The onsite course of the UNWTO Silk Road Training and Capacity Building Programme officially commences and gathers representatives from 12 Silk Road countries in Madrid and Valencia, Spain.
Spanish Press Release of Turismo Valencia is available here (in Spanish)
The UNWTO Silk Road Training and Capacity Buiding Programme is jointly organized by the UNWTO Silk Road Programme of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), its UNWTO.Themis Foundation and the University of Valencia, a UNWTO Affiliate Member.
As an integral part of the 2017 International Year of Sustainable Tourism, the UNWTO Silk Road Training and Capacity Building Programme has the potential to take the Silk Road to the next level.
By combining the benefits of multidisciplinary know-how with a hands-on approach aimed at implementing sustainable tourism projects of transnational appeal, this one-of-a-kind initiative will place the Silk Road countries at the forefront of a movement aimed at shaping globalization through the development of practical and inclusive tourism solutions.
The participants of the onsite course have already completed two online modules focused on strategic tourism planning and project management. The acquired competencies will now gain a practical dimension through the study of best-practice examples and the development of projects aimed at establishing the Silk Road as an internationally renowned, seamless travel experience.
During the opening ceremony, UNWTO Executive Director, Mr. Zhu Shanzhong, declared that “although a transnational tourism route with huge potential, many issues still need to be addressed if the Silk Road is to flourish. A more coordinated approach in the area of marketing and promotion and imaginative solutions to foster cross-border cooperation are two pertinent examples. By bringing together Member State officials with private sector stakeholders and talented students, this exceptional course will help tackle these challenges through the consolidation of beneficial partnerships and transnational tourism projects.”
After a visit to UNWTO Headquarters in Madrid, where they were welcomed by UNWTO Secretary-General, Mr. Taleb Rifai, the participants will complete the full onsite course in Valencia. Assisted by a team of international tourism experts who will deliver tutorials on various tourism related aspects, the onsite course will include field-work and a broad range of activities, such as technical visits to major Valencian tourism sites and attractions.
The opening in Valencia will take place in the Faculty of Applied Economy of the University of Valencia on 21 November and will count upon the presence of regional and local tourism authorities. Host city of the 7th UNWTO Silk Road Task Force Meeting (March 2017), Valencia offers a great example of how to diversify and stimulate the tourism offer by rediscovering local Silk Road heritage. By actively implementing a roadmap which included branding Valencia as “the city of silk” in 2016, the public and private tourism stakeholders of Valencia have been able to make the most of a tradition that is traceable in local food, fashion, festivities and architecture.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) are official partners of this training. Special gratitude is also due to the Travel Weekly Group, the Agència Valenciana del Turisme of the Generalitat Valenciana (the regional government of Valencia), Turismo Valencia, Turkish Airlines, the Patronat de Turisme Diputació de Valencia, the Valentia Ars Magna, the City of the Arts and Sciences of Valencia, the Royal Seminary School of the Corpus Christi, the Del Tros al Plat, the González Martí National Museum of Ceramics and Decorative Arts, and the College of the Great Art of Silk of Valencia for sponsoring this training.
Over the next days, we will be publishing Silk Road training updates, so please keep informed via our social media outlets. Additional information on the training can be accessed here.
