Pacific Tourism Organisation and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Confirm Strategic Partnership

The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for partnership over five years. The MoU is based on the outcomes of the 2018 UNESCO Roundtable on Sustainable Tourism for Green/Blue Livelihoods in the Pacific, which was a joint initiative of SPTO, UNESCO and the Government of Samoa.

The organizations anticipate that the MoU will enable strategic collaboration to support national and sub-regional initiatives in the areas of sustainable tourism and the conservation of natural and cultural heritage. Other priority areas will include the promotion of employment and revenue through sustainable use of tourism at heritage sites, capacity for sustainable tourism, sustainable and inclusive tourism development for meeting national priorities and resilient communities, research on impacts of sustainable tourism on cultural and natural heritage, traditional knowledge and cultural expressions and policy advice on governance of sustainable tourism.

Christopher Cocker, Chief Executive Officer of SPTO acknowledged the importance of the partnership in light of the work to be undertaken by SPTO in the coming months:

“This partnership comes at a critical time for SPTO, as we embark on the development of the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework and the Pacific Tourism Statistics Strategy. Whilst the impacts of COVID-19 have been particularly devastating for tourism, it also presents an opportunity to rethink our industry and commit to recovery efforts, which will enable sustainable, inclusive and responsible tourism for our region.  This has been a long time coming and we are very grateful to our partners at UNESCO for the commitment they have shown throughout this process. This partnership is of great strategic value to SPTO and we look forward to further engaging with UNESCO and other partners for the benefit of our Blue Pacific.”

Acknowledging challenges to sustainable tourism arising from climate change, loss of biodiversity and freshwater and inadequate attention to culture and traditional knowledge, and currently, due to COVID-19 pandemic, Nisha, Director of the Office and UNESCO Representative to the Pacific States stated: “Planning and management of tourism present most pressing challenges concerning sustainable economic development for the small island developing states. UNESCO will work with SPTO to support dialogue and stakeholder cooperation and integration of natural resource and heritage management in plans at policy, planning and destination levels. This partnership is a step towards making sure that natural and cultural assets, including underwater and intangible, are valued and protected.”

Through this partnership, both SPTO and UNESCO, reaffirm their commitment to work collaboratively for positive, long lasting and widespread impacts, stemming from sustainable tourism development in the Pacific island countries.

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About SPTO

Established in 1983 as the Tourism Council of the South Pacific, the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) is the mandated organisation representing Tourism in the region. Its 21 Government members are American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Rapa Nui, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu Wallis & Futuna and the People’s Republic of China. In addition to government members, the Pacific Tourism Organisation also enlists a private sector membership base.

About UNESCO

UNESCO is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, natural, social and human sciences, culture and communication and information. With the cooperation of 193 Member States and 11 Associate Members, as well as partners in academia and research organizations, non- and inter-governmental organizations and private sector, UNESCO’s  World Heritage Sites, Biosphere Reserves and creativity support national economies, environment, local culture and resilient communities.

For further details
Tahitia Waqavonovono twaqavonovono@spto.org, and
Foisagasina Barbara Sisiliatupou Tausisi fb.tausisi@unesco.org.  

(Source: SPTO press release 05 November 2020)