WORLD CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND TOURISM

WORLD CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND TOURISM

 H.E. President Professor Dr. Anton Caragea announced EUROPEAN COUNCIL ON TOURISM AND TRADE decision to bestow the highest cultural nomination to the city of PHNOM PENH, the capital of Kingdom of Cambodia.

President Dr. Anton Caragea lauded the Kingdom of Cambodia role in global fostering of tourism development, growth and economic development and in becoming a world model of SDG implementation.

Phnom Penh is practically littered with religious monuments, with incredible cultural artifacts with a beaming historical patrimony spanning for over 600 years and encompassing from Angkor type architectures and temples to colonial typical quarters all enveloped in a recent magnificent development.

PHNOM PENH 

EUROPEAN TOURISM ACADEMY: PHNOM PENH IS THE WORLD CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND TOURISM.

On December 9, 2017 in the presence of over 3.000 guests, diplomats, tourism and culture experts, members of the Parliamentary Assembly for the Sustainable Development Goals, members of the Royal Government of Cambodia and of the Royal Parliament of Cambodia and European Council on Tourism and Trade delegates and many others high level guests attended the official ceremony for WORLD CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND TOURISM handover for PHNOM PENH has taken place.

Director of The EUROPEAN TOURISM ACADEMY, Academician Dr. MIRCEA CONSTANTINESCU presents the arguments for PHNOM PENH: THE WORLD CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND TOURISM.

In the pomp and ceremony of the event the Director of The EUROPEAN TOURISM ACADEMY, Academician Dr. MIRCEA CONSTANTINESCU outlined the reasons and the arguments for the inscription of Phnom Penh as one of the world landmark cities.

Here is the full text of the presentation:

    WORD CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND TOURISM

PHNOM PENH

OFFICIAL STATEMENT

Academician MIRCEA CONSTANTINESCU

Director of EUROPEAN TOURISM ACADEMY

Your Excellency Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN SEN- Prime Minister of Kingdom of Cambodia,

Your Excellency Dr. Thong Khon – Minister of Tourism,

Esteemed members of Royal Government of Cambodia, members of Parliament of Cambodia, distinguished member’s diplomatic corps

Dear guests,

 All protocol observed,

Today is a historical day, is the day when we inscribe the name of another model city on the humanity list of WORLD`S CAPITALS OF CULTURE AND TOURISM.

In carving up the World Capital of Culture and Tourism Program 11 years ago, European Tourism Academy and European Council on Tourism and Trade (ECTT) set for themselves the ambitious task of establishing a world list of cities and regions that are encompassing the legacy of humanity, that are harboring traditions and costumes unique or hosting natural treasures considered to be of outstanding and universal value.

We are ensuring their presence in the limelight so that we and the future generations can enjoy the world’s patrimony wealth and it’s variety.

The international community must give much more support to the activities promoting the heritage, which is central to our civilizations and this is the main role of WORLD CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND TOURISM designation.

During last year`s THE WORLD CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND TOURISM program enlarged and enriched his focus becoming a part of THE AGENDA FOR HUMANITY and a part of the Sustainable Development Goals Agenda being part and parcel of the global efforts destined to eradicate inequalities, ensure growth, develop education and cultural opportunities for all and supporting investment and development and integration policies where there are more needed.

From an essentially global cultural and tourism program we have evolved in line with the world commitments and concerns onto a world level development program.

On this note I must salute the Government of Kingdom of Cambodia commitment to fulfilling the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development Goals of United Nations and for ensuring that Phnom Penh it is and continues to be a placed for development, creativity, encouragement of free enterprise and initiative and inclusiveness for all who come to this beautiful city.

Inscribing PHNOM PENH as a WORLD CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND TOURISM we recognize that culture and history are not resource consumers, but are major economic and development factors, that help countries to develop and enrich themselves in more ways than just simple economic value.

Culture is undoubtedly a fundamental part of our life, is marking our identity and is facilitates our encounter, our dialogue, it helps us to share experiences, to search for unknown territories, to go further and further, is inscribed in our fiber and it defines us, is make us human.

