WORLD HUMANITARIAN DAY FOR 2015 CELEBRATED BY EUROPEAN COUNCIL ON TOURISM AND TRADE OFFICIALS

The European Council on Tourism and Trade welcomes World Humanitarian Day-2015, celebrated the world over, as an occasion to increase awareness of the public at large of the importance of humanitarian assistance and international cooperation in this area.

European Council on Tourism and Trade pays homage to all humanitarian workers.

 

Under the campaign “Share Humanity,” launched by the United Nations in 2015 to mark World Humanitarian Day, the European Council on Tourism and Trade pays homage to all humanitarian workers who take risks and make personal sacrifices every day to help victims of conflicts, violence or natural disasters.

In that context, European Council on Tourism and Trade firmly condemns any threat or attack against humanitarian workers and joins the appeals to protect their safety, as per the provisions of international humanitarian law.

PRIME MINISTER HAILEMARIAM DESALEGN RECEIVES THE LETTER DESTINED TO WORLD LEADERS OF TOURISM

The Office of the President of European Council on Tourism and Trade announced that H.E. Prime Minister of Ethiopia Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn has being consecrated as a WORLD LEADER OF TOURISM and as a member of European Tourism Academy for his “recognition of the role and significance of tourism on world stage”.

H.E. European Council on Tourism and Trade President-Professor Dr. Anton Caragea announces the new addition to European Tourism Academy-H.E. Prime Minister of Ethiopia Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn.

 

The official letter emanating from European Council on Tourism and Trade encourages Ethiopia to continue on the road for development via tourism growth and for poverty reduction strategy:

“Today, the Government of Ethiopia is recognizing the importance of tourism as a key facilitator for the country development and international promotion, creating exemplary structures like Tourism Transformation Council, investing in infrastructure and capacity building, creating a special team under Your Excellency leadership for destination promotion and management and protecting the cultural, natural and historical patrimony of the country.

Prime Minister of Ethiopia Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn recognized as a WORLD LEADER OF TOURISM

The world leaders that are offering such a special attention to historical patrimony of their country and use it, and preserve it for the benefit of the future generation, who grasp the importance of tourism as the most important part of diplomacy, international relations and raising national profile on world arena, must be supported and commanded and offered as a general example”.

The letter signed by H.E. European Council on Tourism and Trade President-Professor Dr. Anton Caragea and European Tourism Academy Director-Dr. Mircea Constantinescu for H.E. Prime Minister of Ethiopia Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn concludes:  In your new capacity, as the representative of ETHIOPIA on world tourism and on international cultural stage, we hope that the World will benefit now from your public exertions and support in creating a new world community based on peace, development and tourism as the pillars of international cooperation.

EUROPEAN TOURISM BODY-FAMILIARIZATION TRIP ON TURKESTAN-CENTER OF SILK ROAD

Silk Road has always being the destination of choice for luxury and culture oriented tourists and a fabulous journey thru time and spaces.

Between 20 to 29 April 2015 a European Council on Tourism and Trade (ECTT) high level mission has toured Kazakhstan, in order to help transforming the heart of Central Asia, as Kazakhstan is better known, in the new Frontier of Silk Road experiences.

ECTT President Anton Caragea recieves the SHYMKENT STAR from Akim of Shymkent-Darkhan Satybaldy

European Council on Tourism and Trade is the promoter of Silk Road concept in Europe and the world, with an accent on presenting the historical and tourist potential of Silk Road nations of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.

The ECTT President and his tourism and diplomatic delegation had start the Silk Road discovery tour in Almaty, the city apples as is world renowned, the candidate city for World Winter Olympics in 2022.

Warm welcoming for European Tourism Organization-European Council on Tourism and Trade

The delegation had being presented by the Governor of the region (Akim) with an overview of the city developments plans and touristic opportunities.

A rich cultural program was carved for European delegation benefit with sightseeing including: State Museum of History, Almaty Art Gallery, city landmarks and a tour of winter sports facilities of Medeu and Shymbulak.

The local and international mass media has covered every step of ECTT tour oon Silk Road

In an interview with Khabar Television, President-Professor Dr. Anton Caragea praised Almaty development as the perfect gate for tourists wanting to enjoy the rich culture of Kazakhstan and to basket on perfect tourism facilities offered by city hotels.

The tour continued into the province of Chimkent (Shymkent), where the delegation visited the historical landmarks, holds constructive dialogues with provincial governors and inspected tourist facilities of the area.

