In a short speech at European Council on Tourism and Trade (ECTT) General Assembly, hosted at Romanian Parliament, the Hospitality Director-Mr. Ioan Matei from World Tourism Institution – ECTT had marked down the incredible potential and future of Asia tourism as it was show cased in European Council on Tourism and Trade meeting.
It is appropriate for Europe to express its commitment to, and appreciation for, Asia by crowning CAMBODIA as THE FAVORITE CULTURAL DESTINATION AND WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION FOR 2016 stated the ECTT Director Ioan Matei.
CAMBODIA is a perfectly safe and outstanding destination that will forever mark your heart!
On the occasion of the visit to KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA, the world tourism delegates will bring as protocol gifts the famous COTNARI-1979 wine, priced at international auctions at over 5000 euro bottle.
In 2014 Mr. Ioan Matei has offered a collection bottle of 1979 COTNARI for H.E. President Robert MUGABE of Zimbabwe. 1979 is the year of Zimbabwe Lancaster Agreements that offered the Independence for the African country.
This world-famous wine was made world respected by the Louis XIV, famous Sun King of France, love for this beverage and for Russian Czar Peter the Great desire to have it in Saint Petersburg cellars at Imperial Palace, will now be present at WORLD BEST TOURISM DESTINATION AWARD CEREMONIES in Phnom Penh, announced Mr. Ioan Matei,who is also co-owner of COTNARI wineries.
European Council on Tourism and Trade President-Dr. Anton Caragea receives accredited ambassadors for World Ambassadors Meeting and Working Lunch on 9 February 2016.
The first ambassadorial meeting on tourism reunited European members states parliamentarians, representatives of European tourism organizations and members of the diplomatic corps.
The World Ambassadors Working Lunch on Tourism was generously hosted by the European Council on Tourism and Trade (ECTT) and has benefited the presence of the ECTT President, Professor Dr. Anton Caragea.
The Diplomatic corps gathering, is taken place on an annual basis and is representing a great opportunity for networking and also for keeping the Embassies informed on what the World Lectures on Sustainable Development Goals Programs of European Tourism Academy will try to achieve during the year and also to provide an outlook for the coming year 2016 in terms of tourism in Europe and the world.
The event received a very high representation of accredited diplomatic corps, parliament representatives, European Tourism Academy, European Council on Tourism and Trade.
On this occasion Professor Dr. Anton Caragea had officially entrusted insignias and diplomas for the representative of the hospitality industry of Europe and recognized ROYAL HOTELS in Bucharest and Constanta as official diplomatic partners and entrusted the HIGH QUALITY PRIZES for the two hotels.
Other points of discussions included an update on International and European Tourism trends in 2015 and a presentation of a list of most successfully tourism driven economies in the last year (Ethiopia, Laos) and the latest publications emanating from European Tourism Academy members.
Ambassadors from United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Syria, Macedonia, Albania, South Africa, Venezuela, Nigeria, Danemark, Sweden had taken the floor highlighting their countries plans for tourism development and hopes pinned on winning World Best Tourist Destination Award or World Capital of Culture and Tourism designations.
The names of the ambassadors who will be invited for Spring 2016 DISCOVER EUROPE PROGRAM will be announced in March 2016 and the trip will start in April and will showcase Republic of Moldavia beauties, announced European Council on Tourism and Trade President, Dr. Anton Caragea.
The meeting concluded with an introduction of the main activities of the diplomatic calendar for the first quarter of 2016, a presentation on the upcoming February 2016 Tourism Fair and International food and Beverage Exhibition-Goodwine April 2016.
The photos from World Ambassadors Meeting and Working Lunch on Tourism can be observed here:
Academician Walter Mzembi, the longest serving minister of tourism on African continent on behalf of Zimbabwe government, continues to showcase the continent powerful research and thinking potential and the role that ministries of tourism ought to play in promoting tourism on a global scale.
In an interview to ITN, the Zimbabwean Minister of Tourism and European Tourism Academy member, Walter Mzembi presented the main features of the XXI century major provocation against tourism: terrorism.
Academician Walter Mzembi marked the fact that: in the world of today, no country is safe from terrorism, from United States, California and New York to Paris the terrorism has become a sad companion of our existence:
„ I find it tragically ironic that the greatest advances by mankind in fast travel and easily accessible information technology, IT, have also facilitated the rapid growth and spread of the deadly horror of terrorism” stated Minister Mzembi.
Ambassador of Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Ramon Carazo, express his appreciation for Academician and Minister Mzembi research work on tourism and XXI century challenges.