Registering PHNOM PENH as a WORLD CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND TOURISM we are taking act of the Government of Prime Minister Academician HUN SEN commitments and incredible achievements of the last 30 years in carving cultural and heritage protection programs, in ensuring a permanent growth in the quality of patrimony protection and consolidation, in ensuring the preservation and fostering of religions, traditions and cultural and traditional activities.

Today, PHNOM PENH is fulfilling the trademarks of what we are calling the cultural landscape marked by the existence of “mixed properties”, blending natural properties and cultural properties.

It designates areas where there has been a harmonious interaction between man and nature over a long period, linked to a particular culture, and which provides evidence of a traditional way of life in which nature and culture are profoundly interlinked.

Cultural landscapes are described in Article 1 of the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage as representing “the combined works of nature and man”.

PHNOM PENH is such a generous area: encompassing the natural setting provided by the confluence of three rivers: the mighty Mekong, the Bassac and the great Tonle Sap, the world unique river that is flowing upwards the stream for six months a year.

This perfect natural landscape has become the setting of a rich cultural city that encompasses religious monuments and heritage treasures like: Wat Ounalom the 1443 shrine built for a sacred hair of the Buddha and considered the seat of Cambodian Buddhism who will celebrate 575 years of continuously and uninterrupted religious activities.

Another landmark is the famous Wat Phnom, built in 1372 and restored and reconstructed in 1434, 1806, 1894 and 1926 and has become a symbol of the capital city Phnom Penh and regularly used for prayer, small offerings, and meditation.

It is a specially charged place connected with the legendary figure of grandmother Penh and from 15th century King Ponhea Yat built the capital in Phnom Penh around this sacred mountain used for keeping the cremated ash of the King.

The mountain of Wat Phnom has been transformed in the last 700 years in a place that is uniting Buddhist statues of the Angkorean era with art crafts from the medieval and modern area and also a royal necropolis hosting the stupas for keeping cremated ash of the Royal families.

Other religious places and cultural landmarks are Wat Langka who is reputedly one of Phnom Penh’s five original Wats (1422). Established as a sanctuary for the Holy Writings and a meeting place for Cambodian and Sri Lankan monks, the Wat was named in honor of these meetings.

Wat Botum Padei also one of the oldest religious buildings still in use in the city from 1422 and is compound, is crowded with ornate and colorful stupas, including the towering ‘Buddha’s Relic Stupa.

Wat Koh another one of the city’s five original Wats, established in the early 15th century and Wat Neak Kravorn situated in a perfect picturesque skyline of Boeung Kak lake.

PHNOM PENH is not only the seat of rich cultural and religious objectives but is also presenting a long list of tourism centers from the famed Russian Market, Old Market, Central Market, Night Market and a large array of traditional markets, to the incredible riches of the National Museum having on display more than 5,000 works of art, ranging from the 7th to the 13th century. Treasures include sculptures, 19th-century dance costumes, royal barges and palanquins.

I will just note on the lines the incredible cultural potential of Phnom Penh the fact that: NATIONAL MUSEUM OF CAMBODIAwas voted as a WORLD`S FAVORITE MUSEUM for the incredible treasures encompassing more than 14.000 priceless artifacts and for the perfect ways that are displayed and imbuing the visitors with the message of culture.

Phnom Penh is far from being just a huge open-air repository of temples, stupas, palaces and incredible museums it is also a place where the energy of his peoples is channeled into huge celebrations like Moon Festival, Water Festival, Royal Ploughing Day, Khmer New Year or famed Buddha Day-Visakh Bochea Day.

It is a city that it embraces with warmth and gentle attention the soul of the travelers and it’s the real gate to Asia and the unique gem that shines over us with the light of culture and distinction. I also take this moment to congratulate the Ministry of tourism on the initiative to create a special walking riverine prospect offering for tourists the opportunity to stroll around the banks of the famous Mekong.

Initiatives like this are creating the image of a friendly and traveler welcoming city, an image that Phnom Penh so richly deserves. 

