MORE THAN 30 LEADERS OFFER CONGRATULATIONS TO CAMBODIA FOR DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT ACHIEVED UNDER ACADEMICIAN HUN SEN LEADERSHIP

More than 30 leaders across the world had offered their congratulation messages and well-wishes to Prime Minister Hun Sen of Kingdom of Cambodia on a perfect election victory that had made him reinstated as the national leader for another five-year mandate.

 

According to the Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia statement the first to address congratulatory messages where the world tourism leaders, in 2013 Mr. Taleb Rifai from Madrid based Tourism Organization and in 2016 Professor Dr. Anton Caragea from European Council on Tourism and Trade.

This is undoubtedly a mark of the significance of Cambodia o world tourism stage.  

 

 

The world cultural and tourism institutions: European Council on Tourism and Trade(ECTT) and European Tourism Academy have presented the official messages of congratulation on the occasion of the reelection of H.E. Academician HUN SEN as the Prime Minister of Kingdom of Cambodia.

Prime Minister HUN SEN has succeeded in obtaining an approval rating of 78% in the VI National Election of Cambodia, election considered by the international community as the freest and fairest in the nation`s history and was asked by H.M. King Norodom Sihamoni to create the new royal government for the next five years.

ECTT President Professor Dr. Anton Caragea was the first world leader to offer his congratulations to H.E. Academician Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia after the landslide victory that confirmed him to retain premiership for another five years.

 

 

President Professor Dr. Anton Caragea to Prime Minister Academician Hun Sen: electing you at the helm of the country, the people of Cambodia had made the wise choice of development and growth and democracy against war, disaster and incertitude. 

The congratulatory message reads: On the occasion of Your victory on the VI NATIONAL ASSEMBLY election and Your re-election as Prime Minister of Kingdom of Cambodia, I want to express the international community and academic community warmest appreciation for the overwhelming support manifested by the people of Cambodia for your agenda of transformation and development.(..)

Electing Your Excellency at the helm of the country, the people of Cambodia had made the wise choice of development and growth and democracy against war, disaster and incertitude.

The free and democratic elections have given Your Excellency the full mandate to reshape Cambodia and to continue to provide leadership and opportunities for the people of Cambodia.

 

 

H.E. Academician Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia to Professor Dr. Anton Caragea: 

Your Excellency, I strongly believe that you would extend your continuous support and cooperation to the promotion of peace, political stability and development of Cambodia.

In his replay, Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed his: gratitude for the cordial message of felicitations that you kindly extended to me personally and the Cambodian people`s party…your witnessing and assessment on the national election have certainly reflected a strong credibility of Cambodia`s electoral process in a peaceful, smooth, free and fair manner.

This is a justice you have given to the people of Cambodia to demonstrate to the international community the genuineness of the functioning democracy in Cambodia. Your Excellency, I strongly believe that you would extend your continuous support and cooperation to the promotion of peace, political stability and development of Cambodia.

President Dr. Anton Caragea message was the first to reach Samdech Techo HUN SEN, Prime Minister of Cambodia after the victory in the elections of July 2018, elections considered as the most democratically in the kingdom history.

Accordingly to official Cambodian State News Agency after the message of H.E. President Dr. Anton Caragea, new messages of support had come from more than 30 leaders in the order being: President Xi Jinping of China, Prime Minister of Laos and Vietnam, Prime Minister of Thailand, Prime Minister of Japan and Narendra Moodi, Indian premier.

 

 

Chinese leadership: President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang were quick to congratulate the victory of Academician Hun Sen in July 29 democratic elections.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said he is glad to see that in recent years, under the leadership of Hun Sen, Cambodia has achieved political stability, rapid economic development, continuous improvement of its international status, and gratifying achievements in various fields.

We believe that the Cambodian People’s Party will continue to unite and lead the Cambodian people to follow the development path of their own national conditions, promote economic development, continuously improve people’s livelihood, enhance national unity, and make new and greater for the prosperity of the country and the people’s happiness and for regional stability and development. contribution.

The July 29, 2018, parliamentary elections have concluded with a rate of participation of 83% and were supervised by 160.000 internal and international electoral monitors from 56 countries.

