Pacific Tourism Heads visit UNHQ
H.E. Ambassador Mahe Tupouniua PR Tonga, SPTO CEO, Mr. Christopher Cocker, SPTO Chairperson Ms. Papalii Matatamalii Sonja Hunter and Mr. Sainivalati S. Navoti Chief of SIDS Unit
27 February 2018
Chairperson, Ms. Papalii Matatamalii Sonja Hunter (Samoa) and CEO, Mr. Christopher Cocker. of the South Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO) visited the United Nations Headquarters last week to network, raise the awareness, seek understanding, build cooperation and promote the work of SPTO in the Pacific in particular their efforts in implementing the 2030 Agenda.
CEO Croker said that for the first time, a conscious effort is being exerted by his Organization to promote the implementation and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in the Pacific. Tourism has the potential to contribute, directly or indirectly to all of the SDGs. In particular, it has been included as targets in Goals 8, 12 and 14 on inclusive and sustainable use of oceans and marine resources, respectively.
During their visit, the SPTO Leadership Team gave a briefing to members of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS). The High Representative of Least Developed Countries and Land Locked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (OHRLLS), Ms. Fekita ‘Utoukamanu was also present. They briefed the meeting on the recent trend of tourism in the world as well as in the Pacific area and presented a SWOT analysis of the tourism in the Pacific to achieve sustainable development. The importance of sustainable development in the tourism sector was emphasized, especially for the SIDS since it comprises, according to their brief, approximately 25% of the GDP of some Pacific SIDS.
Ms. Hunter and Mr. Croker were accompanied by His Excellency, Ambassador Mahe Tupouniua, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Tonga to the United Nations as they made a courtesy call to the SIDS Unit of UN-DESA.
SPTO became an affiliated member of the UN-WTO recently.
