15th UNWTO Asia/Pacific Executive Training Programme on Tourism Policy and Strategy
The 15th UNWTO Asia/Pacific Executive Training Programme on Tourism Policy and Strategy organized by UNWTO will be held in the hybrid format in the Maldives from 05 - 08 October 2021.

Since 2006, the UNWTO has convened the Asia and the Pacific Executive Training Programme on Tourism Policy and Strategy annually. This Executive Training Programme is the only programme of its kind in the region and is renowned for its stimulating content and thought-provoking discussions. The theme and subject of the Programme change each year and has historically had far-reaching impacts both for the host destination and the attendees.
Since 2006, the UNWTO has convened the Asia and the Pacific Executive Training Programme on Tourism Policy and Strategy annually. This Executive Training Programme is the only programme of its kind in the region and is renowned for its stimulating content and thought-provoking discussions. The theme and subject of the Programme change each year and has historically had far-reaching impacts both for the host destination and the attendees.
The delegates who attend the Executive Training Programme are high-level officials within their respective governments across Asia and the Pacific region. Through a series of lectures, discussions, debates, and presentations, the Training Programme provides a welcoming forum in which public sector tourism executives gain a better understanding of the latest trends in tourism policy. It also provides a platform for sharing knowledge and experience, to learn of successful practices in policy and strategy formulation and implementation. The Training Programme gives participants the opportunity to improve their strategic tourism skills and, through a newfound network of regional contacts, continue to develop these skills going forward. After fourteen years of strong support from the government of the Republic of Korea (ROK), has become an iconic activity of UNWTO in the region. Also, it will again be fully sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the ROK.
The overall theme for the 15th UNWTO Asia/Pacific Executive Training Programme is Domestic Tourism as the National and International Long-term Tourism Strategy.
The programme is specifically designed to support tourism policymakers and managers. It aims at strengthening effective and responsive policies and strategies that in turn must adapt to changing priorities and concerns at the national and destination levels.
The overall objectives of the training programme are to deepen participants’ understanding of the effects of the spread of COVID-19 on Domestic Tourism and how to foster Domestic Tourism with a focus on the following areas:
- Potential of Domestic Tourism to help drive economic recovery in destinations;
- How tourism leaders can stimulate domestic demand and expand supply for services in accord with SDGs;
- What product development and commercialization challenges need to be prioritized to speed tourism development in rural areas;
- How to promote tourism policies, including innovative programs and initiatives;
- How public and private sectors can work together to harness domestic tourism to foster growth, development, and fair and decent job creation, particularly for women and young people;
- How public and private sectors can encourage people to explore their own countries and manage destinations in the era of the new normal;
- How tourism officials can use technology and big data to monitor impacts and promote destinations;
- How to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on domestic tourism and to drive the recovery.
Moreover, the training program strives to enable UNWTO’s Asia and the Pacific Member Countries to share successful tourism good practices on domestic tourism and the above-mentioned topics. The ultimate aim is to strengthen the capacity of destinations at the regional, sub-regional, national, and destination levels.
Contact information:
UNWTO Secretariat
Ms. Nury Kim
Senior Officer
Regional Department for Asia and the Pacific, UNWTO
Email: nkim@unwto.org
Documents:
- Preliminary Programme (as of 05 October)
- Technical Note
- Participants Guidelines
- Registration Form
- General Information Note
- Brochure
- List of Participants (as of 05 October)
- Final Report_15th Executive Training Programme
Session Presentations
Introductory Presentation: Domestic Tourism by Mr. Trevor Weltman
Session 1 Destination Management and Operations for increased Domestic Tourism
Session 2: Engaging the Private Sector to Foster Domestic Tourism
Session 3: Innovation and the Future of Domestic Tourism: Building Opportunity for Growth and Development
- Keynote Speaker: Mr. John Lohr, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Innovation, Hosco and Ms. Natalia Bayona, Director, Innovation, Education and Investments Department, UNWTO
--Hosco's Report "Talent Trends in the Hospitality Industry"
Special Session Presentations
- Fiji
- Italy
- Maldives
- Nepal
- Republic of Korea
- Spain
Member States Presentations
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- Cambodia
- China
- Hong Kong, China
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Macao, China
- Maldives
- Mongolia
- Myanmar
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Samoa
- Sri Lanka *(the best presentation)
- Viet Nam
More information:

