This week, just before South Korea enters its longest string of public holidays ever - 10 days from Sept. 30 to Oct 9, Millennium Destinations actively took part in several events hosted in the Republic of Korea to celebrate the World Tourism Day, under the theme "Sustainable Tourism – a Tool for Development", spearheaded by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).  

​The celebrations started on Sept. 26th with a special edition of the Green Drinks Seoul, a networking event dedicated to environmental professionals and anybody interested in environment, sustainable development and green growth, supported by the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ECCK). On that occasion, members of the travel and tourism community in Seoul were kindly invited to join. Catherine GERMIER-HAMEL, Founder & CEO of Millennium Destinations, and Member of the  Organizing Team of the Green Drinks Seoul gave a presentation of the 2017 Word Tourism Day (2017 WTD), as well as the 2017 International Year of Tourism for Development (IY2017) declared by the United Nations.  
Green Drinks Seoul's photos here. 

On Tuesday 27th, official date of the World Tourism Day, Catherine gave a short presentation during the monthly networking event of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Korea - ESCCK. A Member of ESCCK Executive Committee, she introduced the 2017WTD and IY2017, and the key role played by Spain in promoting global tourism, as the Host Country of UNWTO, and an actively engaged Permanent Member State. The event was attended by H.E. Gonzalo Ortiz, the Ambassador of Spain to Korea. 
​ESCCK's photos here.

On Thursday 28, 2017, the Department of Hospitality Management of Sol International School - Woosong University in Daejon, chaired by Michalis TOANOGLOU, hosted a lecture on sustainable tourism development, marketing and promotion. The invited lecturers were:

• Catherine GERMIER-HAMEL, with a lecture on "Sustainable and Smart Tourism - Dealing with (Big) Numbers and Figures", focusing on the contribution of tourism as a tool for global sustainable development, and issues such as overtourism, measurement, monitoring and assessment of sustainable tourism, climate changes, etc. 

• Dr. Mihee KANG, President of PlayForest Cooperative and Destination Program Director for Asia-Pacific of Global Sustainable Tourism Council, with a lecture on "Challenges and Lessons of Korean Tourism Policies and Practices in Sustainable Consumption and Production". 

​Millennium Destinations also attended the official ceremony hosted by the Korea Tourism Organisation to commemorate this 44th World Tourism Day, in presence of H.E. DO Jongwhan, Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Rep. of Korea, and KIM Hongjoo, Chairman of KTO, Members of the Korean National Assembly, representatives of the diplomatic corps, and Korean and foreign members of the tourism community in Korea. 

On Sept. 14, 2017, all members of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) joined hands to acclaim Zurab Pololikashvili, current Ambassador of Georgia to Spain, Morocco, Algeria and Andorra, as their Secretary General for the period 2018-2021, during the 22nd UNWTO General Assembly in Chengdu, China. 
Congratulations and good luck to you Mr. Secretary General! 
Zurab Pololikashvili was elected by consensus at the 22nd UNWTO General Assembly being held in Chengdu, China, following the recommendation of the 105th UNWTO Executive Council. 
It is interesting to notice that new UNWTO SG has almost the same age as French President Macron, and has a similar banking and ministerial background.