In a surprise solution finding, Zimbabwe Minister of Tourism marked on the words of United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, tourism as the only answer: “As we travel, let us engage with other cultures and celebrate human diversity” and the tourism is offering the chance to cut the grass root recruiting tool of terrorism: ignorance and falsehood: „My point is that when humanity stands together, not on the basis of hard power, but on the basis of its humanness, fundamentalist terrorism can eventually be defeated”.
The Hon Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Eng. Dr. Walter Mzembi (MP) has been unanimously re-elected to the position of the Chairman of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Regional Commission for Africa (CAF) during the 57th CAF meeting that took place on 14 September 2015, Medellin, Colombia on the occasion of the 21st Session of the UNWTO General Assembly.
African countries (54 of them), endorsed Hon Minister Mzembi’s re-election demonstrate confidence that African countries have on Zimbabwe to continue providing leadership in the transformation agenda of the tourism sector in Africa.
Ghana’s Tourism patron, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, paid tribute to Zimbabwe for leading the fight to rebrand the African tourism sector.
“You have done us proud and a good job in delivering what we have been waiting for so long. We support you and want to see an additional commission established to superintend our tourism sector, biodiversity and aviation issues as they are interconnected to the tourism economy,” Ofosu-Adjare said.
The European Council on Tourism and Trade Awards, created with the help of European Tourism Academy, are recognised as the flagship awards for the global tourism sector.
The awarded countries, cities and personalities are selected in line with the policies, priorities and programme of work of European Council on Tourism and Trade, including the European Council on Tourism and Trade-Code of Sustainable Tourism and the principle standards set in the European Council on Tourism and Trade development pledge.
This countries and personalities represent some of the best examples of tourism leaders from around the world, that through their exceptional actions and potentials initiatives have placed themselves and their nations on the rostrum of the sector.
European Tourism Academy Director-Academician Mircea Constantinescu, officially announced the closing of competition for WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION AWARD FOR 2015.
Academician Mircea Constantinescu receives the final candidature for 2015 World Tourism Awards-World Best Tourist Destination and World Capital of Culture and Tourism.
We have received the final application and we have concluded the peer revision and we will be ready to outline our recommendation for the General Reunion of European Council on Tourism and Trade at the end of June 2015.
We are sure that this year, like the previous year`s, our decision will elicit the enthusiasm of travelers from all around the world and we hope that the winner for 2015 will enjoy the same popularity asLaos: who received more than 3 million tourists in the last period and Zimbabwe, who become the best African destination, surpassing in growth all the heavy weights of tourism in the region, concluded Academician Mircea Constantinescu.
On March 18, 2015 will be celebrated for the second time, across the world, the International Day of World Protected Areas and National Parks.
After being held for the first time last year at the indications of European Council on Tourism and Trade Last, efforts are made to proclaim it as the International Day at the 70th General Assembly of United Nations (UN).
The Day of 18 March is to be marked every year to underline the importance of world protected areas and natural parks in the conservation of bio-diversity, in promoting environmental protection and awareness and avoiding economic exploitation and depletion of this areas.
H.E. ECTT President in the middle surrounded by Ambassadors of United Arab Emirates(left)-Yacoub Yousef al Hosani and Kazakhstan Ambassador-Talgat Kaliyev (right) in 2013
According to the decision from 18 March 2013 of European Council on Tourism and Trade President Office, each year on 18 March, the world will celebrate world protected areas and natural parks and will raise awareness of the importance of every country establishing such areas and register them in a word data base and to control the economic activities in this areas and also support and promote tourism in this areas as a powerful economic promotion tool.
The decision decree of European Council on Tourism and Trade President, Professor Dr. Anton Caragea remarks the fact that: 18 March is a day of action, for the establishment and protection of world natural areas, for the promotion of bio-diversity, as a powerful promotion tool for tourism activities.
Also is worth considering that according to the executive order, all the tourism prizes and recognition offered by European Tourism Organization will have to incorporate the respect for world protected areas and natural parks.
The country celebrated today across Europe is the Republic of Zimbabwe, the receiver of WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION AWARD for 2014.
Zimbabwe had actively tackled the issue of natural areas protection and the title was regarded as an encouragement for continuing actions on the field of world natural protected areas.
The 2015 recipient of WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION will also have to endeavor to promote bio-diversity protection or to support the establishment of natural protected areas and parks, as a tool for protecting nature and supporting sustainable development stated Professor Dr. Anton Caragea.