 

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The photo-journals of the Electoral Monitoring Mission for Kingdom of Cambodia Parliamentary Elections are available here:

PRESIDENT DR. ANTON CARAGEA PHOTO DOSSIER FOR 2018 CAMBODIA ELECTIONS

PHOTO JOURNAL OF CAMBODIA ELECTION 2018

PRESS DOSSIER FOR CAMBODIA NATIONAL ELECTIONS

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Information about July 29, 2018 VI NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ELECTION in Cambodia can be accessed here:

H.M. KING NORODOM SIHAMONI WEIGHTS IN: CAMBODIA IS HAVING FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS!

CAMBODIA`S NATIONAL ELECTION COMMITTEE CREATES A BALANCED CODE OF CONDUCT FOR PRESS AND JOURNALISTS

CAMBODIA`S NATIONAL ELECTIONS COMMITTEE ENSURES FREE AND FAIR 2018 POLL

NEW INFORMATION ABOUT NATIONAL ELECTION COMMITTEE OF CAMBODIA

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY: CAMBODIA`S DEMOCRATIC MODEL 

INTERNATIONAL WEBSITE DEDICATED TO CAMBODIA`S 2018 ELECTIONS 

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AMBASSADORS FOR TOURISM AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS PROGRAMME CONTINUES DECIDES PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY FOR SDG-2030

Academicians Mircea Constantinescu, Ionut Costea and E. Constantinescu are expressing their support for the decision taken by THE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY FOR UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDG) to continue upholding the efforts of promoting SDG as tools for international peace, development and inclusive and socially balanced growth.

 

The PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY FOR UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS has already being involved in world level programs like: WORLD CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND TOURISM and WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION and creating wealth, promoting tourism and culture as tools for progress and civilization across the world.

 

We salute this incredible decision, concluded Academician Mircea Constantinescu and we strongly uphold the banner of  Ambassadors for Tourism and Sustainable Development Goals programme as representing the community of builders of a better world.

On October 4, 2017 the official ceremonies for WORLD TOURISM DAY have taken place in the presence of President Professor Dr. Anton Caragea and having in observance members of European Council on Tourism (ECTT) and Trade, European Tourism Academy, diplomatic corps accredited to ECTT and members of PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY FOR UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDG).

 

In the opening ceremonies for the World Tourism Day Professor Dr. Anton Caragea has made the long-awaited announcement:  The  Ambassadors for Tourism and Sustainable Development Goals programme will continue in the next year.

 

Professor Dr. Anton Caragea signs the decree to continue to  the  Ambassadors for Tourism and Sustainable Development Goals programme onto the next period.

 

 

As a result of the demands coming from leaders, statesman`s and peerless world personalities involved in the carving of new development strategies and in implementing United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda we have taken the decision to further implement the program and to entrust the European Council on Tourism and Trade and  PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY FOR UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS SDG to continue the implementation of the program in the years to come.

The new logo of a Parliamentary Assembly for Sustainable Development Goals.

 

On the same occasion  Professor Dr. Anton Caragea announced the good news that:  the international Campaign for the implementation of 2030 Agenda of United Nations, known worldwide as SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS AGENDA, in the work of parliaments across the world has reached a first milestone, only after a year of existence, with the support of 262 parliamentarians from 22 national parliaments.

 

Now with this threshold passed, the Parliamentary Assembly for SDG`s, is now endorsed across party lines, ideologies and national agenda`s by more than 262 current members of parliament from over 22 countries.

The creation of a Parliamentary Assembly for SDG`s in the UN framework for world cooperation in the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals that was signed by the lawmakers calls for “a gradual implementation of Sustainable Development Goals in all national and local parliaments and elected assemblies agenda creating a global synergy for world level campaign aimed at bringing to life the SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS AGENDA”

The role of Parliamentary Assembly for SDG`s is “to ensure international cooperation, secure the acceptance and to enhance the legitimacy of the United Nations SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS AGENDA and strengthen the elected representatives ( parliamentarians) capacity to act and to be more effectively and directly included into the activities of implementing and financing the programs related to SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS AGENDA.”

“This is an important milestone,” remarked Professor Dr. Anton Caragea,  the Parliamentary Assembly for SDG`s Executive President and campaign’s coordinator.

“The support of a UN Parliamentary Assembly for SDG`s by such a broad group of parliamentarians from all the world’s regions shows once again that it is high time for the SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS AGENDA to be recognized as paramount for world development,” he concluded.

“If it comes to democratizing the SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS AGENDA and to insure global cooperation, than the Parliamentary Assembly for SDG`s is the venue for a technical and democratic debate, said Professor Dr. Anton Caragea.

