cultural Routes, Luxembourg

• H.E. Marcela Bacigalupo, Minister-Executive Secretary, SENATUR, Paraguay
• John Delaney, Senior VP, Seabourn, USA
• Kishore Rao, Director, World Heritage Centre, UNESCO
• Laura Cepukaite, Head, Tourism Policy Division, Ministry of Economy, Lithuania
• Neb Samouth, Director-General of Tourism, Cambodia
• Yoshinori Ochi, Secretary General, Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA), Japan

Session 4: Urban regeneration through cultural tourism

With more than half of the world’s population living in cities, the scope for urban tourism is growing rapidly. Urban tourism is critical in the preservation of cultural identity, economic revitalization and for enriching city life.

Moderator: Charles Landry, Urbanist, Creative Cities, UK

• H.E. Dato’ Seri Mohd Nazri, Minister of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia
• H.E. Sheikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Minister of Culture, Bahrain
• H.E. Sandra Victoria Howard Taylor, Vice Minister, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Colombia
• Donald E. Hawkins, Professor, George Washington University, USA
• Javier Bello, President, World Heritage Cities of Spain
• Pansy Ho, Vice President of China Chamber of Tourism and Managing Director of Shun Tak Holdings Limited, China

Closing Session

• Siem Reap Declaration on Tourism and Culture delivered by Ms. Sandra Carvao, Chief, Communications, UNWTO
• Wrap up by H.E. Dr. Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism, Kingdom of Cambodia
• Remarks by H.E. Mrs. Phoeurng Sackona, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, Kingdom of Cambodia
• Remarks by Mr. Alfredo Pérez de Armiñán, ADG Culture, UNESCO
• Remarks by H.E. Mr. Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General, UNWTO
• Closing by H.E. Dr. Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister, Kingdom of Cambodia