European Council on Tourism and Trade is visiting the splendors of Kazakhstan (from left to right): Khoja Ahmed Yasawi Monument ( from XIV century) in Turkestan, Aisha Bibi Monument ( from XIII century) in Taraz  and Cathedral of Our Saviour in Almaty (XIX century) 

The highlight of the visit was the on-site discovery tour of incredible city of Turkistan (24-26 April) with the world famous Khoja Ahmed Yasawi Mausoleum, Friday Mosque, Otrar ancient city archeological site, the splendid Aristan Bab Mosque, and participation in a special ceremony honoring one of Kazakhstan spiritual fathers (Aristan Bab) and Baba Ragham Mosque.

Professor Dr. Anton Caragea highly praised in a Television interview Turkistan incredible mixture of culture, tradition, historical patrimony and perfect tourism potential.

Aristan Bab monument from XIV century, an architectural landmark and religious lynchpin in Kazakhstan

 

Turkistan is incredible, is vast and rich in everything that a cultural program can offer to you and is well preserved.

The tourists should flock to this place, as this is the main stop over on Silk Road and Turkistan monuments had served as templates for all later Silk Road construction.

One cannot say: I visited Silk Road, without spending quality time in Turkistan, concluded President Caragea.

ECTT delegation is touring the ancient city of Taraz

The European tourism body-ECTT tour experience concluded in Almaty, with a press conference highlighting the importance of European-Kazakhstan tourism cooperation and opportunities for Kazakhstan to join European Council on Tourism and Trade.

Kazakhstan had embarked in a huge promotion campaign on world tourism stage, in preparation of World Expo 2017 to be held in Astana and Silk Road program developed with European Council on Tourism and Trade can be extremely beneficial for the country tourist potential suggested the European Tourism Academy Director-Mircea Constantinescu.

This is even more relevant, as European Council on Tourism and Trade support was instrumental in Astana successful bid for World Expo 2017 and today this cooperation is continuing and enriching in perspective.

European and Kazakhstan, shoulder to shoulder in tourism promotion, can develop and give a world resonance to the Silk Road Program for XXI Century, was the opinion of European Council on Tourism and Trade leader-Professor Dr. Anton Caragea.

SILK ROAD TOURISM PROJECT DESERVES BETTER PROMOTION-STATES PROFESSOR DR. ANTON CARAGEA

European Council on Tourism and Trade (ECTT) is one of the pivotal organizations involved in the re-birth of TOURISM ON SILK ROAD. A STRATEGY FOR XXI CENTURY.

H.E. Tajikistan President- Emomali Rahmon and European Council on Tourism and Trade President Professor Dr. Anton Caragea are creating the tourism project of Silk Road

This strategy was launched in 2010, during Professor Dr. Anton Caragea- ECTT President discussions with Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and in 2011 with Tajikistan President-Emomali Rahmon and will be given a new impetus during European Council on Tourism and Trade trip on the SILK ROAD from Almaty to Shymkent, Taraz, Turkistan-Sauran and Kyzylorda during 20 to 29 April 2015.

The Great Silk Road is rightly considered to be one of the remarkable achievements of the medieval civilizations.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov proclaimed as a new world tourism leader by ECTT President-Professor Dr. Anton Caragea

It succeeded connecting countries and nations from the Mediterranean Sea to the Pacific Ocean and brings together material, art and spiritual cultures.

This ancient Silk Road should become the backbone of tourism and travel industry of the region and have a powerful attraction that can lure world tourists and bring together handicrafts, technologies, ideas and beliefs.

Historical Landmarks on the Silk Road to be visited by ECTT

Among the historical landmarks on the Great Silk Road are such cities as the ancient Merv, located in Turkmenistan and called by Arab historians the “father of the cities”, the majestic construction of Emir Timur epoch – the mausoleum of Hodja Ahmad Yassavi in the Kazakh town of Turkestan.

The Great Silk Road however is not only the network of caravan trails and a number of cities and towns which used to be stopping places for traders. It is also a magnificent scenery: mountain peaks and alpine meadows of the Tien-Shan and the Pamir’s, sandy deserts intersected by a unique handmade construction – the Karakum Canal, glittering waters of Lake Issyk-Kul and relic pine forests of Borovoye, skiing resorts of Chimgan and Beldersay, picturesque Charvak water reservoir and a number of other notable places to visit.