“The SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS AGENDA would benefit from involving elected representatives in its deliberations. After all, in many cases it’s them who are needed to help implement UN policy at the national level, especially if it comes to the Agenda 2030,” said Mr. Catalin Nechifor from Parliamentary Assembly for SDG`s .

 

On this momentous occasion the new logo of the Parliamentary Assembly for SDG`s was unveiled by Professor Dr. Anton Caragea, the Executive President.

We must note that: apart from members of parliaments, the campaign has also been endorsed by numerous former members of parliaments, distinguished scholars, cultural innovators, representatives of civil society organizations, and many committed citizens from all walks of life.

 

European Council on Tourism and Trade and European Tourism Academy had created and pioneered the PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS SDG`s uniting world parliaments in the efforts to implement in their work and legislation measures dedicated to bring to life SDG in every nation.

European Tourism Academy is the only world academy that is offering SDG based courses and curriculum based on role of culture and development in carving a new and better future for as all.

 

More information’s about the Parliamentarian Assembly for Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals can be read out on UN-SDG site here:

Supplementary information regarding the World Lectures on SDG can be obtained from official website

EUROPEAN TOURISM IS CREATOR OF WEALTH, DEVELOPMENT AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE WORLD STATES ECTT PRESIDENT

Celebration of Europe: Europe Day Reception

Building on a successful cooperation on last year’s Europe Day, the European Tourism Academy supported the EUROPEAN COUNCIL ON TOURISM AND TRADE(ECTT) to organize the Europe Day on Tuesday , 9 May 2017.

The reception was attended by over 1000 people from including prominent guests such as government representatives, diplomatic corps in Bucharest, business leaders, academia, and the media. On this occasion Professor Dr. Anton Caragea, Council President   had welcomed the visitors to the event with a powerful speech:

Honourable Ministers,

Honourable Members of Parliament,

Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic Corps,

Colleagues, fellow Europeans and friends of Europe,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Namaste, Salam Alaykum, Good evening, Bonsoir, and a very warm welcome to you all to the 2017 Europe Day celebrations.

First, I would like to express my gratitude to Academicians Mircea Constantinescu and Ionut Costea, Directors of EUROPEAN TOURISM ACADEMY, for kindly agreeing to make available this splendid hall for today’s gathering.

We thought that this year it would be great to bring Europe closer to academicians and professionals and leaders of all walks of life, and to hold our celebrations in this excellent establishment.

Thank you very much to everyone who has worked so hard to make this happen.

Today, 9 May, is Europe Day.

 On this day in 1950 Robert Schuman, the French Foreign Minister, called on the nations of Europe to unite and make war on our continent unthinkable.

His message of peace and unity is as relevant as ever.

 The dreams of our founding fathers have become a reality, and Europeans live together in peace and prosperity, bound together by principles of democracy and human rights.

Yet, as anyone who follows international news knows, the European Union faces considerable challenges, and I do not want to gloss over these.

But despite all our difficulties the Europe represents the most successful process of regional integration, and remains the richest continent in the world.

In no other place is there so much freedom – freedom to speak our mind, freedom to move, freedom to pray and not to pray, freedom to love, freedom to vote and freedom to choose our own destiny.

Everywhere in the world Europe is a major trading partner, a major investor and we are proudly launching here BEST OF EUROPE/BEST OF WORLD program.

 

Climate change is another example of Europe prowess and a dear subject to myself as Ambassador for World Protected Areas .

On 22 April 2016, 175 countries signed the Paris Agreement in New York. Fifteen countries deposited their instruments of ratification on the same day sending a signal to the international community on the paramount importance of the implementation of the Agreement.

Our Ambassador office is committed to continue to work closely with all the nations on climate change, not only alongside it in international negotiations, but also as a key partner – providing support for mitigation and adjusting, and on the implementation of the Paris Agreement – the next big challenge.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

I want to welcome you this evening not only to the Europe Day Reception, but also to our exhibition showcasing our engagement in tourism, trade and development across the world.

With WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION and WORLD CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND TOURISM programs we succeeded in the last ten years to bring over 6 billion euro investments in tourism, development and growth sector in Africa and Asia and we created more than 100.000 jobs in tertiary sectors of all the countries that have being supported by EUROPEAN COUNCIL ON TOURISM AND TRADE and EUROPEAN TOURISM ACADEMY programs.