We can say that the European Council on Tourism and Trade was confronted with an easy conundrum at the question: IT IS? OR IT IS NOT PHNOM PENH a WORLD CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND TOURISM?

The positive answer was clear keeping in mind the impressive history of the city, the enormous cultural and heritage potential of Phnom Penh and the plans put in place by the Government of H.E. Prime Minister HUN SEN in order to carve out an ever better future for the peoples of the city and for those who come to share the life of the gem of Asia: the incredible PHNOM PENH – the city of waters, the gift of Cambodia to the world.

Your Excellency Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia HUN SEN,

The trailer for WORLD CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND TOURISM

It is my privilege to handover to Your Excellency, as the most representative leader of people and tourism of KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA the award for PHNOM PENH – THE WORLD CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND TOURISM.

EUROPEAN COUNCIL ON TOURISM AND TRADE DECIDES: 

PHNOM PENH IS WORLD CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND TOURISM!

On December 9th, 2017 the Kingdom of Cambodia will officially receive the WORLD CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND TOURISM status, announced the President of European Council on Tourism and Trade, Professor Dr. Anton Caragea.  

The decision was taken on July 29, during the proceedings of General Assembly of European Council on Tourism and Trade and the decree and the official letter to that effect where signed publicly in front of diplomatic corps, journalist`s, tourism experts, parliamentarians and diplomats on November 27, 2017 at the European Council on Tourism and Trade President Office by the Professor Dr. Anton Caragea and Director of European Tourism Academy Academician Mircea Constantinescu.   

The 2017 General Assembly of European Council on Tourism and Trade -ECTT has gathered in an all encompassing manifestation the leaders of world tourism, parliamentarians members of Parliamentary Assembly for Sustainable Development Goals, representatives of OSCE Bucharest Conference, Eurasia Conference and diplomatic corps accredited to European Council on Tourism and Trade.

President of world institution European Council on Tourism and Trade, Professor Dr. Anton Caragea (in the center) with Academician Mircea Constantinescu-European Tourism Academy (right) and Ambassadors from China PR, Philippines, Jordan, Turkey (left). 

President of world institution of European Council on Tourism and Trade, Professor Dr. Anton Caragea presented to his guests the achievements of ECTT at the helm of global tourism: creating and launching the tourism and sustainable development goals program, starting the global recognition program for GLOBAL AMBASSADORS FOR TOURISM AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS, supporting growth and employment across the world with more than 100.000 jobs created by ECTT exertions and supporting humanitarian activity and investments in vulnerable corners of the world by tourism related programs.

ECTT has fulfilled for another year his mandate to offer KNOWLEDGE TO LEAD THE WORLD for a better future concluded President Dr. Anton Caragea in his welcoming message to the delegates.

Professor Dr. Anton Caragea (in the center) surrounded by ECTT President Office team: Academician Mircea Constantinescu (left), Chairman Mihai Prundianu and rest of the team(to the right).

The main items of the ECTT Agenda for 2017 where focused around boosting the regional cooperation, layout plans for visa facilitation and the better promotion of European and world tourism.

On July 28, 2017 the session was destined to plenary works and on July 29 in a relaxed atmosphere, the General Assembly of the European Council on Tourism and Trade (ECTT), has taken under consideration the list of candidates for WORLD CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND TOURISM and WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION for 2017.

Professor Dr. Anton Caragea and the team of ECTT President Office and Ambassadors awaiting the names of  WORLD CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND TOURISM and WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION FOR 2017. 

Before entering into the details the voting members decided to entrust to Professor Dr. Anton Caragea and the team of ECTT President Office the mandate to select for 2017 and 2018 the WORLD CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND TOURISM winners in accordance with the world tourism institute ECTT status and bylaws.

The full power in selecting the world most important cultural designation for the above mentioned period was delegated to the authority of the ECTT President Professor Dr. Anton Caragea.

After receiving the results of vote from Presidential adviser Mr. Gabriel Rasvan , H.E. President Professor Dr. Anton Caragea announced his decision to bestow the highest cultural nomination to the city of PHNOM PENH, the capital of Kingdom of Cambodia.

