Over 25 countries confirm participation at WTO.HRD Conference

Government officials, destination managers and knowledge institutions from over 25 countries have already confirmed their participation in the WTO.HRD Conference "Creating a Framework for Tourism Policy and Destination Management" to be held at the Palacio de Congresos de Madrid on 2-3 June 2004.

These stakeholders will gather together to share the latest research on tourism policy and strategy in the field of destination management and to debate the optimal methodologies and strategies for success in tourism destinations.

This Conference will establish conceptual frameworks for the application of knowledge in tourism; i.e. how to respond to new challenges that have appeared since 2001 at government and destination level.

The WTO.HRD Department and the WTO Education Council specifically design and carry out their programmes to create synergies between knowledge institutions and decision-makers in tourism. Keynote speakers will approach this subject from different angles and experts, researchers and educators will present papers cover specific issues such as: Organizations and Interest Groups in Tourism Destinations; A Model for Success in Tourism Destinations; A Framework for Cross Border Tourism Destination Analysis and Management of Protected Spaces for the Development of Eco-Tourism in Latin America, The Impact of Rural Development Policy on Interior Tourism Destinations, etc.

The Conference is not restricted to policy-makers at Government level, but there is strong participation from regional and local bodies where many of the issues concerning tourism policy really arise.