 I would like to thank all our development implementing partners for their contributions to the exhibition and for their efforts.

I hope that everyone will take time to discover the breadth and depth of the EUROPEAN COUNCIL ON TOURISM AND TRADE co-operation with developing world.

 

I would like to express my gratitude in particular to key partners of ours in this day, as DALI HAUTE PARFUMERIE who offered you not only wonderful gifts but provided you with a symbol of what Europe stand`s for culture like Salvador Dali works and the joy of living embodied by wonderful perfumes and also a word of gratitude to our European Diplomatic Wine`s partners like HOUSE OF PANCIU who unveiled for you the best European sparkling wines and HOUSE OF WINES COTNARI who had offered you the gift of incredible European wines.

A word of gratitude to the 23 masters of pastry and cakes, who created the incredible cakes that we will taste tonight.

I will no longer stay between you and the incredible cake awaiting us!

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Happy Europe Day!

Bbahut Dhanyawad, Shukran, Merci beaucoup, Thank you, Danke.”

H.E. PRESIDENT ANTON CARAGEA ACCEPTS TO GLOBALY UPHOLD CAMBODIA`S TOURISM IN THE WORLD. BALTIC COUNTRIES WILL BE THE NEXT

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF EUROPEAN COUNCIL  ON TOURISM AND TRADE has announced that H.E. President Professor Dr. Anton Caragea had graciously accepted the charge of AMBASSADOR OF KINGDOM OF  CAMBODIA, encharged with the promotion of  Kingodm rich cultural and historical heritage in the  world.

This will not be the only appointment of this kind, by the end of 2017, President Dr. ANTON CARAGEA will  become also ambassador of diverse countries  representing each continent of the world.

Embarking in his new activity as WORLD TOURISM PROMOTER AND CULTURAL AMBASSADOR, H.E.  Professor Dr. Anton Caragea accepted his appointment  as Ambassador for Kingdom of Cambodia and will  accept similar positions from a host of countries from  Asia, Africa, South and North America and Europe in order to achieve a universal coverage of the most impressive countries in terms of cultural heritage, tourism potential and give tourism a world wide span and in order to insure the perfect neutrality of his high office as President of European Council on Tourism and Trade.

 

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Professor Dr. Anton Caragea receives the official appointment letter from H.E. Academician HUN SEN, Prime Minister of Kingdom of Cambodia (to the left of the image, the Credential`s letter of the Kingdom Global Ambassador-Professor Dr. Anton Caragea). 

 

Professor Dr. Anton Caragea had agreed to accept the role of Global Ambassador for Kingdom of Cambodia and will start the activities on the occasion of WORLD TOURISM DAY on 27 September 2016.

On July 15th 2016, the Royal Government of His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia had proclaimed that on: the virtue of his constitutional prerogatives had approved the appointment of His Excellency Professor Dr. Anton Caragea as Kingdom first global ambassador.

The role of the Ambassador office will be to contribute to efforts promoting cultural and tourism profile of the Kingdom, with all the rights, prerogatives and obligations conferred upon the role of Ambassador.

The appointment come in well deserved recognition of the cultural and tourism world level promotion activities implemented with outstanding success by H.E. Professor Dr. Anton Caragea.

On August 30, 2016 , Professor Dr. Anton Caragea had announced that he accepted the task to internationally represent the Kingdom of Cambodia.The Kingdom of Cambodia represents a world example for cultural protection of a patrimony vital for humanity: the heritage of Khmer Empire.

On the point of view of importance and significance of historical patrimony Cambodia is part of a very selective circle that encompass no more than 10 nations on world level from the point of view of cultural significance.Cambodia is also benefiting from an impressive natural patrimony, that come as a completion of my mandate, started in 2011, as World Ambassador for World Protected Areas and National Parks, so the two actions can be competed together, stated Professor Dr. Anton Caragea.

Amongst the first actions toping the agenda of the new Ambassador we can highlight: the launch a world-wide campaign to promote the paragon role of Cambodia`s cultural and historical heritage, giving a new impetus of economic, tourism and cultural connections between European countries and the Kingdom of Cambodia and carving a program of cultural and ecological investments in sustainable agricultural projects in silk and rice farms in Cambodia.

