A panel session titled "Tourism for a Common Future: How Inclusion, Equality and Community Leadership Contribute to Peacebuilding" was held within the framework of the 7th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, APA reports.
During his speech, Chairman of the State Tourism Agency Fuad Naghiyev stated that the Baku Declaration on Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism brings together state and non-state actors around the goals of reducing emissions and adapting to climate change.
He recalled that Tourism Day was held during COP29, hosted by Azerbaijan in 2024, jointly organized by the State Tourism Agency, UN Tourism and the COP29 Presidency. This was the first such event held within the framework of a UN climate conference and drew greater attention to the role of tourism in combating climate change.
Leyla Musayeva, Head of the Cultural Heritage Development Division of the Cultural Heritage Department of the State Tourism Agency, stated that the development of tourism in Khinalig has increased the participation of local women in handicrafts and other tourism activities.
She noted that Khinalig was declared a state reserve by a presidential decree in 2007. Restoration and conservation work carried out in the village between 2021 and 2024, as well as the area's inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List, contributed to the preservation of cultural heritage. Leyla Musayeva emphasized the importance of preserving local traditions and language and strengthening the younger generation's connection to cultural heritage.
Ugandan entrepreneur Ann Kalembe, founder of Gazelle Safari Company, Gazelle Hospitality and Women in Hospitality Uganda, stated during her speech that her country has identified tourism as one of the main areas of economic development.
According to her, Uganda aims to expand its economy tenfold by 2040 and develop five priority sectors, including agriculture, tourism, mineral resources, science and technology. Anne Kalembe also noted that approximately 1 million jobs have been created in the tourism sector.
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