The event held on 18 March 2015, had united under the title of International Day of World Protected Areas and National Parks more than 26 ambassadors and diplomatic envoys to the headquarter of European Council on Tourism and Trade.
Other allocutions where held by Academician Mircea Constantinescu, European MP`s: Steliana Miron, Ionita Dan, Marcel Dumitru Bujor etc. and by presentations of the environmental situation in their country held by the ambassadors of Morocco, Malaysia, Macedonia and Cyprus etc.
The second world celebration of International Day of World Protected Areas and National Parks, inspired by Professor Dr. Anton Caragea-Goodwill Ambassador for World Protected Areas and National Parks was dedicated to attract the world attention to the issue of establishing and protecting natural areas and parks for the benefit of future generation and as an intricate part in sustainable development and in tourism development.
The relations between Europe and Africa were rapidly evolving in a positive direction after the visit of an important european delegation from the main EU tourism body of European Council on Tourism and Trade in the Republic of Zimbabwe.
The main function was held in Zimbabwe capital, Harare, where the EU team had entrusted the world highest tourism order to The President of Zimbabwe in a lofty ceremony for WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION IN 2014.
The visit made between 28 May-6 June 2014 by an European delegation headed by H.E. Professor Dr. Anton Caragea, President of European Council on Tourism and Trade was destined to restart the bilateral relation between Europe and the Republic of Zimbabwe and the southern region of Africa, a region in full economic development and with a long tradition of partnership with our country.
H.E. President Robert Gabriel Mugabe-a true African hero and Professor Dr. Anton Caragea
During the visit Professor Dr. Anton Caragea was welcomed by H.E. President of Republic of Zimbabwe-Robert Gabriel Mugabe who stated that: is exuding with love and gratitude for the visit of Professor Dr. Anton Caragea.
President Robert Mugabe express his gratitude for Professor Dr. Anton Caragea continuous support in promoting Zimbabwe integration in international tourism arena and stated than: when others where plotting to punish us you think at rewarding us and make us friends. From the profundity of our heart: Tank you Professor !
Professor Dr. Anton Caragea at his turn praised president Mugabe stating that: the world did not forget the ten years spent in the dungeons of the colonial rule, the world did not forget the 20 years of revolutionary activity at the risk of the life and personal peace, spent in the opposition to the absurd regime of apartheid and segregation of Old time Rhodesia.
As we do not forget the word of reconciliation spoken after this years of struggle, ten years before Nelson Mandela similar example: “If yesterday I fought you as an enemy, today you have become a friend,” “If yesterday you hated me, today you cannot avoid the love that binds me to you.”
We will never forget that 35 years ago from Harare you have called all nations of Africa to wake up from the long colonial sleep to a new and rich life of fulfillment`s.
Your name is and will be forever inscribed for me and for all the honest people of the world along the names of the fathers of free Africa:Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, Jomo Kenyatta etc. as a giant of liberation and freedom fight in Africa and the world.
President Robert Gabriel Mugabe and Professor Dr. Anton Caragea leading WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION AWARD ceremony
Other meeting where held by H.E. Professor Dr. Anton Caragea with Hon. J.T.R Majuru- Vice-President of Republic of Zimbabwe, S.K.Moyo-Senior Minister (Prime Minister) of Zimbabwe, Hon. N. Goche-Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Tourism Walter Mzembi etc.
During the discussion, foreign policy cooperation, opening of honorary consulates and economic cooperation councils as well as economic and investment opportunities where tabled offering opportunity for European countries to take part in the business boom and bonanza of southern region of Africa and specially the Republic of Zimbabwe buoyant economic environment.
The European delegation enjoyed a sophisticated cultural program with visit to the History Museum of Harare, National Heroes Acre and to the wonderful UNESCO heritage site of Great Zimbabwe-the largest African palatial complex dating from XII century and covering 700 hectares and a chance to discover the world greatest cascade: Victoria waterfall.
In sign of honor Professor Dr. Anton Caragea occupied the Winston Churchill apartment in the famous Victorian hotel of Victoria Falls.
The high level visit, the first after a 25 year hiatus in bilateral relation offered to the parties the opportunity to table concrete cultural, tourism and cooperation projects and to highlight the bilateral support for the development of the social and political cooperation.
The Republic of Zimbabwe becomes now the main political and strategic partner in the region of southern Africa, offering innumerable opportunities for developing friendly ties.
