MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Patagonia Declaration” stresses sustainable tourism.

The formal Third Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Tourism Ministers Meeting which convened officials and delegates from 18 of 22 APEC member countries to Punta Arenas closed early afternoon last Thursday with the “Patagonia Declaration”.

APEC Tourism ministers and representatives arrived early Thursday from a cruise on board the Mare Australis and speedily agreed on the Declaration that was presented by the Chilean Economy Minister Jorge Rodriguez and praised by delegates.

The Declaration recalls the four main points (mandates) from the previous South Korea APEC tourism meeting which emphasizes on the elimination of obstacles to tourism investment development and business; increasing the mobility of tourists, goods and services in the tourist industry; developing a management targeted to tourism sustainability and acknowledging that the tourism industry provides for economic and social development.

However other tasks were agreed in advance of the 2006 meeting and they include good tourism practices in areas such as security, development of specific activity indexes, caring for disable tourists and the creation of a technical advisory team.

Other issues, security component for tourists, policies and regulations which favor the industry's development; the creation of instruments to help measure sustainability; qualification and certification processes; infrastructure and development of other niches for the industry such as sports and health.

Ministers also underlined the importance of learning languages with English and another few as the most adequate instrument to develop tourism deals and finally the contribution of tourism in creating jobs through small and medium enterprises plus the promotion of understanding in the Pacific basin.

On Friday, last day of the forum, Tourism ministers and delegates had the option of a two hours visit to the Chilean Antarctic base President Frei and permanent settlement Las Estrellas in King George Island or a tour of Torres del Paine national park.