In-person Group Photo_15th ETP Maldives
In-person Group Photo_15th ETP Maldives

SG Opening Remarks_15th ETP Maldives
SG Opening Remarks_15th ETP Maldives

Minister Opening Remarks_15th ETP Maldives
Minister Opening Remarks_15th ETP Maldives

Harry Hwang Opening Remarks_15th ETP Maldives
Harry Hwang Opening Remarks_15th ETP Maldives

ROK Deputy Minister Opening Remarks_15th ETP Maldives
ROK Deputy Minister Opening Remarks_15th ETP Maldives

International Delegates_15th ETP Maldives
International Delegates_15th ETP Maldives

15th ETP Maldives
15th ETP Maldives

15th ETP Maldives
15th ETP Maldives

Ms. Shukraana Mohamed MC_15th ETP Maldives
Ms. Shukraana Mohamed MC_15th ETP Maldives

Opening Ceremony_15th ETP Maldives
Opening Ceremony_15th ETP Maldives

Bilateral Meeting Maldives Minister and UNWTO SG_15th ETP Maldives
Bilateral Meeting Maldives Minister and UNWTO SG_15th ETP Maldives
Group Photo_15th ETP Maldives
Group Photo_15th ETP Maldives

15th ETP Maldives
15th ETP Maldives

15th ETP Maldives
15th ETP Maldives

15th ETP Maldives
15th ETP Maldives

Bangladesh: Dr. Mallick Anwar Hossain, Joint Secretary, Tourism, Ministry of Civil Aviation & Tourism
Bangladesh: Dr. Mallick Anwar Hossain, Joint Secretary, Tourism, Ministry of Civil Aviation & Tourism

Bangladesh: Dr. Mallick Anwar Hossain, Joint Secretary, Tourism, Ministry of Civil Aviation & Tourism 2
Bangladesh: Dr. Mallick Anwar Hossain, Joint Secretary, Tourism, Ministry of Civil Aviation & Tourism 2

Session 1_15th ETP Maldives
Session 1_15th ETP Maldives

- Iran: Dr. Ali Asghar Shalbafian Hosseinabadi, Deputy Minister for Tourism, Ministry of Culture Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts 1
- Iran: Dr. Ali Asghar Shalbafian Hosseinabadi, Deputy Minister for Tourism, Ministry of Culture Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts 1

- Iran: Dr. Ali Asghar Shalbafian Hosseinabadi, Deputy Minister for Tourism, Ministry of Culture Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts 2
- Iran: Dr. Ali Asghar Shalbafian Hosseinabadi, Deputy Minister for Tourism, Ministry of Culture Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts 2

Sri Lanka: Dr. Prasad Jayasuriya, Acting Deputy Director-General / Director for Tourism Planning, Development and Investments, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority 1
Sri Lanka: Dr. Prasad Jayasuriya, Acting Deputy Director-General / Director for Tourism Planning, Development and Investments, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority 1

Sri Lanka: Dr. Prasad Jayasuriya, Acting Deputy Director-General / Director for Tourism Planning, Development and Investments, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority 2
Sri Lanka: Dr. Prasad Jayasuriya, Acting Deputy Director-General / Director for Tourism Planning, Development and Investments, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority 2

Mongolia: Ms. Oyunshur Zandansuren, Officer of Domestic Tourism and Infrastructure, Tourism Policy Coordination, Ministry of Environment and Tourism 1
Mongolia: Ms. Oyunshur Zandansuren, Officer of Domestic Tourism and Infrastructure, Tourism Policy Coordination, Ministry of Environment and Tourism 1