EUROPEAN COUNCIL ON TOURISM TRADE IS THE LYNCHPIN OF EUROPEAN CONTRIBUTION TO 2015 DEVELOPMENT YEAR

Briefing regarding the magistral contribution of European Council on Tourism and Trade to world development.

European Council on Tourism and Trade succeeded on the last period to offer a significant contribution to powerty eradication and development by trade and tourism becoming the main european organization involved in supporting developing countries integration in world economic, trade and tourism structures.

European Council on Tourism and Trade prove to be instrumental in the re-integration of Trinidad and Tobago on world tourism stage helping the economic development of the country by a 2% in GDP per year, in Lao PDR case the contribution of European Council on Tourism and Trade support offered a growth of 7% in the GDP of the country and in Zimbabwe, according to early estimates a growth in the budgetary recipes of the state of 12%  was registered.

Briefing regarding 2015-The European Year for Development.

2015 was designated European Year for Development under a European Parliament decision. The European Council on Tourism and Trade approved by the voice of H.E. President Anton Caragea to endorse this decision and to encompass in the World Best Tourist Destination for 2015 and World Capital of Culture and Tourism in 2015 the principles of supporting development economies.

European Union is the largest donor of assistance for development in the world, offering more than half of the assistance provided at world level.

 

The President Office of The European Council on Tourism and Trade had released the fallowing communique regarding the start of the Development Year 2015.

The press release states that: the main world tourism organization-European Council on Tourism and Trade  marks the opening of the first ever European Development Year in 2015, an opportunity to bring development related subjects to public attention such as EU countries role and responsibilities, as  European Union Member State, as part of global development and poverty eradication efforts.

Thus, for the European Year for Development 2015, the European Council on Tourism and Trade  intends to undertake, jointly with its partners, information activities for European citizens concerning international cooperation for global development and its importance.

European Council on Tourism and Trade is also considering promoting institutional contributions within the European Union towards world development and stimulating active interest and involvement of European citizens in action devoted to diminishing poverty in the world.

During the European Year for Development 2015, the European Council on Tourism and Trade will continue to promote his main diplomatic agenda in domains such as: tourism as a tool for development, good governance, strengthening democracy and the rule of law, economic development, diplomatic tourism, education, health and environment protection.

The European Council on Tourism and Trade  supports solidarity with developing states by a responsible, results – oriented foreign policy, and an integrated, coordinated approach to assistance for development at global level.

This is the first European Year devoted to a relevant area of European Union foreign policy and its role in the world context.

MINISTER OF CULTURE OF ZIMBABWE RECEIVES FAVORITE CULTURAL DESTINATION CERTIFICATE FROM EUROPEAN COUNCIL ON TOURISM AND TRADE

In a festive ceremony the Minister of Culture and Sport of The Republic of Zimbabwe has received from His Excellency President of European Council on Tourism and Trade the FAVORITE CULTURAL DESTINATION title for Republic of Zimbabwe as part of WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION award ceremony held in Zimbabwe between 29 May-6 June 2014.

You can read in full extent the speech delivered on this momentous ceremony from the Office of The  President of European Council on Tourism and Trade:

Distinguish guests,

To all the people of REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE,

H.E. Professor Dr. Anton Caragea delivering the speech for Zimbabwe-FAVORITE CULTURAL DESTINATION IN 2014 

I must say what a privilege is for the all mankind to honor a country that is becoming a FAVORITE CULTURAL DESTINATION.

It is also a great pleasure to address our salute to the majestic people of Zimbabwe, a people that with spirit and mettle have united the south of African continent in the peerless civilization of Great Zimbabwe, that had left to the mankind the legacy of an indelible civilization, with hundreds of monuments of historical and world patrimony relevance, a strong and proud people that had offered to the world heritage countless blessings.

Today when we celebrate Zimbabwe as a cultural and touristic power house, we must not forget that the main credit belongs, without a doubt, to the all people of Zimbabwe irrespective of their race, color, political or religious orientation that from 1979 onwards have been constructing, defying unfathomable difficulties, a life of dignity, liberty and tolerance in a free country.

Today, we come to share the good news that Africa, that recently celebrated 50 years of African unity, has reasserted herself and we come to honor a country of REBIRTH , OF RENAISSANCE, in a world that forgets that the main reason of tourism is imbuing the travelers into local culture, to immerse them in the discovery of the history,  we come today to Harare honor a TRUE CULTURE.

