Upon the invitation of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Abzal Saparbekuly, Deputy Secretary General of the Turkic Council attended the Official Opening of International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development that was held on 18 January 2017 in Madrid while he also participated in the activities of FITUR (International Tourism Trade Fair in Spain) 2017.
The UN General Assembly at the 70th Session in 2015 had declared 2017 as the International Year for Development and designated the UNWTO to the lead the celebrations. Before the Official Ceremony, Deputy Secretary General visited the Pavilion of Turkey and had contacts with Mr. Hüseyin Yayman, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey and Mr. Ömer Önhon, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Madrid. The Pavilion was honored by their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain, Don Felipe and Doña Letizia.
The Official Opening of the International Year of Sustainable Development for Tourism was inaugurated by the address of Mr. Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of the UNWTO.It continued with the speeches of H.E. Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia, H.E. Ricardo Alvarez Vice-President of Honduras, H.E. Alfonso María Dastis Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Spain. It was followed by the congratulatory remarks of Mr. Naasir al Nasser, High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, Mr. Francesco Bandarin, Assistant Director-General for UNESCO and Ms. Elżbieta Bieńkowska, Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs of European.
After the opening ceremony, Deputy Secretary General Saparbekuly had bilateral contacts. In this regard, he met with Mr. Bakyt Dyussenbayev, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Spain. At their meeting, they discussed the upcoming activities to promote the Turkic Council Modern Silk Road Joint Tour Package in Spain.
After the opening ceremony, Deputy Secretary General Saparbekuly had bilateral contacts. In this regard, he met with Mr. Bakyt Dyussenbayev, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Spain. At their meeting, they discussed the upcoming activities to promote the Turkic Council Modern Silk Road Joint Tour Package in Spain.
Turkic Council will continue to support the UNWTO in the former’s efforts along the Silk Road to empower the tourism sector which a significant job creator and one of the key tools to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Pelin Musabay Baki, Project Director of the Turkic Council, accompanied Deputy Secretary General Saparbekuly at his visit.
