Welcome to World Eco-tourism Conference 2012!

The year 2012 marks the 20th anniversary of the Rio Declaration as well as the 10th anniversary of the United Nations' International Year of Eco-tourism. As we honor these special milestones, I consider it particularly meaningful that this year’s World Eco-tourism Conference is taking place in Gyeonggi Province.

Nowadays, the impact of eco-tourism is not limited to the tourism sector but also contributes to nature conservation, local development and world peace.

I look forward to your active support of World Eco-tourism Conference 2012 so that we can find new directions for the development of eco-tourism around the world.

Thank you.

Kim Moon-soo

Governor of Gyeonggi Province

I am really honored to host 2012 World Ecotourism Summit at Goyang KINTEX in the contemporary era in which the whole world works hard to achieve green cities.

Goyang City after deciding upon its administrative policy to realize the eco-friendly green peace city has worked in various areas. Recently, the citizens felt a lump came into the throat when the barbed wire fence at the mouth of Han River was removed in 42 years since the national division of North and South.

We are also preparing a plan to transform Janghang wetland that was a scar of the war into a treasure of Korea through the long-term vision of 2020 Goyang Peace Special City.

I really hope that flowers of true peace will blossom in Goyang, Korea along with Goyang DMZ Declaration.

Choi Seong,

Mayor of Goyang City

It is truly a privilege to share the tourism resources of Gyeonggi Province from an ecological perspective during World Eco-tourism Conference 2012. Gyeonggi Province is renowned for its countless cultural artifacts and remains as well as beautiful mountains, lakes and coastlines and a bounty of agricultural products.

I am confident that this conference will prove invaluable in establishing a new status and meaning for eco-tourism in the realization of global peace. In this regard, the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization shall take the initiative in advancing eco-tourism in Korea.

Thank you.

Hwang Joon-Kee

President & CEO, Gyeonggi Tourism Organization