In a world that is loosing the true values, we come today the honor a real TOURISTIC PATRIMONY, in a time in which to many speak and do not act for protecting historical sites and environmental riches, we come to honor  THE SEVEN WONDER OF TOURISM, we come to honor the Republic of Zimbabwe.

We come in this place of Hope, in this place where almost 35 years ago the end of segregation, of exploitation and of colonialism was cried out into the open and confronted with a new name: Harare!

Here, in the city that never sleeps we have all gather to show our support for the values of humanity, of cultural driven tourism.

We are all here in the search for a country that offer to tourists a complete experience, a country that educates spirit, elevates soul and gives everybody a lesson in history and culture.

We all have found in ZIMBABWE the perfect teacher in tourism, offering to all tourists of the world the possibility of a safe, pleasurable and enlightening touristic experience.

Among the reasons leading to awarding FAVORITE CULTURAL DESTINATION  IN 2014 title to REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE our report has taken under consideration:

–                      The promotion and support offered to a new concept of community natural protection supporting tourism friendly to nature, with low ecological impact and preservation of natural biodiversity and protection of endangered species and areas, especially rainforest south-African eco-climate.

–                      Offering to tourists the outstanding and pristine nature and the opportunity to explore nature, to contribute to ecological preservation and the opportunity to visit extraordinary space such as: the unique landscape of Victoria Waterfall, the National Parks as: Mana, Eastern Highlands from Manicaland, Mana Basins from West Mashonaland, Exfoliated Hills from Matebeland, Chilojo Cliffs, and Matobo Hills from Bulawayo etc.

 

–                      The preservation of an outstanding historical and cultural patrimony that comprises wonderful sites such as: cultural, historical and rich legacy of Great Kingdom of Zimbabwe, the preservation of the former capital of Shone Kingdom-Great Zimbabwe in Masvingo area with a world class fortification system and palatial complex from 12th century, these are offering a rare insight  for tourists into one of the greatest civilization of pre-colonial Africa and a rare window into traditions of centuries.

–                      Today, REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE is creating and offering for tourists an open air museum, a rare collection of historical and archeological treasures that educate and enrich the world.

–                      – The preservation of  cultural and natural sites of world significance and value such as: Great Zimbabwe National Monument (added to UNESCO list in 1986), Khami Ruins National Monument (added to UNESCO list in 1986), Matobo Hills (added to UNESCO list in 2003), Mana Pools National Park, Sapi and Chewore Safari Areas (added to UNESCO list in 1984), Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls and UNESCO candidate regions as:Ziwa national monuments dating from Stone Age period,make destination Zimbabwe to offer an incomparable contribution to the world legacy.

Based on these facts that can be completed with many others, The European Council on Tourism and Trade decided, unanimously, to declare REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE – FAVORITE CULTURAL DESTINATION in 2014.

Government of Republic of Zimbabwe posing with FAVORITE CULTURAL DESTINATION IN 2014 diploma

 

Your Excellency Mr. President,

It is my great honor and privilege to hand over this title to the Minister of Culture and Sports of Republic of Zimbabwe, as an international recognition for all the people of Zimbabwe, all united in the service of protecting and preserving historical and civilization patrimony of your country, in fostering tourism and culture, in the service of the people of  ZIMBABWE,

May this award be transformed in a support for developing the international standing of REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE, for a sustainable tourism and development and in a base for further success for A WORLD OF WONDERS –THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE.

Esteemed Minister of Culture,

It is my privilege to handover to you, as representative of culture of THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE, the award for FAVORITE CULTURAL DESTINATION  FOR 2014.

HUGE PRIDE AS EUROPE DECLARES ZIMBABWE-WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION FOR 2014

New opportunities arise for Zimbabwe tourism as the country is declared World Best tourist Destination in 2014 by European Council on Tourism and Trade.

This wonderful news for the people of Zimbabwe was reiterated on 3 June mass ceremony held in Harare-Zimbabwe on the occasion of the official presentation of the highest tourism award of the world to the African country ( a premiere in the history of the award)

We have the honor of presenting you the full text of the empowering speech by European Council on Tourism and Trade president on this felicitous celebration:

Your Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, and Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe;

The Vice President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Joice Mujuru;

Members of the Politburo;

All Cabinet Minister and Members of the House of Assembly and the Senate;

President of the Chiefs Council and all Chiefs here present;

Members of the Diplomatic Corps;

Ladies and Gentlemen, all protocol observed

H.E. Professor Dr. Anton Caragea MA, FINS, ETA speech at WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION AWARD for Zimbabwe

As always, the ceremony for WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION AWARD is the embodiment of an idea and the universal proclamation of a country that succeeded in materializing this idea to the fullest.