Mongolia: Ms. Oyunshur Zandansuren, Officer of Domestic Tourism and Infrastructure, Tourism Policy Coordination, Ministry of Environment and Tourism 2
Mongolia: Ms. Oyunshur Zandansuren, Officer of Domestic Tourism and Infrastructure, Tourism Policy Coordination, Ministry of Environment and Tourism 2

15th ETP Maldives
15th ETP Maldives

Mr. Mohammad Reza Qasemi Second Secretary, UNWTO and Economic Affairs, Embassy of Afghanistan in Madrid
Mr. Mohammad Reza Qasemi Second Secretary, UNWTO and Economic Affairs, Embassy of Afghanistan in Madrid

Session 2_15th ETP Maldives
Session 2_15th ETP Maldives

Maldives: Mr. Najmulla Shareef, Project officer, Ministry of Tourism 1
Maldives: Mr. Najmulla Shareef, Project officer, Ministry of Tourism 1

Maldives: Mr. Najmulla Shareef, Project officer, Ministry of Tourism 2
Maldives: Mr. Najmulla Shareef, Project officer, Ministry of Tourism 2

Nepal: Dr. Dhanajay Regmi, Chief Executive Officer, Nepal Tourism Board
Nepal: Dr. Dhanajay Regmi, Chief Executive Officer, Nepal Tourism Board

Ms. Natalia Bayona, Director, Innovation, Education and Investments Department, UNWTO
Ms. Natalia Bayona, Director, Innovation, Education and Investments Department, UNWTO

Mr. John Lohr, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Innovation, Hosco
Mr. John Lohr, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Innovation, Hosco

Ms. Heayjin Lee, Director of Seoul Tourism Organization, UNWTO Affiliate Member
Ms. Heayjin Lee, Director of Seoul Tourism Organization, UNWTO Affiliate Member

Session 3_15th ETP Maldives
Session 3_15th ETP Maldives

Bilateral Meeting Iran and UNWTO_15th ETP_Maldives
Bilateral Meeting Iran and UNWTO_15th ETP_Maldives

Bilateral Meeting Nepal and UNWTO_15th ETP_Maldives
Bilateral Meeting Nepal and UNWTO_15th ETP_Maldives

Bilateral Meeting Bangladesh and UNWTO_15th ETP_Maldives
Bilateral Meeting Bangladesh and UNWTO_15th ETP_Maldives

15th ETP_Maldives
15th ETP_Maldives

Mr. Trevor Weltman_Consultant_15th ETP_Maldives
Mr. Trevor Weltman_Consultant_15th ETP_Maldives

Special Session_15th ETP_Maldives
Special Session_15th ETP_Maldives

Special Session_15th ETP_Maldives
Special Session_15th ETP_Maldives

Special Session_15th ETP_Maldives
Special Session_15th ETP_Maldives

Nepal: Dr. Dhanajay Regmi, Chief Executive Officer, Nepal Tourism Board
Nepal: Dr. Dhanajay Regmi, Chief Executive Officer, Nepal Tourism Board

Closing remarks by Dr. Naushad Mohamed, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Tourism of the Maldives
Closing remarks by Dr. Naushad Mohamed, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Tourism of the Maldives

Closing remarks by Mr. Harry Hwang, Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, UNWTO
Closing remarks by Mr. Harry Hwang, Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, UNWTO

Certificate Ceremony_15th ETP_Maldives
Certificate Ceremony_15th ETP_Maldives

Certificate Ceremony_15th ETP_Maldives
Certificate Ceremony_15th ETP_Maldives

Closing Ceremony_15th ETP_Maldives
Closing Ceremony_15th ETP_Maldives

Technical Tour_15th ETP_Maldives
Technical Tour_15th ETP_Maldives

Technical Tour_15th ETP_Maldives
Technical Tour_15th ETP_Maldives

Technical Tour_15th ETP_Maldives
Technical Tour_15th ETP_Maldives

Technical Tour_15th ETP_Maldives
Technical Tour_15th ETP_Maldives

Technical Tour_15th ETP_Maldives
Technical Tour_15th ETP_Maldives

Technical Tour_15th ETP_Maldives
Technical Tour_15th ETP_Maldives