Those who fancy extreme tourism could try their strengths by mountaineering, down-stream boating or rafting on the rapid mountain rivers, or, just as ancient pilgrims did, to make a horseback riding or even more exotic camel riding along desert dunes.

On The Silk Road Today

Great Silk Road undoubtedly one of the most attractive tourist routes of the world of today.

 It is much due to the revival of the Great Silk Road that the mankind has access to the global heritage of different nations that for thousands of years lived along this great transcontinental arterial road and that formed and matured their varied cultural wealth.

European Council on Tourism and Trade had started with the help of Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan from 2010 onwards to carve out a long-term tourist project aimed at the promotion of tourism in this region.

 

Turkistan-the heart of Silk Road Project

 

Great Silk Road deserves   to be the center of attention,

states Professor Dr. Anton Caragea

The Great Silk Road has not succeeded in penetrating the mass conscience of tourism because was carved out as an inter-nation project where a traveler is under the stress of visiting several countries. The revolutionary European Council on Tourism and Trade strategy is to market each country as a part of Silk Road adventure and to offer the experience each country at a time, giving tourists the time opportunity to learn about the past and the present of these countries.

All of the landmarks along the route like many other historic monuments are major tourist attractions and should be visited by travelers all the year round.

Also should be promoted the fact that some of the countries of the region relay strides to offer high-class services for tourists offering developed infrastructure and comfortable hotels.

This country should be promoted and presented as offering the full experience of SILK ROAD IN XXI CENTURY.

The visit of European Council on Tourism and Trade delegation from 20 to 29 April 2015 will offer to Kazakhstan the status of the homeland and main stop over on Silk Road re-birth strategy and together with Turkmenistan resurgence as a touristic hub will create a perfect strategy for Silk Road development.

KINGDOM OF JORDAN IS REGISTERED AS A CANDIDATE FOR WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION IN 2015

On 3 of November 2014, the presentation of the candidature program of Kingdom of Jordan for 2015-World Best Tourist Destination Award had taken place.

The President of European Council on Tourism and Trade, Prof. Dr. Anton Caragea express his heart-felt congratulation on the registering of Jordan as a World Best Tourist Destination Award candidate, a perfect moment in increasing the international standing of the country.

The candidatures of capital city of Amman and the archaeological site of Jerash as World Capital of Culture and Tourism for 2015 are also important moments in world branding the country.

H.E. Jordan Ambassador Sakker Malcavi that underlined that between Europe and Jordan we can observe a large area of common interests , designed to forge a good understanding  between the two nations.

 

 Friendly meeting between Prof. Dr. Anton Caragea, President of European Council on Tourism and Trade and H.E. Sakker Malcavi, Ambassador of Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

The European – Jordanian relationship must be an example for a better relation between Europe and Middle Eastern countries.

If in the last period the bilateral dialogue, especially economic and tourism cooperation with this area was faltering, now it is an auspicious moment for reconstructing and rebuilding this framework of dialogue and friendship with the support of the highest tourism organization in the world-European Council on Tourism and Trade, appreciated ambassador Sakker Malcavi outlining his appreciation for the encouragement`s offered by Prof.Dr.Anton Caragea and had stated that the vision of developing and fostering new economic, politic and cultural relations between Europe and Jordan is a shared vision.

Jerash-candidate city of WORLD CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND TOURISM

The dialogue had continued on concrete aspects and analyses of economic, political and cultural bilateral relations and on ways of fostering this dialogue on to the future after the competitions for World Best Tourist Destination Award and World Capital of Culture and Tourism.

Kingdom of Jordan is a perfect tourist destination that is encapsulating cultural and historical patrimony, beautiful scenic landscapes, and a perfect share of the Red Sea Riviera stated President Anton Caragea.

Especially important was the common analysis of the region problems and evolution`s and the shared vision in a Middle East free of terrorism menaces, living in peace and development, a vision that drive`s Jordan and European Council on Tourism and Trade towards tourism and economic cooperation with a mutual goal.

I wish full success to Jordan candidature for World Best Tourist Destination Award and World Capital of Culture and Tourism, concluded ECTT President.

 

The dialogue led the foundations of a successful diplomatic mandate and fostering the relations between European Council on Tourism and Trade and Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and constitutes a promise for re-launching world tourism towards Jordan in the nearest future.

ROBERT GABRIEL MUGABE-ZIMBABWE PRESIDENT RECOGNIZED AS WORLD LEADER OF TOURISM

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.