Last year we concentrated on the idea that in the world of today, tourism is a causeway uniting knowledge and friendship, peoples and countries, a way to promote peace and understanding, a road that leads towards a better future for all.

We see the recipient of the WORLD BEST TOURISM AWARD, ZIMBABWE, not only standing for the idea of a resurrection of Africa and African people, but also symbolizing Africa’s determination to undertake the long journey to global significance.

We have also noted with great satisfaction that Zimbabwe has persistently viewed tourism as one of the pillars of its economy, going forward. Your successive economic blueprints, right up to the current one, the ZIMASSET, recognize the critical value-adding role that the tourism sector can play in your economy.

Your Excellency, we are aware that in 2013 you signed the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s Golden Book of Tourism. We must congratulate and commend you highly for signing that book. Yours was the 29^th signature by various world statesmen throughout the globe, who have pledged their support for global tourism, with its critical role of promoting both the economic, as well as the social wellbeing of the world. Needless to say, tourism can do a great deal of social and economic good for Africa, including Zimbabwe.

 

Mr. President, in our consideration for whom to give this award to, we learnt, amongst many other facts about your country, of your economic model ensuring that local communities participate and benefit from enterprises that exploit and benefit from the conservation of bio-diversity of both flora and fauna, was born here. We are here to urge you along this course, because that makes Zimbabwe a steward of the earth’s flora and fauna, in its pristine condition, for the benefit and enjoyment of all humanity including Zimbabwe’s own posterity.

Your government’s well placed recognition of tourism as an important sector is also evident in your decision to create a stand-alone Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, back in 2009.

Even more fundamental for us, is your acknowledgement that tourism is a peace sector, constantly building bridges amongst the various peoples of the world.

Your recognition of this truth is evidenced, in part, by the support you have given your Minister of Tourism to travel the world, east and west, ensuring that this bridge between your country and the rest of the world remains intact and promote real people-to-people warmth and friendship.

 

It is not only for these philosophical reasons that we found your country worthy of this award, the fact is your country if well-endowed with historical and cultural features of great worth and value to all humanity. These range from the massive long-standing architectural structures of Great Zimbabwe monument, and others like it all over your country, to rock paintings and artefacts that symbolize early human civilization.  Zimbabwe is indeed a destination of global note and the recognition of many of your country’s features as UNESCO Human Heritage sites says as much.

We did explain in great detail in our 3^rd of May Press Release that we  put out for this purpose, why we found Zimbabwe a deserving recipient of these awards, but my address would be amiss if I failed to refer to the well-known hospitality and peace- loving nature of the Zimbabwean people. It is quite appropriate that you position your people as one of the Seven Wonders that characterize Zimbabwe. Zimbabweans, both at home and in the diaspora, are generally well-known for their hard-work and cheerfulness – they are a wonder indeed.

H.E. President of Zimbabwe-Robert Mugabe and Professor Dr. Anton Caragea MA, FINS, ETA H.E. Professor Dr. Anton Caragea MA, FINS, ETA at WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION AWARD ceremony for Zimbabwe

 

Last but not least, Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is not only in Zimbabwe that we have found a naturally and culturally well-endowed destination, but it is here that we find an exceptional combination of peace and security, combined with a crime-free environment and an exceptionally hospitable people. Visitors here are bound to feel welcome, safe and secure, and that is probably the reason why the United Nations World Tourism Organization decided to hold the 20^th Session of its General Assembly, which turned out to be its most successful, here in Zimbabwe at the magnificent Victoria Falls.

Your Excellency Mr. President, it is my great honor and privilege to hand over this title as an international recognition for all the people of Zimbabwe, all united in the service of protecting and preserving the historical and cultural heritage of your country, leveraging tourism and culture, in the service of the people of Zimbabwe.

 

This title is also a challenge because we now expect your country and people to hold what you have in trust on behalf of world culture and tourism. May this award be used to enhance the international standing of the Republic of ZIMBABWE-A WORLD OF WONDERS. It is my privilege and honour Mr. President, to handover to Your Excellency, as the representative of your country and tourism, the Award for theWORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION FOR 2014.