Helicopter ride over ZambeziProfessor Dr. Anton Caragea and his delegation take a helicopter tour over Victoria Fall bordering Zimbabwe and Zambia
Victoria Water Fall observed from helicopter (3.000 meters)
Victoria Falls-the world largest cascade.
Professor Dr. Anton Caragea touring Great Zimbabwe(the biggest African palatial complex dating from XII century)
In the heart of Great Zimbabwe historical complex
Elephant safari in the desert heart of Zimbabwe
President Professor Dr. Anton Caragea gives an interview to Zimbabwe National Television
The visit to Zimbabwe-World Best Tourist Destination in 2014 of the EU team has brought new recognition`s for President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and for ZANU-PF government party for their crucial role in propelling Zimbabwe as a perfect tourist destination and a safe country.
On the venue of WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION award ceremony held in Harare H.E. President of the Republic of Zimbabwe-Robert Gabriel Mugabe, the african liberation hero, has presented the official acceptance allocution on behalf of people and government of Zimbabwe.
Here is the full text of the inspiring speech presented by the most famous african leader of today:
I want I thank for this event to: The Honorable Vice-President Joice Mujuru
The Speaker of the House of Assembly and advocate Jacob Mudenda,
The Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry comrade Walter Mzembi and all ministers here present,
Foremost to The President of European Council on Tourism and Trade, Professor Dr. Anton Caragea and all members of his delegation,
Minister of Culture Andrew Langa , traditional leaders, all minister here presence,
Members of the diplomatic core,
Ladies and gentlemen`s, dear comrades,
I’m pleased though not surprised at all that the European Council on Tourism and Trade had seen fit to give the awards for the BEST TOURIST DESTINATION for 2014 and the distinction for FAVORITE CULTURAL DESTINATION for 2014 to Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe’s is indeed endowed with bountiful natural resources and rich cultural history
In addition our country is adjudged by relevant experts to poses the best climate in the word making it: an attracting tourism destination all year around
All thou like anyone else we can experience dramatic climate conditions, the impact on us is not that devastating , Zimbabwe can conform his reputation as an ideal tourism destination, but destinations might be mere geographical entities, it have to be destinations with people, and it is the people that are making destination to worth the talk, and is therefore the people of Zimbabwe we should be praised for the destination to be as warm as is proofed to be, Zimbabwe together with many other countries in southern Africa has succeeded to preserved much of his natural biodiversity in both flora and fauna, indeed we are home to some of the
Of the most sought after and rare animals in the world, including the big five: the elephant- huge, the lion- feroces, the rhino-quiet, but harmful, the leopard-there is stealthy but also blood thirsty and buffalo.
Of all this, the one we say is the most friendly maybe the buffalo, it is the only one of them but it is just one but the others do not provide the thing that we want to eat. I don’t know if the lion is eatable, less still do I know if the rhino or leopard are eatable anywhere but the elephant is, I did not tasted before I was in the prison where they serve us with elephant meet, it but I can tell you that I never like it I never tasted it after prison. I was afraid and who could not be afraid to eat the elephant ?
Who would obviously not be frighten to eat the elephant?
I am indeed proud that the iconic physical tourist attraction that we have in the country that include: Victoria Falls, the Eastern Highlands, the Mana Pools and off course the Exfoliated Hills in Manicaland, all must have influence the European Council on Tourism and Trade to select out of 27 nominated country to select Zimbabwe as the winner of the BEST DESTINATION AWARD.
It is our capacity to give tourists from all the corners of the world access to all our country natural features, the opportunity for tourists to explore nature in his ecological environment, must have strongly contributed to ECTT decision to grant us the awards that we just received today.
Ladies and Gentleman’s
While our country rich historical and cultural legacy has caught the et ye of ECTT, the venerable Great Zimbabwe, a fortified palatial complex that must have being build in 12 century, must played his part , the Great Zimbabwe from whom our great country is deriving his name is offering a rare insight into one of the greatest pre-colonial civilization of Africa and indeed a rare window into centuries of traditions.
Indeed countrymen, the winning of this award should must be a wakeup call to many, to realize the many historical treasures that we own.
How many of us are aware of the many historical treasure that we own ?
How many are aware that our national monuments in Manicaland are dating back from stone age period ?
Many of this natural sites, that are now on the list of UNESCO human heritage site, can and should be leveraged, to attract international visitors to Zimbabwe.
I believe is equally important for our people both children and adults to know and visit this site, yes we can share them with world and can be said that that we hold them entrust for humanity , but they remain first and foremost our own, they defined our zimbabwesness cultural diversity.
