Bangkok (Thailand) – September 28, 2016 – (travelindex.com) – Thailand's tourism industry once again showcased its dynamism and impressed leading figures in the travel and tourism sector at the World Tourism Day 2016 celebrations in Bangkok. For the first time, Thailand hosted the official World Tourism Day celebration, using the opportunity to present the Kingdom's tourism to the 157 member countries of the UNWTO and high-ranking tourism managers from around the world.

The event, which has been held for the 36th consecutive time since its inception in 1980, is an initiative of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes accessible, sustainable and responsible tourism.

This year's motto, "Tourism for All – Promoting Universal Accessibility," proved particularly relevant in light of recent events that have impacted global travel this year. The day aims to foster understanding and awareness of the social, cultural, political, and economic value of travel between nations, as well as to highlight tourism's role as a global engine of economic growth.

Thailand's Prime Minister and chairman of the ceremony, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, delivered the keynote address on the topic of "Tourism for All in a Global Context." His presence at the event underscored the importance the Thai government attaches to the tourism sector and its key role in the country's economic development. He reaffirmed his goal of making Thailand the leading ASEAN destination for "universal accessibility."

His Excellency Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said: “On behalf of Thailand and the Thai people, I thank all those who contributed to this important work for humanity. My special thanks go to Dr. Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, and his team for choosing Thailand as the host country for the 2016 World Tourism Day conference and celebrations.”

Thailand aims to become an ideal destination for accessible tourism while preserving its invaluable history and architecture. To achieve this vision, the government will develop Thailand into a center for universal design in the ASEAN region.

“To achieve this goal, concerted cooperation between the public sector, the private sector, local networks, civil society, policymakers, and tourism stakeholders is needed. This will certainly encourage member countries to work together and provide the world's population with genuine access to tourism based on true equality and fairness,” he added.

Her Excellency Mrs. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Thailand's Minister of Tourism and Sports, said: "Tourism for all is a concept we have been discussing with the Tourism Authority of Thailand for a long time. It is the government's duty to create 'routes' tailored to the needs of travelers with disabilities and special needs – from their arrival in Thailand, through their hotels, to our numerous attractions and their journey home."

“We are working on tourism routes in each of Thailand’s eight main regions, ideally one or two per region, which, once completed, will be accessible to all travelers regardless of their needs. Work has already begun on the first route in Khon Kaen in Thailand’s I-san region, and it will serve as a model for future development.”

“Hosting World Tourism Day 2016 gave Thailand a much better understanding of ‘universal accessibility,’ not just for people with disabilities, but also for older travelers and others with special needs. Now that we have the necessary resources and are putting the idea into practice, this will truly succeed through collaboration with local communities as the project expands. It is yet another excellent example of how the UN is taking action and leading by example.”

According to Mr. Xu Jing, Director of the UNWTO Regional Programme for Asia and the Pacific, over 500 participants from around the world took part in World Tourism Day 2016 in Bangkok, making it one of the most successful in the event's 36-year history.

He said: “Thailand is the ‘founding father’ of Asia and the region’s leading tourist destination, welcoming over 30 million tourists in 2015.”

We are here today to acknowledge the importance of tourism and the development of "Universal Accessibility for All." The personal presence of Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha and Deputy Prime Minister General Tanasak Patimapragorn underscores Thailand's commitment to becoming a world leader in accessible tourism.

The support for the concept of "tourism for all" proves its suitability as a guideline for future sustainable tourism development in all countries of the world.

Contact information: International Public Relations Department, Tourism Authority of Thailand Tel.: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48 Fax: +66 (0) 2250 0246 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.tatnews.org