The WORLD CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND TOURISM status for Phnom Penh will bring the inscription of the city as a cultural and patrimony hub of global significance and will also entice the city role as a part of the AGENDA FOR HUMANITY UN program and as a center for the implementation of sustainable development goals in the country and in the region.

President Dr. Anton Caragea lauded the Kingdom of Cambodia role in global fostering of tourism development, growth and economic development and in becoming a world model of SDG implementation.

Phnom Penh is practically littered with religious monuments, with incredible cultural artifacts with a beaming historical patrimony spanning for over 600 years and encompassing from Angkor type architectures and temples to colonial typical quarters all enveloped in a recent magnificent development.

The proposal of ECTT leader was approved by acclamation`s by all present on the venue and the office of the President of European Council on Tourism and Trade being empowered to make the necessary actions to bring to fruition the decision to inscribe PHNOM PENH as a WORLD CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND TOURISM awardee.

Starting the debate on WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION for 2017 according to the new protocol for discussions the representatives of EUROPEAN TOURISM ACADEMY have proposed one candidature per continent out of the 29 registered countries.

European Council on Tourism and Trade delegates from 28 countries are posing for a photo with world tourism leader: Professor Dr. Anton Caragea.

Academician Dr. Mircea Constantinescu, Director of European Tourism Academy, presented the list of candidates and the list of reports and accompanying evaluations for each of the 29 countries registered candidatures.

Academician Mircea Constantinescu stressed the need for a strict observance of Chatham House rules of discretion and in order to comply with the rules and regulation of World Institution - ECTT.

Academician Ionut Costea outlining the African candidatures, Academician Mircea Constantinescu the Asian and Academician President E. Constantinescu the Latin and Central American candidatures.

Scrutinizing of the remaining 3 top candidature files was made, in the initial stages, by the European Tourism Academy team, who drafted a preliminary report disseminated among the ECTT members.

ECTT Chairman –Mihai Prundianu stated for the audience the remarkable achievements of the 2016 award winner - Kingdom of Cambodia who ended the year with over 1,2 million tourists supplementary and derived tourism income in the margin of 2 billion dollars.

Phnom Penh became the most rapidly growing city in Asia in terms of the rise in number of tourists.

Cambodia enjoyed also a large presence in the media with over 80.000 tourism related articles promoting the country as the FAVORITE CULTURAL DESTINATION.

Cambodia has being, surpassing all the countries in the region in terms of tourism, appreciated Academician Mircea Constantinescu.

ECTT Academician HUN SEN, the Kingdom of Cambodia revered Prime Minister.

ECTT President-Professor Dr. Anton Caragea marked also the world tourism institution determination to continue a special relation with Cambodia and Academician HUN SEN, the Kingdom prime minister that we come to know and love and who entered in our hearts forever, concluded Professor Dr. Anton Caragea.

With the acceptance of the report by Chairman Mihai Prundianu on CAMBODIA, the debate on the WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION FOR 2017 was declared opened according to the decision of ECTT President-Professor Dr. Anton Caragea.

Finally the venues for the ceremonies for WORLD TOURISM DAY 2017 where  discussed and decided on the fringes of European Tourism Council gathering with Dubai, Phnom Penh and ECTT headquarters decided as the main centers for the global tourism day.

After voting a congratulatory table was extended for the guests and than european tourism leaders where invited to enjoy a two-day trip to Danube Delta at the official diplomatic partner hotel in the area: PUFLENE RESORT.

A moment of relaxation for ECTT delegates after two work overloaded day`s.

On 29 and 30 July 2017, the delegates were taken to a familiarization trip in Danube Lake District and Danube Delta and will have a chance to visit the famous Enisala fortress in Dobrogea with a unique opportunity to discover European touristic treasures.

The decision to direct the discovery trip towards Danube Delta has come naturally, as on May 2017, Professor Dr. Anton Caragea, World Tourism President decided to proclaimed 2017 as the YEAR FOR DANUBE DELTA DISCOVERY.