Cultural diversity in way of life and way of life showing itself in our interaction, marriages but much, much more pleasantly in song and dance and you heard today that diversity coming out from Reverend Damasani poetic rendering.
A gifted man indeed!
O gifted musician, but a gifted moralist, man of prayer, man of God,
We need to be thoroughly familiar with them and be proud with them. Some time I think that Zimbabweans are not knowing their country endowment, beside mineral gold, and precious stones, perhaps Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality should launch a know your Zimbabwe! , know yourself campaign!
To facilitate, to know our country.
I must pay a tribute to this young person they call Minister Mzembi, now the only surviving minister of tourism in Africa, or in the world, so he says
I rate him as one of my best ministers.
Foresight, full of brilliant ideas that are not remaining just in the mind, they take the form of action and practice.
Yes, he has gallivanted the world: East, West, North South, but every step he took, was to make better know Zimbabwe, two make the people better know, to make the reaches of Zimbabwe better known.
We still have so many not unknown, some of them where known and dig out, but thanks God we still have them and we start to discovering them for ourselves.
Let the world to know us and to know us fully: that we are a peaceful people but a proud people as well, and when it comes about natural resources s committed to be their owners, jealous of them.
Fighters against imperialism and colonialism because it wants to displace us, as in deed they have displaced us for nearly a century, and we are owners and in possession of our wealth.
A wealth that we discovered !
Even our past was sometime ugly, difficult for our ancestors, but let it be know our immediate past even as well as our contemporary history.
Is in this context that we emphasize the importance of our history of liberating Zimbabwe from colonial bondage and it is in this context that we want to emphasize the importance of writing the history because was not just the liberation of the people but the liberation of a people and their resources and their the tourist attraction as well.
Must people commemorate the major historical wars going back to centuries, our war of liberation was, only yesterday, comparatively specking, we should not risk erase it from our memories
But we should preserved our pride history.
We won a great war the often pitted poorly armed, often shoeless peasants against experienced, well armed, ruffles mercenaries, but we won it, against all odds.
It was a people war, not just a ZANU ZAPU ZAMPLA ZIBRA war. No!
Those where fronts, fronts of the people of Zimbabwe in their diversity and thus where fronts of determined people, determined to fight for our people, their people, our people.
We should never forget our people together, whatever their cultural believes religious, cultural, political, they are our people and hence the need for the unity of our people, unity in diversity,
We need to enshrined all location of majors battles indeed and grow them into iconic attractions, that our visitors and our posterity will visit and value them for all time.
They become visiting places, tourist attraction.
They will naturally evoke memories, but they should never, even if they made us angry sometimes, they should never make us to want to fight again, but should make us to be always ready against the enemy, against thus who want to pull the same trick already that they put against us in 1890 lasting up to 1980 we say No. Never again!
Ladies and gentlemen, comrades and friends, President of the European Council on Tourism and Trade.
Let me conclude by saying:
Thank you to you to European Council on Tourism and Trade-ECTT for these awards.
We should thank you for your magnanimity, I say magnanimity because at this juncture, during this time, at this time.
When others are thinking at punishing us more, you are thinking of making us more a friend than enemy. We are thanking you; we are exuding with friendship and love for others who equally may exude with love and friendship to us.
It is that interaction of love, love of nations, and love of people that we in Zimbabwe we want to work for.
Let me conclude by saying that I ‘am greatly enthusiastic and appreciative and full of pride for all the decision taken by European Council on Tourism and Trade (ECTT) to give this awards to Zimbabwe.
If the countries that have win these awards in the past are anything to go by, the European Council on Tourism and Trade has a very powerful and transparent desire to draw all the world’s attention to the tourism potential in developing countries.
Thank you for that!
This award is having the effect of putting the winner under the global limelight and I want to say that we have this limelight, thanks to the European Council on Tourism and Trade (ECTT) and thanks to you the Zimbabweans for demonstrating that you love others in the world.
We are now in the global limelight!
I want to promise to the European Council on Tourism and Trade that we shall continue to increase our efforts to leverage the potential that you have identified in us and always make Zimbabwe a preferred tourist destination in the world, a people loving people’s destination.
And I want to assure you that this is what are we working for: peace and harmony in Zimbabwe, peace and harmony in the region, and peace and harmony in the world
I want to say once again thank you to European Council on Tourism and Trade for these awards, we shell treasure them for all time.
WORLD TOURISM NEWS FROM EUROPEAN COUNCIL ON TOURISM AND TRADE 
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