Message of Secretary General to the international scientific conference on the role of tourism in the economies of OIC Countries

Date: 23/06/2007

(Baku, 21-22 June 2007) -------------------- Bismillahi Arrahmani Arrahim In the Name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful Your Excellency, Mr. Abulfas Garayev, Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Distinguished Delegates and Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Assalamu Aleykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh. I would like, first of all, to extend my greetings and best wishes to all the distinguished participants of this important International Scientific Conference on the Role of Tourism in the Economies of OIC Countries. I should like to express my thanks to the Government and People of the Republic of Azerbaijan for kindly hosting this meeting and for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to all delegations. I would also like to convey my thanks and appreciation to the H.E. Minister of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan for his highly commendable role and valued proposals for the successful implementation of the decisions of the Fifth Session of the ICTM, on his capacity as a Chairman of the 5th ICTM. Tourism sector is considered by a number of OIC Member States as one of the most important pillar of their economy, which generates foreign currency and job opportunities, especially as it is closely linked with other economic sectors, such as transport and handicraft. Besides, tourism attracts important investments in infrastructure and historical and cultural sites as well as recreation places. Given their rich and diverse natural geographical, historical and cultural heritage assets, the OIC Member States have, in fact, a vast potential for the development of a sustainable tourism sector. However, considering their modest share in the world tourism market and the concentration of tourism activity in a few of them, a large part of this inherent tourism potential remains untapped. The desirable levels of tourism activity have not yet been achieved in most OIC countries, and in the OIC region as a whole. Therefore, the potential of inherent natural tourism resources, although a crucial factor, cannot, by itself make a successful tourism industry unless properly planned and managed. Indeed, tourism and culture are mutually interdependent in concept and reality. Culture is one of the main contexts of international and inter-community contacts. Cultural tourism assumes momentous importance insofar as it constitutes an efficient means of conveying the history and cultural profile of nations and communities to the public at large, both domestically and abroad. Tourism is also an efficient tool for promoting the true image and objectives of civilizations and cultures by presenting the past and present through their products and achievements. In this manner, it also contributes to world peace through generating cultural understanding and rapprochement. The development of cooperation and the tourism sector in the OIC Member States is firmly bound on a direct course towards achieving the objectives of The OIC Ten-Year Programme of Action, concerning the promotion of intercultural and inter-religious dialogue, communication and exchange of information, strengthening of international and inter-institutional cooperation inside and outside the Muslim world. Critical momentum can be gained in achieving the objectives by encouraging the development of intra-OIC tourism and prioritizing joint regional tourism projects within the framework and spirit of the OIC Ten-year Programme of Action to Face the Challenges of the 21st Century. I would like to mention here that the Second OIC Experts Group Meeting on Tourism Development, held in Istanbul, Turkey, on 9-11 May 2007, adopted a Strategic Plan for Development of Tourism in the OIC Member States. I hope that implementation of this Strategic Plan will contribute to intra-OIC Tourism and will achieve positive results in this sector. Mr. Chairman, I assure you of the continued active support of the OIC General Secretariat and its organs and institutions in the process of implementation of the OIC Ten-Year Programme of Action and OIC Plan of Action to Strengthen Economic and Commercial Cooperation among OIC Member States, of which this meeting is a part. I hope that our Scientists will crown the OIC Tourism sector with their valuable scientific researches for this Conference. I wish total success of this prestigious International Scientific Conference. I thank you for your kind attention. Wassalamu Alaikum Warahmatullah Wabarakatuh

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